Forevers CSR
Forevers CSR - Corporate Social ResponsibilityCSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
Accountable to the Environment
Ever since Forever Living Products was founded in 1978, we’ve had the utmost respect for nature. While we’ve always been environmentally-conscious, we wanted to hold ourselves accountable.
Over the past several years, we have revised and implemented even more processes and systems, to ensure that we aren’t just paying lip-service to our commitment to the planet and its inhabitants, and to remind us to continue to hold ourselves accountable for improvement.
Not Just Greenwashing
Our challenge to be more eco-friendly was never based on following fads or silencing critics. We do it because it is the right thing to do. Unlike other companies that brag about minimal changes just to keep up with environmental trends, we continually assess our practices, make and reevaluate plans to better ourselves, and have sought the certification of the International Organization for Standardization—an independent organization that evaluates companies’ environmental impact.
We designated two areas where we could improve:
Waste Generation
Waste Recovery
In the first 5 years of monitoring our progress we reduced our waste by 50% and increased our recycling from 26% to 61%. Again, while we are proud of this progress, we’re not slowing down. We continue to progress and challenge ourselves to do more. This challenge has extended throughout the organisation, from our aloe fields to our manufacturing processes and into our corporate offices. Forever is continually aligning with packaging partners who have fully adopted or are in process of implementing green manufacturing processes.
In our facilities, motion-activated light switches help to conserve electricity and prevent unnecessary use in areas that are frequently vacant, while air and temperature controls utilize set-back thermostats or scheduling software to minimise operation after working hours.
Recycling more – Forevers CSR
Forever Living recycles over 200 tons of corrugated cardboard each year. In fact the new Forever drinking gels are contained in packaging made from recyclable materials. When shipping products Forever uses plastic air cushions for padding and stability. These air cushions are recyclable, can be punctured to take up less space and have a neutral carbon footprint. The boxes used are made of 85% recycled materials and are printed with environmentally-friendly inks.
We not only recycle cardboard but also all the recyclable plastic from the manufacturing process. In addition to our recycling program, we continue to examine ways to improve and reduce packaging throughout our facilities. Not only will these efforts save materials used in packaging, but also in the shipping process, thus saving even more plastic, cardboard and pallets in the future!
Investments in new manufacturing technologies have served to cut energy consumption significantly, in some cases up to 80%. For the last three years, Aloe Vera of America has received the Blue Thumb Award signifying a commitment to keeping our waterways clean in addition to being recognised for our commitment to our pollution prevention program.
Our compounding area of our product manufacturing line has reduced waste generation by 60% through upgrades in equipment, while also increasing efficiency and consistency of the production process.
Our aloe fields
On our aloe fields, cultivation of aloe plants has changed over the years to make us even more environmentally-sustainable:
- We cultivate the rows and now use a 21” sweep that more effectively maintains the rows free of unwanted vegetation. This all reduces the need for herbicides.
- In 2013 we also increased the maintenance of the aloe fields to de-pup the aloe (remove the baby plants from underneath or beside the mother plant). This reduces water usage in the fields as there is decreased competition for nutrients to each plant.
- Water used in the washing of aloe leaves is reused three times before it is pumped to a holding pond or reservoir where it can be used to irrigate the aloe fields.
- All aloe rind waste from manufacture of aloe juice is returned to the soil to provide nutrients for the growing plants.
Our carbon footprint – Forevers CSR
Forever Living Products’ net carbon footprint is one of a net positive effect on the environment. When it comes to the efficiency of converting CO2 into oxygen, 20 aloe plants are equal to one tree.
Forever’s aloe fields house over 50 million aloe vera plants; these aloe fields will cleanse the earth of millions of tons of CO2 in their lifetime.
Forever Living continues to move forward in identifying and implementing ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint overall by ensuring our manufacturing and office facilities are energy efficient and continually upgrading our agricultural practices. Despite all of our current initiatives towards becoming environmentally-sustainable, we are not stopping because we recognise that there is always room for improvement in this very important area.
