PR has massively attributed to waste by gifting influencers and celebrities a gluttonous amount of products. The murderous waste of packaging used to conceal one vile of single use plastic will sit in plastic organizers of Ikea drawers, to market the sale of societal expectations. All being personally delivered to celebrities that have these products and can afford to buy anything for themselves.
Public Relations (PR) products are curated gifts sent to influencers in hopes to increase sales and share their brand name. PR boxes are typically full of products, samples, or other items with the brand name printed on them. The goal is to reach new audiences and help shape the way their brand name is perceived.
PR unboxingshave blown up on TikTok. Influencers will spend an entire video just opening PR and giving shoutouts to brands, a video that will ultimately blow up and get them even more PR But are those five seconds of fame worth the pile of unopened products, cardboard boxes, packaging, and waste?
Influencers who already post huge shopping hauls often receive PR. Most of these influencers have already tried many products and know exactly what they want to use. Even after receiving PR, influencers will do the get ready with me routine using the same products they were before. PR is also sent in every shade. For example, the big baby pink boxes of every shade of the Rare Beauty liquid blushes sent as PR. No one person can possibly use all of that product.
But during Coachella, overconsumption gets out of control. PR has gone well beyond sending a few samples in a color-coordinated box. PR is killing our environment.
The brand Dyson, famous for their Dyson Airwrap, has sent their hair styling tools to many influencers in PR. Dyson participated in Revolve’s gifting suite at Coachella which hosted many influencers presenting free products to them. The invite-only Revolve Festival event in Palm Springs occurs before influencers head to Coachella. While it is separate from Coachella, many celebrities attending Coachella are invited to this event. According to Indy100, the festival involved a performance by Cardi B, unlimited food and drinks, and every celebrity in one place.
Also included in this festival was the giveaway of the $500 Dyson hairdryer, The Supersonic. Influencers then went to TikTok posting hauls showing the internet the latest form of overconsumption they are supporting. Lya Mariella, posted a haul on TikTok showing off the thousands of dollars worth of product she got, including her new Dyson Supersonic.
Celebrities get their hair and makeup done professionally for Coachella, they do not need a free hairdryer.
Dyson appears to care a great deal about sustainability. “James Dyson first developed cyclone technology for the DC01 vacuum cleaner, reducing the need for wasteful bags,” the Sustainability at Dyson page reads on their website. They also build their products with recycled materials. But any excessive use of material, even if it can be recycled, is a waste. The excess comes when Dyson gifts hairdryers to people who already have hairdryers. Roughly, 1,200 guests attended the Revolve event according to The Business of Fashion. That means 1,200 hairdryers to sit in the cabinets of these influencers until finally being thrown out meeting its destiny; the dump. And the environment slowly dies, one Dyson hairdryer at a time.