[the paltry, limp, pre-packaged, industrial organic offering at one of SoCal's "natural" grocery chains]
What was particularly interesting to me this time around was the difference in perception of what "green" means. In my new quest to replace my caustic cosmeceuticals, I headed to Venice Beach to check out Vert, a well-publicized and self-described "eco chic beauty boutique." And I quote:
Vert is like no other retail experience -With a promise like that, I was expecting a LEED-certified Mecca of sustainable wrinkle abatement. But it was more like a return to seventh grade: I was the palest, nerdiest kid by a mile, the "popular" girl helping me couldn't even understand my questions much less answer them, and I found myself trying to pretend like I hadn't done my homework.
a destination as well as an education - not
to be missed.
Located in Venice California, Vert is a high-end,
luxury retail store specializing in all-natural
eco-friendly products from around the world.
Although the store's main focus is beauty,
we are committed to promoting an all-natural,
eco-friendly lifestyle.
The conversation went something like this:
Cute sales girl: If you're looking for eco-friendly skin care, Arcona is the best! Everyone who works here uses it.
Me: Cool! Do you know what's in it?
Her: Oh, only natural ingredients. No chemicals.
Me: Um...okay. That's...good. Do you know where they source their "natural" ingredients from?
Her: No, I'm sorry. I don't.
Me: Oh. Okay, well, maybe it's on their website. Blah blah make excuses for her blah blah be nice force smile blah blah take sample.
Her: You'll also love this sunscreen. All-natural ingredients, no chemicals. Created by a cancer survivor.
Me: Great! Oh, I see here that it has nano zinc oxide in it. What is the store's position on nanoparticles?
Her: I'm sorry, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about. Nano what?
Me: Oh well, blahblahblah penetrate skin and organs, blah blah permanent biochemical damage blah blah FDA investigating blah blah blah...
Her: Well, you know the green road is a long one, and we're all just taking it one step at a time.
Me: Ha ha yes, so true. [I'll just shut up now...forced smile why am I such a nerd blah blah stop talking blah blah.] I guess I'll try it!
I don't fault the cute sales girl or the store. The green road IS a long one, and at least they're on it. But it's just so interesting to me that for them, "eco" does not yet encompass organic, localism, carbon footprints, crop displacement, ethical labor practices, or really any of the core tenants of the movement. The motivation to go "green" seems only to do with looking cool and preventing cancer. (And even on that front they're remiss.)
I saw this Me Versus We interpretation of "green" several more times on my trip, most notably on my mom's refrigerator. She had taped up a list from a magazine of the fruits and veggies you should always buy organic to avoid pesticides in your food, versus the flora you can get away with buying conventional because the skin or growing method prevents the pesticides from penetrating the edible portions. Nothing about runoff or algae blooms or hemaphrodite frogs or raping the land or what-have-you.
Maybe it's just a phase? I know I and all my friends certainly evolved into our eco nerdology. But I can't help but worry that we're in a permanent bubble up here. I mean, down there I found myself DRIVING to a grocery store that was even closer to my aunt's house than my beloved Bi-Rite is to mine. We're talking less than a block. What if "what have you done for me lately?" is simply more infectious than "what can we do to make a difference?"
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