Whole Foods continues sales resurgence, ups ethical sourcing
Posted - May 31, 2011
Whole Foods continues sales resurgence, ups ethical sourcing
Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFM) reported on May 4 that sales for the 12-week second quarter ended April 10, 2011 increased 12% to $2.4 billion. Comparable and identical store sales increased 7.8%, including a negative impact from Easter shifting from the second quarter last year to the third quarter this year. For stores in the identical store base, gross profit improved 66 basis points to 35.7% of sales.
John Mackey co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market said:
Aveda adds to sustainability credentials through Cradle-to-Cradle Design
Posted - May 31, 2011
Aveda adds to sustainability credentials through Cradle-to-Cradle Design
At the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit held in New York on May 12-14, 2011, leading natural personal care company Aveda shared its experiences in adopting the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) design approach, a novel way for companies to integrate sustainability into their business practices in response to rising consumer expectations.
Designed by McDonough & Braungart, the C2C design is a holistic approach that involves production processes in which nutrients are recycled at the end of their life-cycles, seeking to create systems that are not just efficient but waste free. The C2C approach enables companies to create positive impacts rather than minimizing negative ones and has evolved from a systems approach into an eco-label. Products made in accordance to the C2C design approach are given a certification.
Although originally made for industrial design and manufacturing, the C2C approach has expanded into consumer goods that include food and beverages, personal care products, cleaning products, apparel and office products. However, Organic Monitor research firm finds the adoption rate in the natural and organic products industry is surprisingly low, considering many such companies have sustainability built into their corporate ethos.
Aveda, a Blaine, Minnesota-based personal care firm was one of the first to adopt the C2C design approach. Aveda manufactures innovative plant-based hair care, skin care, make up and lifestyle products retailed through Aveda Experience Centres and over 7,000 professional hair salons and spas in more than 30 countries.
Established in 1978, the company is now the largest buyer of organic essential oils in the world and has established organic agricultural projects in Latin America, Africa and Australasia to secure supply of organic ingredients. By adopting the C2C design approach, Aveda has gone beyond making ecological and safe personal care products and has pioneered many sustainability initiatives that have had positive impacts on the environment and social communities.
Evan Miller, Director, Global Communications at Aveda said the Cradle to Cradle concept is still relatively new to consumers globally and even more so in the United States.
EU permits use of rosemary extracts in organic food
Posted - May 31, 2011
EU permits use of rosemary extracts in organic food
Rosemary extracts are used as natural preservatives in the organic industry and rosemary extracts derived from organic production can now be used in the EU as antioxidants in organic food when ethanol is used for the extraction. French natural speciality ingredients group Naturex announced in April that the use of antioxidant rosemary extracts in organic food products is now permitted with the publication of the European Regulation 344/2011/EU.
RSPO hits back in stoush over sustainable palm oil
Posted - May 31, 2011
RSPO hits back in stoush over sustainable palm oil
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, the international non-profit sustainable palm oil association, announced in May that RSPO-certified palm oil production facilities produced their five-millionth tonne of certified sustainable palm oil. It also revealed that 9% of the world
Fairtrade Canada
Posted - May 31, 2011
Fairtrade Canada
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COSMOS-standard certification for cosmetics comes to fruition
Posted - May 31, 2011
COSMOS-standard certification for cosmetics comes to fruition
The COSMOS-standard certification was launched in February by the founders of COSMOS-standard AISBL, the International non-profit association, which has an objective to offer an internationally recognized COSMOS-standard for organic and natural cosmetics. It announced the opening of application processes that will concern certification to the new standard and membership of COSMOS-standard AISBL.
Francis Blake, president of the Board of COSMOS-standard AISBL said:
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Leading Organic Alliance to promote & expand definitions of
Posted - May 31, 2011
Leading Organic Alliance to promote & expand definitions of
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Organic, natural & fairtrade alliances pursue common aims, cooperation
Posted - May 31, 2011
Organic, natural & fairtrade alliances pursue common aims, cooperation
Organic, natural and fair trade certification agencies and groups are joining forces to expand their cooperation, common aims, practices and harmonization of schemes in Europe and globally. In February prior to this year
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Gluten-free, free-from food growth as food allergies, celiac disease rises
Posted - May 31, 2011
Gluten-free, free-from food growth as food allergies, celiac disease rises
Major researchers such as SPINS Inc, Mintel UK and Packaged Facts point to a major expansion in gluten-free, allergy-free and free-from foods as food allergies, gluten-intolerance and celiac disease, and diabetes are on the rise.
Food allergy incidence has been rising in the EU, with around 3.9 per cent of children suffering from an allergy and 3-5% in children and adults in the USA. Celiac disease has been reported as being diagnosed in a one in a hundred people in the USA and Australia. The Canadian Celiac Association says that one in every 133 Canadians suffers from gluten intolerance and the Quebec-based Scientific Laboratory for Food Intolerance reports that 50 percent of Canadians suffer from an inability to properly digest certain foods.
Sales of gluten
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Ecologi Izmir celebrated second edition
Posted - May 31, 2011
Ecologi Izmir celebrated second edition
The Turkish organic sector gathered in Izmir to celebrate the second edition of EKOLOJI 12-15th May. The event aims to become a platform
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Organic, natural & fairtrade alliances pursue common aims, cooperation
Posted - May 31, 2011
Organic, natural & fairtrade alliances pursue common aims, cooperation
Organic, natural and fair trade certification agencies and groups are joining forces to expand their cooperation, common aims, practices and harmonization of schemes in Europe and globally. In February prior to this year
Gluten-free, free-from food growth as food allergies, celiac disease rises
Posted - May 31, 2011
Gluten-free, free-from food growth as food allergies, celiac disease rises
Major researchers such as SPINS Inc, Mintel UK and Packaged Facts point to a major expansion in gluten-free, allergy-free and free-from foods as food allergies, gluten-intolerance and celiac disease, and diabetes are on the rise.
Food allergy incidence has been rising in the EU, with around 3.9 per cent of children suffering from an allergy and 3-5% in children and adults in the USA. Celiac disease has been reported as being diagnosed in a one in a hundred people in the USA and Australia. The Canadian Celiac Association says that one in every 133 Canadians suffers from gluten intolerance and the Quebec-based Scientific Laboratory for Food Intolerance reports that 50 percent of Canadians suffer from an inability to properly digest certain foods.
Sales of gluten
Ecologi Izmir celebrated second edition
Posted - May 31, 2011
Ecologi Izmir celebrated second edition
The Turkish organic sector gathered in Izmir to celebrate the second edition of EKOLOJI 12-15th May. The event aims to become a platform
