MEMBERS of the Penang Green Citizens and also the public could stand a chance to win some special gifts when they bring their empty bottles of beauty and care products to the L’Occitane Beauty Market at Gurney Paragon Mall in George Town.
The L’Occitane Beauty Market is an initiative by the international retailer of beauty products, L’Occitane Malaysia and supported by the Penang Green Council (PGC).
PGC general manager Josephine Tan said the beauty market has already started yesterday and it would be until Feb 20.
“The L’Occitane Beauty Market will open until Feb 20 but the recycling programme will still continue after that at three L’Occitane outlets in Penang which are located at Gurney Paragon Mall, Gurney Plaza and Queensbay Mall.
“The objective of the programme is to create awareness of the correct way to dispose the empty beauty products which is by recycling them.
“We also want to reward our members under the Penang Green Citizen programme who send their beauty and care empties for recycling.
“This is also not our first time collaborating with L’Occitane. Since 2020, the PGC has been collaborating with L’Occitane in their recycling programme to encourage Penang citizens to practise a greener lifestyle such as segregating waste and recycling, as well as to combat waste issue hand in hand,” said Tan during her visit to the L’Occitane Beauty Market today.
Also present were state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and L’Occitane Malaysia and Singapore brand general manager Elida Wong.
Tan added that through L’Occitane Beauty Market, PGC and L’Occitane would be giving special gifts to the green citizens and the public who show their efforts in reducing waste.
“The first 1,000 visitors (public and members of Penang Green Citizens) with beauty empties will receive a mini size lip balm. Visitors just need to visit the booths and get the QR code scanned before they can redeem a gift. The first 1000 visitors who do that will get mini size lip balm.
“Not just that, with a minimum of 10 beauty empties recycled during the weekend, green citizens will also stand a chance to take part in a lucky draw session to win extra rewards and gifts. There is no lucky draw during weekdays. But if they recycle and achieve 50th and 100th bottles of beauty empties, they can redeem a cash voucher as an extra reward under our existing reward program for our collaboration with L’Occitane.
“So, don’t forget also to come during this weekend to the beauty market at the Atrium of Level 1, Gurney Paragon Mall. The PGC staff will be there to manage the lucky draw.
“We will also recruit new green citizens during this weekend, so we welcome non-citizens to come and meet us also. They can also be part of the Penang Green Citizens through https://pgc.com.my/pggreencitizen/ ,” she said.
Phee said the state government is glad with such collaboration through one of its agencies and encouraged more of such collaboration in the future.
“After all, circular economy plays an important role in helping us to reduce waste and ensure the sustainability of our resources.
“There are also more than 22,000 citizens who have pledged as Penang Green Citizens over the years. Thus, we are calling for more Penangites to pledge and join us in this green movement to reduce waste and be a responsible citizen,” he said.
The Penang Green Citizens programme was launched by PGC in 2009 to encourage individuals and communities to give their commitment to making Penang a cleaner, greener, safer, healthier and happier city by pledging to uphold at least one out of 10 key initiatives.
These include save water, conserve energy, reduce single use plastics, bring own food container/ water bottle, practise 5R – refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle – to extend the lifespan of Pulau Burung Landfill.
Other initiatives are to use public transport or carpool to reduce carbon footprint, support anti-smoking initiative, stop littering, stop open burning and create a caring society.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal