Avon Launches Hello Green Tomorrow in More Than 65 Countries: A Global Women's Environmental Movement to Nurture Nature

NEW YORK, March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avon Products Inc. (NYSE: AVP) today announced the launch of a global environmental mobilization in more than 65 countries and a $1 million contribution to The Nature Conservancy to launch the new Hello Green Tomorrow initiative, a unique globally coordinated grassroots effort.  The mission of Hello Green Tomorrow is to empower a women's environmental movement, launching initially with Avon's donation to replant 1 million trees in the Atlantic Rainforest in South America and global fundraising to further restore this vital ecosystem at just $1.00 per tree.

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Unique to the Avon Hello Green Tomorrow program is the woman-to-woman network of more than 6.2 million Avon Sales Representatives worldwide.  This veritable "green army" will create an environmental movement to raise funds and drive "green" education worldwide, leveraging Avon's strength to reach and engage people to take action in support of important causes.

"At Avon, we know the power of individual action, and the capacity for our company and for individuals to be a force for good, even through simple acts," said Andrea Jung, Avon's Chairman & CEO.  "Through our global grassroots reach, Avon is singularly positioned to empower a global women's environmental movement to nurture nature, and to educate and to engage millions of people to contribute to the restoration of the Atlantic Rainforest -- to help save the planet for as little as $1."

Avon has a long heritage of mobilizing its Sales Representatives and customers to address breast cancer and domestic violence.  Through 2009, more than $730 million was raised and donated for these causes worldwide. Hello Green Tomorrow marks the company's first external environmental engagement, and it underscores Avon's commitment to environmental stewardship in areas ranging from greenhouse gas reduction to the use of "green" building standards in new construction. As a reflection of this commitment, in 2009 Avon ranked #25 on Newsweek magazine's first "green" list of the 500 largest US-based corporations.

In line with this commitment to sustainability, in March 2010 the company announced the Avon Paper Promise, a comprehensive policy outlining efforts and goals for promoting sustainable forest use, protecting forests, and reducing demands on forests.  Avon's goal is to purchase 100% of its paper from certified and or post consumer recycled content sources within ten years, with a certification preference of Forest Stewardship Council.  

Tod Arbogast, Avon Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, noted that "Avon is committed to constant improvement in our environmental stewardship.  We must lead with the authentic example of our own actions, and provide the opportunity, through Hello Green Tomorrow, for citizens around the world to join the 'green' movement. We are proud of our progress while we recognize there is much more to do."

Initially, Avon Hello Green Tomorrow will focus on the restoration of the South American Atlantic Rainforest, which is one of the tropical forests that serve as the "lungs of the earth" and, with only 7% remaining, one of the most threatened ecosystems.  All trees planted in the Atlantic Rainforest through Hello Green Tomorrow support the United Nations Environment Programme Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.

"The Atlantic Rainforest is a critical conservation priority," explained Fernando Veiga, Environmental Services Manager, The Nature Conservancy Brazil, which is Avon's partner in the Hello Green Tomorrow replanting. "It is one of the greatest repositories of biodiversity on the earth, including primates, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and birds. For millions of local people, the rainforest is central to their livelihoods and protects important sources of clean water. For everyone around the world, the Atlantic Forest helps regulate the atmosphere and stabilize global climate.

Avon has launched a comprehensive campaign worldwide to raise funds to replant and restore this forest.  Every $1 raised through these worldwide efforts plants and restores one tree, and every million trees, including the first million donated by Avon, restores nearly 2,500 acres, helping ensure a better future for the next generation.

For more information visit www.hellogreentomorrow.com .

Avon Products, Inc.

Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with over $10 billion in annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in more than 100 countries through approximately 6.2 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 $730 million raised and awarded worldwide through the Avon Foundation for Women and global philanthropic programs. The company is committed to environmental stewardship and was rated #25 on the Newsweek green rankings of the top 500 largest US companies, and Avon is committed to constant environmental improvement worldwide. Learn more about Avon at www.avoncompany.com.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) was founded in 1951 and is the 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 and 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. The Conservancy is a key partner in the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund program. Working with its Brazil-based team and local conservation partners, The Nature Conservancy will plant and restore the trees as well as monitor the restored forest, ensuring the long-term benefits of the Atlantic Rainforest.

UNEP Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. The UNEP mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The Hello Green Tomorrow program supports the UNEP Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, a worldwide tree planting initiative that encompasses people, communities, businesses, industry, civil society organizations and governments in 170 countries. The Billion Tree Campaign will make a substantial contribution to the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity for our well-being.

SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.