6 Ways We’re An Eco-Friendly Business
At the Eminence Organic Skin CareWe firmly believe that every day is Earth Day. As we celebrate the greenest month of the year, we're also celebrating 17 million trees planted so far as part of our Forests For The Future initiative. Not only do we plant a tree for every product sold, but we also honor our commitment to finding environmentally friendly solutions in all areas of our business. From our green offices in Vancouver, Canada to our sustainable farming practices in Hungary, environmental awareness is at the heart of everything we do.
If you've ever wondered how our company stays environmentally conscious and uses environmentally friendly practices, here is an overview of what we do to make Earth Day every day.
Eminence Organics' eco-friendly initiatives
1. We plant a tree for every product sold!
Eminence Organics, in partnership with Trees for the futureFor every retail skin care product sold, plant a tree so we can support communities in developing countries. The Forests For The Future initiative helps farmers build productive and sustainable crops and farms. This helps local communities grow their own food and build sustainable incomes for their families. Our program has resulted in tree planting in more than 22 countries around the world and in supporting countless communities and families.
Amazingly, a single tree can produce around 260 pounds of oxygen per year. Trees help lower air temperatures to combat climate change and stabilize the soil by preventing erosion from their roots. They also contribute to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and increasing water penetration.
2. The Green Spa program
Our Green Spa program rewards companies who actively support the green movement and inspires others to do more in their spas and salons. Spa companies must meet 60% of our environmental requirements to be recognized as an Eminence Organics Green Spa. Some of the requirements include choosing reusable or biodegradable options whenever possible, using power strips in treatment rooms and office areas, and turning them off when equipment is not in use. Spas must also set up an in-spa recycling awareness program and use natural, non-toxic, biodegradable detergents instead of chemical-based products.
To learn more about what we ask of our Green Spas, see our Green Spa Requirements. You can also find a certified Eminence Green Spa near you by using our Spa Locator and filtering only our Green Spas.
3. Proud to be a Certified B Corporation®
As the first Canadian professional skin care company to be certified as a B Corporation®, we have met the highest standards for overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Certified B companies are companies that work towards corporate responsibility that balances profit and purpose. This certification measures the overall social and environmental performance of a company using the B-Impact Assessment, which assesses how a company's business activities and business model affect its employees, society, the environment and customers.
4. Environmentally friendly packaging: retail packaging
Our retail packaging is printed with vegetable inks and made from recyclable materials, while the majority of our marketing materials are made from FSC certified materials. FSC identifies products that are made from 100% virgin material from FSC-certified forests. These labels reassure you that the product you have purchased comes from responsible sources and has been checked to ensure that it meets the strict environmental and social standards of FSC.
5. Green Company, green building
As a growing company, we recently set up a larger central office to improve our award-winning service to our spa partners. When we expanded our eco-friendly office, we never lost sight of our commitment to being an eco-friendly company. Instead of building a new building, we expanded the existing building next door, thereby reducing our carbon footprint. Looking at our current office, the room uses natural light with large windows and multiple skylights for more energy efficiency. Our floors are covered with carpet tiles made from 60% recycled materials and our office walls are redecorated with non-toxic paint using low-VOC chemicals. We use energy efficient appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves and eight LED TVs. Other solutions include LED lamps that run on environmentally friendly timers and motion sensors, as well as sortable waste disposal, including a section for compostable materials.
6. Sustainable shipping materials and sugar-leaf paper
When it comes to our shipping materials and even the paper we use in our office, we turn to natural plant sources first. When shipping our products, we use a combination of biodegradable popcorn and unbleached kraft paper. Our packaging popcorn is made from biodegradable potato or corn starch, which dissolves in water as a non-toxic and harmless waste. In the office we use sheets of paper in the printers. These edible leaves are made from 100% natural sugarcane fiber residues that help preserve forests and reduce greenhouse gases.
As a company, we take daily inspiration from the creative ways others are proactive in making our planet a happier, healthier place. We are also very proud that our business partners, loyal spa partners and Eminence Organics fans are doing their part in the green movement.
How do you keep our planet green, healthy and happy? Let us know in the comments below.