October brings two important days focused on caring for the world: International Day of Climate Action on October 24th and Sustainability Day on October 28th. Both are chances for our Aveda community and the world to take action and make thoughtful choices that can help better the environment.
Since 1978, our mission has always been to care for the world we live in, and this year to celebrate these two days, we’re sharing some of the ways in which we give back to the Earth and some suggestions for how you can help too.
1) NATURALLY DERIVED INGREDIENTS
We craft our products with naturally derived ingredients,* all of our hair care collections are 90% naturally derived.* Although the focus on using more natural ingredients may just now be catching on in the beauty industry, this has been part of our ethos since the very beginning.
Our founding philosophy was far ahead of its time; we adopted a holistic thinking with the belief that individual beauty is directly linked to the world around us. The creation of Aveda led us to an incredible community, full of people like yourself, who value the power and potential of nature right along with us. We continue to build upon this philosophy and aim to maximize the use of naturally derived ingredients in our formulations.
When it comes to sourcing these ingredients, sustainability is at the very core of our practice. Our responsible sourcing processes ensure that we harvest plant-based ingredients from renewable plant-based origins—all without negatively impacting the ecosystems from which they are sourced.
2) VEGAN AND CRUELTY FREE
Caring for the Earth we live in means caring for those we live with, too. That’s why we only manufacture 100% vegan products** that are cruelty free. We never test on animals and would never ask others to do so on our behalf.
3) RESPONSIBLE PACKAGING
As a company, we believe we have a responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of our packaging. Toward this end, we strive to use 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials; when we can’t, we combine post-consumer recycled materials with bioplastic made from sugarcane, which is not detrimental to recycling systems.*** In fact, Aveda blazed the trail in the beauty industry by creating bottles with 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging, and we’re always looking for ways to improve.
4) RESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURING
Aveda has also led through its use of alternative energy sources in product manufacturing. First, we harnessed the power of the wind to manufacture all of our products with 100% wind power through renewable energy credits and carbon offsets. Since the completion of our solar array at Aveda HQ this past summer, all of our products are now created with wind and solar-powered manufacturing.†
5) PROTECTING THE HONEY BEES
Aveda is built upon the power of flower and plant essences, and without bees and their pollination, we couldn’t make all of the beautiful products you love.
Aveda HQ is situated on a 58-acre National Wildlife Federation-Certified habitat, and we protect over 100,000 bees through colonies on this land. We help create an environment they can thrive in by providing thoughtfully chosen plants for food and shelter, plus trees and shrubs for nectar. Ample flowers allow the bees to pollinate, and all of our landscaping uses pesticide-free sustainable practices.
How can you help?
You can follow our ethos and take action by consciously choosing vegan products or shopping cruelty free products in other areas of your life. Look for sustainable brands with eco friendly business practices that actively support the environment. To cut down on your use of plastic you can also shop with a canvas tote and switch to a reusable water bottle. With every choice you make, you’re telling the world what’s important to you.
