companies are also focused on the impact they have on the environment.
Since its inception in 1958, Éminence Organic Skin Care has used sustainable farming and green practices to create its organic and Biodynamic skin-care products. Even when its recycled packages weren’ t en vogue during Éminence’ s North American debut in the 1990s, the company proudly stuck to its ecofriendly mission.
“ When we got here, spa was all about luxury and nothing else. Everyone wanted the shiny boxes with the gold print with the foil,” says Boldijarre Koronczay, Eminence Organic Skin Care
founder and president.“ What I’ m really proud of is we have never switched from [ recycled packaging ], while the world kind of caught up and organic and green became popular.”
Today, Éminence uses wind and solar power energy at its ingredient farm in Hungary where planting and harvesting is done by manual labor, rather than mechanical means, to reduce fuel emissions and improve quality control. The farm also employs natural plant preservation techniques rather than chemical pesticides and the laboratory process is based on geothermal heating. Éminence also packages its products in boxes
made from post-consumer recycled material and plastic containers made of recycled, nontoxic plastic. Even packing chips are made of corn and easily dissolve under running water.
Éminence’ s other green highlights include the use of Forest Stewardship Council( FSC)-certified paper and vegetable-based inks in printing as well as partnering with shipping companies in North America that are working towards a“ no emission” goal by upgrading vehicles in their fleet. Éminence’ s headquarters in Vancouver was also built with the environment in mind, featuring solar panels on the roof, day lighting and energy-efficient appliances. To reduce the impact the Éminence staff in Vancouver has on the environment, Koronczay encourages alternative transportation by paying for employees’ transit passes.
“ The result of that is that 95 percent of our staff, and we have a huge staff, does not
Far left: Eminence Organic Skin Care President Boldijarre Koronczay.
Case Study: Éminence Organic Skin Care
Environmental Issue: Deforestation Green Initiative: Buy a Product, Plant a Tree Partner Foundation: Forests for the Future Strategy: Partnering with a tree-planting organization like Forests for the Future, Éminence Organic Skin Care commits to planting a tree for every product it sells. Éminence Founder and President Boldijarre Koronczay wanted to launch this initiative for many years, but waited until the company was at the size that it could afford to do it. So far, the company has planted more than half a million trees and the first year of the program is estimated to result in more than 1,000 football fields of trees planted.
Case Study: Kaffee’ s Garden Spa
Environmental Issue: Restoring the Florida Everglades Green Initiative: Sustainable Beauty Initiative Partner Foundation: Arthur R. Marshall Foundation for The Everglades Strategy: Kaffee’ s Garden Spa has been a partner with the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation for The Everglades since 2011. The spa hosts events and donates a portion of proceeds to the Foundation. The spa has invested an estimated US $ 4,500 in the form of donations, door prizes and sponsorship to support the Foundation. The spa’ s dedication to restoring the Florida Everglades has also led to Paul Suschak, Kaffee’ s Garden Spa’ s team member for seven years, to serve on the Foundation as a board member.
32 PULSE n March / April 2013