Avon Hello Green Tomorrow Marks World Environment Day with New Fundraising Products to Help End Deforestation

NEW YORK, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of UN World Environment Day in June, Avon Hello Green Tomorrow is once again mobilizing people around the globe to help restore critically endangered tropical forests of South America and Indonesia – forests which serve as the "lungs of the earth."  In just two years, Hello Green Tomorrow generated more than $3.5 million and restored thousands of acres through partnerships with The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund, and much more will be raised in 2012.  Despite progress, the issue of deforestation remains critical, and the commitment of Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) remains strong as the Hello Green Tomorrow program enters its third year.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110414/NY68904)

Hello Green Tomorrow 2012 fundraising products are being launched in 51 countries around the world, with all proceeds consolidated and contributed to The Nature Conservancy for restoration of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil and to World Wildlife Fund to help restore the tropical forests of Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra). These forests are two of the most critically endangered in the world, and are also among the most vital for mitigating climate change, supporting biodiversity and providing for the health and economic well being of millions of people.

Avon has a unique capacity to engage and mobilize people for good, as it has done for the issues of breast cancer and domestic violence, and since 2010 Avon has also focused this strength on helping end deforestation.  In keeping with its grassroots commitment, Hello Green Tomorrow fundraising products are affordable, allowing everyone to play a part in this important mission and driving the mantra that many small actions lead to major changes. Highlights of the efforts to date can be seen in the Hello Green Tomorrow Impact Video (in English and Spanish).

http://www.hellogreentomorrow.com/blog/2012/04/up-close-and-in-person-the-hello-green-tomorrow-impact-video/

All products are available through the woman-to-woman network of independent Avon Sales Representatives, who number 6.4 million worldwide, as well as through the Avon e-commerce sites, such as www.avon.com in the US.

Some of the 2012 Hello Green Tomorrow fundraising products include:

• the trendy new Eco Hero Bracelet, available in Europe and Latin America
• a fashionable t-shirt collection, sold exclusively in Brazil
• a sleek reusable aluminum Hello Green Tomorrow Water Bottle, available only in the U.S. 

In the U.S., the Hello Green Tomorrow Water Bottle is available now:

• eco-friendly, reusable water bottle holds a generous 34 ounces.
• affordably priced at $6.00, with 100 percent of the net proceeds ($2.98) benefiting the Hello Green Tomorrow Fund.
• made from recyclable aluminum imprinted with the green Hello Green Tomorrow logo and lined with a BPA-free interior coating to keep beverages tasting fresh.
• features a screw-top lid with convenient carabiner clip for portability.

In addition to fundraising, Hello Green Tomorrow is committed to educating Avon Sales Representatives, Customers and the public on "5 Simple Things" everyone can do in their daily life:  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, Replant. The comprehensive website http://www.hellogreentomorrow.com/ supports the mission by offering information on forests and deforestation, green tips, a blog and opportunities to share ideas on personal environmental action, as well as links to the Avon websites of participating countries and the websites of the partner organizations.

"Of all the places WWF works, the rate of destruction in Borneo and Sumatra defies the imagination," said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. "Devising a solution equal to the weight of humanity's pressure on this rich place will take persistence, creativity and collaboration. We are grateful for the support and leadership of partners like Avon who realize we all have an important role to play in meeting this challenge."

"With support from Avon, The Nature Conservancy has made significant progress in restoring Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered and biologically diverse forests in the world," said Mark Tercek, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. "The Atlantic Forest is home to tens of thousands of plant and animal species – many found nowhere else on Earth – and it is the source of drinking water for 70 percent of Brazil's population. It is critical that we save the Atlantic Forest for both people and nature."

Walking the Talk:  Avon Paper Promise and Palm Oil Promise

Avon's commitment to helping end deforestation extends across the company's business enterprise, with a focus on areas in which the company can have a meaningful impact, whether by influencing supply and demand or by helping bring attention to an issue. In 2010, concurrent with the initial launch of Hello Green Tomorrow, Avon announced the Avon Paper Promise, a comprehensive policy outlining efforts and goals for promoting sustainable forest use, protecting forests, and reducing demands on forests. As a significant user of paper, Avon's actions in this sector have a direct impact. 

Following on this, in support of Hello Green Tomorrow 2011, Avon announced a Palm Oil Promise, a commitment by which Avon can help advance and influence the issue even as the company's use of the material is very limited.  Palm oil plantations have had a devastating impact on tropical forests, especially in Indonesia, and the Palm Oil Promise encompasses guidelines for purchasing sustainably sourced palm oil. Avon also joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (http://rspo.org/) to help continue the development, implementation and verification of credible global standards for sustainable palm oil.

Details on the Paper Promise, Palm Oil Promise, environmental metrics and much more can be found on the online Avon Corporate Responsibility Report:  responsibility.avoncompany.com

http://www.avoncompany.com/corporatecitizenship/corporateresponsibility/index.html

Avon Products, Inc.

Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with over $11 billion in annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through approximately 6.4 million active independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon's product line includes beauty, fashion and home products, and features such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, and Mark. Avon is a global leader in the causes of breast cancer and domestic violence, with more than $860 million raised and awarded worldwide through the Avon Foundation for Women and global philanthropic programs. The company is committed to continual improvement in environmental stewardship, and is included in the Newsweek green rankings of the top 500 largest US companies and the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. Learn more about Avon at www.avoncompany.com.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) was founded in 1951 and is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The organization is headquartered in the US and works in more than 30 countries. The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide, and they operate over 100 marine conservation projects globally. Visit www.nature.org to learn more.

World Wildlife Fund

WWF is one of the world's leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for the past 50 years. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit http://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.