Online Exclusive: Rich in Simplicity

One Love Organics relies on simple, elegant, sustainable packaging for its luxury products.

One Love Organics began with a determined quest to simplify. The line’s founders, Suzanne and Chase LeRoux, were feeling uninspired and overworked in their lives as attorneys and made a resolution to find a better way to live. As they explored the principles of living simply, they discovered that they gained much more than they had given up. Rather than living a life of self-denial and poverty, they found that their lives became more full and filled with joy.

Meanwhile, Kendra Inman, Suzanne’s best friend from high school, was living on the West Coast and seeking ways to align her values with her work as a graphic designer. She too had discovered the richness of living more simply. When Suzanne approached her to help develop the brand and packaging for a new, all-natural skin care line, she knew she had found her dream project. After a year of working together, Kendra’s advice and talents beyond graphic design prompted One Love Organics to ask her to join the company as a partner and creative director. From the beginning, Suzanne, Chase and Kendra all agreed on one thing: This line had to be pure luxury.

Pure Luxury
The OLO line is built on a foundation of pure, 100% all-natural, effective and fresh ingredients. Suzanne, who has formal training in aromatherapy, herbs and holistic nutrition, tested each ingredient both independently and in formulas for a number of years in order to find the absolute best. Beautiful, appealing scents are derived naturally from the active ingredients in each formula. No ingredient is added to a formulation that does not have a direct benefit to the skin.

In her quest to create such a pure, but effective, skin care line, Suzanne came across what she calls the “preservative dilemma” and sought out a healthy alternative. After extensive research, she learned that the primary purpose of a preservative is to prevent microorganisms that grow and flourish in the presence of water. However, products that do not contain any water are self-preserving and require only an antioxidant. Staying true to her goal, Suzanne decided to take water out of the equation completely, which she says makes One Love Organics the only 100% water-free skin care brand available in the United States. She instead chose to use ingredients that are rich in antioxidants, which help keep the products fresh naturally while benefiting the skin.

In order to ensure quality and freshness, the entire OLO line is produced in small, fresh batches. Suzanne likens the line to an artisanal wine or food—each product is worth savoring, and you will experience the artisanal difference and luxury the moment you open your first product.

Simple Beauty
The packaging needed to reflect the ethos of the OLO brand: simplicity and purity. Much like the product itself, OLO started with the basic tenet that nothing would be included in the packaging if it weren’t necessary. There are no secondary packaging boxes. As much information as possible is included directly on the label to educate the customer. This is supplemented with hangtags or small brochures only when necessary. However, the One Love Organics website also provides extensive information and education.

Keeping in mind the motto “less is more,” the highly concentrated, waterless formulas also mean less consumption, packaging and transportation.

System Thinking
OLO’s goal was to find packaging solutions that are practical for the consumer, but have minimal impact on the earth. Using system thinking, which weighs the full life cycle of a product from sourcing of materials, through production, distribution, ease of use, and ultimately, end of life, OLO created the packaging for the line with the idea of using the best material for each product.

Glass
While glass is durable and can be reused or recycled with minimal environmental impact, many of these products are intended for use in the shower. This makes glass potentially dangerous or wasteful to the customer should it slip out of their hands and break. Ultimately OLO chose to package only the serum in Miron violet-tinted glass in order to protect the delicate, valuable ingredients, and preserve their potency.

Plastic
Both the wash and balm are packaged in recyclable #1 PETE plastic (only #1 and #2 plastics are likely to be recycled through municipal collection systems across the U.S.). It is safe for use in the shower and provides protection for the therapeutic ingredients. Plastic also has the advantage of being lighter weight, reducing the impact of manufacturing and distribution.

Paper
Currently the scrub is packaged in a cardboard paper tube. While paper can be somewhat problematic as packaging for cosmetics used around water, OLO’s scrub works well in a paper container because it is most often used at the sink and the labeling protects it from modest exposure to moisture.

Reusable or Secondary Use
Of course a great way to reduce the impact of packaging is to give it a use beyond the point of purchase. OLO packages its skin shammy in a reusable cotton bag. The starter kits come in a travel bag that is the perfect size to be used as a makeup case or for travel through airport security.

OLO’s approach to its packaging was built from the foundation of the products: Simplify where possible; utilize the most effective materials; minimize the impact on the environment; always strive to be true to the brand (and personal) values; and never forget the benefit to the customer.