Origins Rocks Earth Month FREE Concert Featuring Grammy Award-Winner Macy Gray to Benefit Origins Global Earth Initiatives

NEW YORK, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Earth Month 2010 and Origins Earth Initiatives which support programs that help to sustain the planet, Origins will host its first annual Origins Rocks Earth Month Concert in NYC on April 19th.  Fans are invited to the FREE star-studded concert at Webster Hall New York City located in Downtown Manhattan featuring Grammy Award-Winner Macy Gray.  Origins has chosen to partner with Macy as her new single "Beauty In The World" captures the sentiment of Earth Month.  The concert will also include performances by emerging artists Ryan Star and Jon McLaughlin and will be hosted by a special celebrity guest emcee.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100402/NY80498LOGO )

"At Origins, we recognize the importance of environmental stewardship.  Earth Month 2010 provides the perfect platform for Origins to reaffirm its commitment to giving back to Mother Nature, employing green practices and celebrating the planet," announces Jane Lauder, General Manager/Senior Vice President, Origins.  "Last year, through our Global Earth Initiative, Origins collected 7,500 pounds of empty cosmetic packaging to be recycled or responsibly converted to energy and planted nearly 24,000 trees.  This year we are eager to further our green programs."

One free concert ticket will be offered to those who bring at least one empty cosmetic package, regardless of brand, to Origins retail stores in NYC, Westchester and the Garden State Plaza Mall (no purchase necessary, while tickets last).  Ticket holders must arrive at Webster Hall New York City for first come first serve entry.  Origins will collect all the packaging and recycle or responsibly convert it to energy through its Return to Origins Recycling Program.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the first annual Origins Rocks Earth Month Concert," exclaims Macy Gray.  "Origins is known for its industry-leading commitment to the people and the planet.  I am proud to be partnering with a brand that aligns with my beliefs of planting trees and cleaning up the earth for future generations."

RETURN TO ORIGINS RECYCLING PROGRAM

Earth Month 2009 marked the launch of the Origins Recycling Program, a first-of-its-kind national cosmetics recycling initiative.  Origins leads the industry-wide campaign by providing customers a place to drop off their empty cosmetic packaging including bottles, tubes, jars, caps and compacts regardless of brand to any Origins retail store or department store counter.  Origins will then submit the packaging to be recycled or responsibly converted to energy.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, everyday packaging accounts for approximately 1/3 of all landfill waste.  In an effort to continue Origins commitment to protecting the earth and its resources, Origins decided to tackle this problem head on and launch the Return to Origins Recycling Program.  As a thank you for participating, Origins offers consumers a free product sample of their choice.

"At Origins, we take great pride in the fact that our brand pioneered many of the earth-friendly manufacturing and packaging practices that have now become industry standards," explains Lauder.  "The Return to Origins Recycling Program is an example of how we can proactively promote sustainability within our communities, and we hope to encourage other brands in our industry to develop and implement similar programs."

PLANT-A-TREE CAMPAIGN

To further its Global Plant-A-Tree Campaign, Origins will plant a tree on behalf of each concert attendee through its partners Global ReLeaf™.  Did you know that just one tree provides oxygen for up to four people per day?

In 2009, Origins launched its Plant-A-Tree Campaign in partnership with American Forests' Global ReLeaf™; an education and action program that helps individuals, agencies and corporations improve the local and global environment by planting and caring for trees.  Since the launch of this successful campaign, Origins has aided reforestation projects globally by helping to plant more than 23,000 trees around the world.  In addition to planting a tree for each concert attendee, from April 18th to 30th, Origins will plant a tree in honor of each customer who purchases the NEW A Perfect World™ SPF 25 Age-defense moisturizer with White Tea or current moisturizer.

EARTH-FRIENDLY SINCE 1990

Since its inception, beginning with its iconic double-tree logo, Origins commitment to the planet and people who populate it began when the brand was born in 1990.  Origins believes that reducing pollution means increasing efficiency and wasting fewer resources.  Thus, Origins manufactures its products using a combination of renewable resources, wind energy, earth-friendly practices.  All Origins printed materials are printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.  Cartons are made from 50% Forest Stewardship Council certified paperboard and 50% post-consumer recycled fiber.  These paperboards and cartons are manufactured using wind power or hydro power, both renewable energy resources.  Origins manufacturing facilities have instituted Environmental Management Systems that comply with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).  They are designed to improve its environmental performance and avoid or reduce adverse environmental impacts over time.

PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ENERGY INC.

Taking this dedication one step further, Origins continues its partnership with Community Energy Inc. to purchase wind generated power to offset electricity used when manufacturing Origins products in company-owned facilities and when third parties manufacture the Origins Organics™ collection.  By purchasing wind power for the retail stores, Origins will use less grid electricity and achieve a carbon dioxide deduction.  And, by helping to fund the building of additional turbines with Community Energy to supply electricity to Origins manufacturing operations, Origins will achieve an additional reduction in CO2 emissions.  These reductions culminate in the equivalent of 2,800 acres of pine forest which is more than three times the size of Central Park.

STORES

Origins is available at select department and specialty stores, as well as in its own free-standing retail stores and at www.origins.com

ABOUT ORIGINS

Our mission at Origins is to create high-performance natural skin care that is powered by nature and proven by science. We use potent plants, organic ingredients, and 100% natural essential oils. And our long-standing commitment to protect the planet, its resources and all those who populate it is reaffirmed by our earth and animal friendly practices, packaging and policies.  Introduced in the United States in 1990, Origins launched internationally in 1991.  It is currently sold in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

ABOUT MACY GRAY

Macy Gray first burst onto the music scene with the massive hit single "I Try".  15,000,000 album sales later, the Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter reconnects with the essence of her creative gifts on her first album in more than 3 years entitled The Sellout, available from Concord Records on June 22nd.  Sparkling melodies and personal lyrical insights dazzle throughout The Sellout, including the album's joyous first single and video "Beauty In The World."  Perhaps Macy's most fully realized project, it's an authentic and confidently delivered statement from one of contemporary music's most skillful and creative forces.

ABOUT RYAN STAR

Mark Burnett Records/Atlantic recording artist Ryan Star will be releasing his debut album "11:59" this summer, which features the hit single "Breathe," currently charting at Hot AC radio nationwide.  The truly provocative companion video made its premiere on CNN.com and sees Star addressing the rising tide of unemployment in the US, performing on the streets of New York among various real people, from all walks of life, who are currently unemployed.  A committed road warrior, Star is currently on tour alongside Serena Ryder.

ABOUT JON MCLAUGHLIN

Singer/songwriter/pianist Jon McLaughlin is an Island recording artist whose releases OK Now, featuring the hit single "Beating My Heart", and Indiana have driven the Anderson, IN native to much success and acclaim over the course of his short career. Perhaps most notably, Jon was featured in the Oscar-nominated Disney film Enchanted performing the Oscar-nominated song "So Close" which he also performed live on the 80th Annual Academy Awards telecast. No stranger to the road, Jon has toured extensively on his own as well as with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Colbie Caillat, Duffy and OneRepublic. Currently, Jon is preparing to record his third release on Island.

Origins products are formulated WITHOUT:

Parabens - Phthalates - Propylene Glycol - Mineral Oil - PABA - Petrolatum Paraffin - DEA - Animal Ingredients (except cruelty-free honey and beeswax).  Origins tests its products on volunteer panels.  For more information visit: www.origins.com.

SOURCE Origins