3 minute read
TALKING POINT: SOTHYS
THE SUSTAINABLE STANCE
Leading skincare companies reveal to Anita Quade how they are going green in a bid to save the planet and why educating customers is key to major change.
SOTHYS
Tell us why its so important to be recognised as a sustainable brand
"For Sothys it is particularly important. Sothys determined two decades ago that the future of the company was dependant upon a complete evolution and adaptation of an “Eco-Concept Manifesto”.
JEFFERY DALEY CEO
www.sothys.com.au
This is not something that happens overnight and each year I have seen progressive moves for Sothys to become not just sustainable but entirely eco-supportive."
What are the benefits to being eco -friendly?
"Sothys purchased 300 hectares of pristine land in the high country of Central France 20 years ago.
40 hectares of this site became an organic Botanical Garden for the cultivation and study of plant extract potential as well as being a tourist experience to remind humans of their connection with nature. The benefits of being Eco-friendly is that it changes the entire mentality of those in the company and the end user of the product to be more aware and sensitive to environmental issues."
What is one of your most stand out intiatives in the sustainability arena?
"Sothys has formed a partnership with Plastic Bank, a company based in Canada, who is motivated to try and prevent plastic entering the ocean environment. Through this relationship, Sothys is moving towards becoming “plastic neutral” through protection of our oceans. The principle is to commence an ethical recycling eco-system in vulnerable coastal communities.
Sothys is also removing PVC from packaging and is engaging in only renewable materials."
What are some of the major challenges in ensuring your brand is sustainable?
"One of the big challenges is reducing energy input from carbon sources. Sothys has reduced its electricity intake by 39% since 2013 and reduced its fuel consumption by 32% since 2013. This is quite significant for a large company to achieve such a reduction in fossil fuel generated energy in less than a decade while growing the company exponentially.
Other ways they have been able to reduce energy usage is through the adaptation of lighter materials used in packaging and recyclable and recycled are used.
Sothys Green Chemistry, using natural methods of extracting active ingredients from plants, is thus reducing the use of industrial chemicals in the environment."
