Jill-able Fill Me Up Vases: Flowers for the Flat-Pack Enthusiast
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12.27.07
If Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, "Earth laughs in flowers, then Jill-able's Fill Me Up Vases are helping to spread that laughter. The smart, imminently reusable, infinitely portable vases are perfectly functional when in use, and simply fold up flat and store in the tiniest of spaces, making it easy to always have a vase handy or take it with you when giving (organic) cut flowers as a gift.
The user instructions go something like this: Fill vase with water; add flowers; Enjoy!; when done, empty water and store flat; re-use again and again and again! They're available in a variety of fun colors and designs to complement your favorite bouquet. Once you go flat, you never go back...::Jill-able Fill Me Up Vases via ::MoCo Loco
Update: After further review, these appear to be a clever knockoff of the Vazu flat pack vases we covered back in February, that are available in Canada. Shucks.
So, um, how is it green that plastic can be stored flat? We all know that plastic packs small. That quality doesn't make plastic shopping bags enviro-friendly. Honestly, what is this other than a marketing fancy of plastic rubbish and synthetic color spray? Even if these things were made of magic green anti-plastic, each one is likely to be used once, imperfectly dried, tucked in a drawer and thrown out when they are found to have mold in the seams. If it makes it to a second reuse, it'll be tossed when it tips over under the weight of an average bunch of droopy tulips.
This is truly disappointing. This and so many other treehugger posts really miss the point altogether. It's not even greenwash. The only thing green about this offering is the dying flower used to peddle the petrochemical product.
IMO, Part of what is 'green' about this solution is that you reduce the square footage you need to live. Many folks keep vases ... either in a cupboard, or on display on a shelf. The vase takes up about 1 cu ft of space that requires heating in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, cleaning products, etc. That space would be better suited to an object that is used more frequently for daily living - or perhaps a living plant.
Going 'green' is a spectrum... not a step function... from keeping a large lead-crystal vase on a shelf --> a plastic flatpack --> re-purposing a water glass --> not picking flowers ( :) ) .. but I think anything that moves folks further to the greener end of the spectrum is helpful.
If people want to display vases, then this object d'oil is not going to replace those display items. Two different motivations, two different uses to which this thing is put. What I am saying is that this thing doesn't even deserve to be placed much of anywhere on the green spectrum. Seriously, plastic tchotchkes will never be green, not even if they are cute.
>Update: After further review, these appear to be a clever knockoff of the Vazu flat pack vases we covered back in February, that are available in Canada. Shucks.>
I am one of the Jills of jillable.com. Neither one of us knew of Vazu when we decided to sell these vases. There are many manufacturers of flat plastic vases in the arena. Competitve markets is what makes the world goes round.
Thank you for showing our vase and allowing for free enterprise.
Jersey Jill
www.jillable.com
those looks so pretty.