When we built our Malle, Belgium factory in 1992, it was celebrated for its ecological design.
We used over 90% recycled or renewable materials, with reclaimed wooden beams and strengthened European pine instead of steel and concrete. And special low energy ‘eco’ bricks for the walls.
It’s designed to let in lots of sunlight, making it a nicer place to work and reducing our need for heating. Our living green roof also helps with insulation, as well as blending in with the local environment. Our flowering small succulents now attract plenty of wildlife, including magnificent ospreys.
Building a more sustainable factory isn’t the end of it. No putting our feet up. We constantly strive to make it as environmentally responsible as possible. Which is why we’re certified Platinum zero-waste by TRUE.
TRUE is a zero waste certification program for businesses to assess performance in reducing waste and maximizing resource efficiency. Learn more at true.gbci.org.
Platinum is the highest level awarded by TRUE and reflects our best-in-class waste management practices. As of 2021 we divert 98% of our solid waste away from landfill, incineration and the environment, by reuse, recycling and reduction projects. And we’ve got a clear route to achieving 100% within the next couple of years.
TRUE and the related logo is a trademark owned by Green Business Certification Inc.™ and is used with permission.
Our carbon footprint isn’t just another buzzword for us. It’s something we tackle head on. From using recycled and recyclable packaging to making our formulas more concentrated.
We obsessively measure carbon emissions for our footprint – ingredients, packaging, travel, utilities, manufacturing and distribution, the works. We’ve worked out that our global current carbon emissions in 2017 were 74,434 metric tons. Which, as far as we’re concerned, is 74,434 tons too many.
A zero-carbon footprint future is our bold long term goal. But for now, we’re working on getting our emissions down through initiatives like using renewable energy in our factory.
It’s not all about CO2. We aim to be recycling or composting 100% of our waste. And we’re not far off that figure today. Achieving this goal would mean that none of our waste will end up in landfill.
We’re total water obsessives. Always have been. Always will be. It all started when we saw the damage that phosphates were doing to plant and aquatic life, and launched our phosphate-free laundry washing powder.
In 1979, banning phosphates from cleaning products seemed like a revolutionary idea. In 2017, it was finally signed into European law. While we may have won that particular battle, we know there’s still so much more to do. We’re rolling up our sleeves and doing the best we can to create a sustainable future for our water systems.
The UN estimates that by 2025, two-thirds of us will live in areas where water supplies – our most important and life-sustaining substance – are stressed. It’s fair to say that we are not okay with this.
Each year we obsessively measure our Water Footprint. As our business grows, we’re constantly seeking new and ingenious ways of using less water as a company. We’re starting to research how ingredient-producing crops are grown, launching more concentrated laundry liquids, and looking at long term solutions to influence the amount of water people use with our products at home. It all counts.
We work hard to reduce the amount of water we use in our factories. We survey our suppliers to identify ways to improve their water footprints too.
We’re always looking for ways we can use less water, especially when making our products.
One little process we’re pretty proud of is our cleaning ‘pig’ – a device that cleans our pipes when changing the production line in our factory. It works by pushing product through the pipes instead of water, making a squealing noise that sounds a bit like a pig.
We then purify the small amount of wastewater created to meet surface water quality standards, working with local companies to recycle it. For example, one company uses our waste water to maintain bacteria at their biological water treatment plant.
WaterAid is one of the most effective organisations working in areas where water is scarce.
Over a two-year period, we helped WaterAid bring a safe, sustainable water supply to 14,000 people in the Hintallo region of Ethiopia. As well as educating and empowering women in hygiene, sanitation and decision-making. We want to support water projects again in the future and have further impact in improving access to water in areas where this is needed.
So that’s Clever Manufacturing.
When we say we live and breathe clean, we mean it. From the way we do business to how we source our ingredients to out war on ocean plastic – it’s all about finding new ways to put our values into practice. Even if it’s going to take a while to get there.
Find out more about what were doing…
Plastic
We’re waging war on single-use plastic. And we’re aiming to make all our bottles from recycled plastic.
Manufacturing
First we built one of the world’s most ecologically sound factories. Next stop: a zero-waste, zero-carbon footprint.
Sourcing
We’re making our supply chain more responsible. Buying local when we can and using suppliers with shared values.
Fragrances
We use fragrances that are designed to smell fresh and wonderful – not overpower you with toxic chemicals.
Design
We believe that packaging design can have a positive impact on people and the planet.
Ingredients
Most of our ingredients are made of biodegradable substances.
