I’m sure you have noticed that brands large and small are using the words “Ethical”, “Sustainable”, “Green,” etc. in their marketing lately. But what does that really mean? What are their chops?
As a consumer, I find it very frustrating when a business uses buzz words but doesn’t really share the detail behind them.
We put a lot of time and energy into making sure that everything we do at Awake Organics is better than the month before.
We are continually evolving and improving.
So, I want to make sure that you know what we’re doing at Awake Organics – what makes us an Ethical, Green, Sustainable, and Cruelty-Free. Because I am passionate about building a business that is based on transparency, and is good for people AND the planet.
We're piloting a #zerowaste500club packaging return program, which will enable you to return your glass jars and earn discounts off future purchases. Join Today!
It’s really important to me! This is our difference:
First, we only source our ingredients, labels, and paper packaging from trusted suppliers based in the UK and Italy. Every one of our ingredients must fit in at least one of these five criteria: Soil Association Certified Organic, Fair-trade, Wild-crafted, Food Grade, or Local Organic (small producer without certification but grows using organic farming methods).
Our main ingredients supplier has implemented several additional strategies that sets them apart from the crowd:
- They installed a 20Kw solar array on their warehouse roof
- They compost their milling waste and use it in their herb field
- They buy larger volumes from our primary and secondary suppliers, which is far more energy efficient
- They draw water from a bore-hole on their farm
Our main essential oil supplier has Certified Food Grade, Organic oils – this is the absolute best quality in the world.
Second, we use UK-grown Hemp Seed Oil across our natural skin care range because it is the most sustainable crop available – and it’s amazing for your skin. Hemp crops require almost no water, pesticides, herbicides and they actually replenish the soil. Our hemp oil is food grade, grown from seed, without the use of chemicals, on a small farm in West Sussex, UK. Here’s a video to show you around the farm.
Third, our recyclable glass is manufactured in the UK and Italy. You will not find that our packaging is sourced from China, even though this would be considerably cheaper. Our card packaging is made seven miles from our studio, using recycled FSC materials and is printed with biodegradable vegetable inks.
Fourth, we are a cruelty-free brand, certified by the Cruelty Free International Association (Leaping Bunny). We do not test on animals or use ingredients known to be unhealthy for humans or the planet.
Fifth, we conserve water by leaving it out of our formulas. It doesn’t belong there!
Sixth, we review our environmental impact policy and ethos annually to ensure that we are leaving as little impact on the planet as possible. We are ahead of the curve, as we has a sustainable supply chain.
In 2018, we refreshed our packaging to make it even more eco-friendly. In doing so we were able to reduce our waste by 30%. We also switched the business over to renewable energy and saved 5,644 kg of CO2. That’s the weight of one orca and the equivalent of planting 2,822 trees!
We have launched our closed-loop return program, #ZeroWaste500Club, which will enable you to return your glass jars and earn discounts off future purchases. The pilot program will initially run for 12 months with a minimum goal of recirculating 500 jars, and reducing CO2emissions by 4.3 tonnes (otherwise generated to produce and transport new glass).
PS. We’re always happy to hear from you if you have any suggestions to help us do better! Get in touch anytime.
Melissa x
