Can Hollywood materialism merge with meaningful environmentalism? Achieving this synergy is what Green for Good, an eco-chic soiree thrown by Women’s Health magazine and the Environmental Media Association on Thursday, aimed to do. The event invite promised that “the green-themed gathering will raise awareness about the environment among influential consumers, young Hollywood trendsetters and the Women’s Health magazine and online audience.”

So my friend Alison and I left the Vie fundraiser early to see this green-and-Hollywood synergy in action. Meaning that we took advantage of the complimentary valet at the Sunset Tower Hotel, then drank champagne and ate caviar in the corner while wishing we’d stopped at home to freshen up as we watched beautiful people move about in designer dresses.

How did the soiree raise eco-awareness? That’s a bit hard to say. The event was, after all, a party first and foremost — sort of like Green Drinks, except for richer and more famous people — hosted by Lake Bell (Pride and Glory, What Happens In Vegas) and Chelsea Handler (Chelsea Lately), both pictured right.

On the upside, no one had to suffer through dry speeches or browse the usual eco-informational booths — at least not after 8:30-ish, when I arrived. On the downside, the green message was rather buried under the Hollywood glitz and glamor — and its attendant conspicuous consumer and celebrity culture.

But Green for Good did have an understated eco-factor that sent a subtle, yet important green message: The soiree was disposable water bottle-free!

The reusable-glass-only event was refreshing because many eco-events still feature one-use disposable items. In fact, many eco events are sponsored by bottled water companies that call themselves eco because they, say, buy carbon offsets (FIJI) or use biodegradable plastic (Biota and many others) for their one-use, often-headed-for-the-landfill products that showcase the worst of our consumer culture.

Of course, the Green for Good event had sponsors too — Aveda and PUR — and I’m guessing the latter played a role in de-plasticking the event. Regardless, considering the fact that the swank soiree did just fine sans plastic, I’m hoping we’re a step closer to a world where bottled water becomes declassé and filtered tap water in a glass gets glamorized (or at least more popularized, in a “Just Like Us” sort of way). After all, there’s a certain tackiness attached to plastic champagne glasses in an otherwise classy event. Why not the same for plastic bottles?

Last but not least: I learned about a new Aveda program that’ll delight the avid recyclers reading this. Last week, Aveda launched a plastic bottle cap recycling program, creatively titled Recycle Caps With Aveda. As most of you know, caps are usually made of a different plastic than the bottles, and rarely get recycled even when put into your blue bin. Aveda’s now collecting those eco-blights to make new containers and caps, and wants you to drop the ones you have at a participating store. So along with your wine corks, start a stash for your plastic caps.

Just don’t drink bottled water to grow your stash.

Top photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage.com

Update, 11/16/08: Unfortunately, Environmental Media Association’s award ceremony was marred by water encased in disposable and tacky TetraPak containers.

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