Katherine Tomasso
Preserving Bees and Continuous Improvement of Sustainable Packaging
For several years, Yon-Ka has been committed to preserving our eco-system. A concrete commitment on several levels from the preservation of active ingredients to the eco-design of packaging. A vital commitment for the longevity of our beautiful planet.
Commitment #1: Protecting Bees to Preserve The Assets of our Planet and Yon-Ka Product Formulations
The bee is a symbol for the preservation of the planet:
- it ensures the pollination of 80% of the planet's plants;
- and 35% of global food production depends on the work of the bees.
Pollination is the mechanism that allows the reproduction of a large majority of flowering plants on the planet by ensuring the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive system to the female organ of the flower.
The plant world in general, and flowers in particular, are at the heart of the DNA of the Yon-Ka brand. Aromatherapy and aromachology owe everything to nature. Bees are therefore at the heart of the treasured Yon-Ka plant-sourced product formulations.
However, they are in danger...
Raymond Daman, a French beekeeper committed to the preservation of bees shares, "The environments have become poorer in terms of biodiversity, because of large crops, the uprooting of hedges, or even pesticides... This is not without serious consequences for bees: in nature, the average mortality is unfortunately close to almost a third of the stock each year."
This knowledge triggered awareness and inspiration within the Yon-Ka organization to make a move to take concrete action. Since 2014 Yon-Ka has partnered with “Un Toit pour les Abeilles” and similar organizations within the US, by financing:
• the installation of hives and bee colonies which will produce honey. An essential contribution to the preservation of bees and valuable economic aid for beekeepers;
• planting fields of flowers that provide healthy nectars and pollen to attract foraging insects and feed them during periods when they lack food.
Many cosmetic brands use active ingredients produced by bees: honey, propolis, etc. They have therefore decided a long time ago to act in their favor through various actions: raising children's awareness of the preservation of bees, ephemeral sponsorship of hives… But since the creation of the company Un Toit pour les Abeilles, Yon-Ka is the largest donor to the cosmetics industry with 750,000 bees protected in hives located in Provence.
What is Un Toit pour les Abeilles ?
Un Toit pour les Abeilles is a company which aims to participate in the preservation of bees through sponsorships of hives offered to individuals and businesses. For companies, sponsoring a hive, i.e. 40,000 bees, is the opportunity to have a hive with their name and logo, a dedicated space with their hive monitoring and 100 pots of honey from this hive in their color, to share their commitment with their customers and colleagues.
But environmental protection at Yon-Ka does not stop there.
Commitment #2: Optimize Packaging to Maximize Sustainability
The primary packaging of cosmetic products, that is to say the tube, bottle or jar in which the product is packaged, is one of the main factors of pollution in the cosmetics industry. Main culprit: plastic, considered as non-biodegradable. The alternative: glass. The latter has many advantages: it is infinitely recyclable and requires few raw materials (and especially no petroleum derivatives) to be manufactured. It should also be noted that it does not pollute the marine fauna and flora of the Oceans. It is often made of sand, soda ash and limestone.
For several years, Yon-Ka has been working to improve the recyclability of its plastic tubes and replace, whenever possible, the plastic in its packaging with glass.
Today, all of its plastic tubes (PP or HDPE) are recyclable according to the French market sorting channels and 20% of retail products are in fully recyclable glass bottles.
Latest eco-responsible advance: the re-packaging of its iconic product, Yon-Ka lotion. With two innovations:
- removing the cap: 2.7 tons less plastic every year for the planet each
- a lighter glass container: 180g instead of 255g for the old version, representing a saving of 12.8 tons of glass per year.
The ultimate symbol of the overall coherence of its various commitments to serving the environment: for each purchase of its Lotion, Yon-Ka will donate part of the profits to “A roof for bees”. Another impactful initiative when we know that a Yon-Ka Lotion is sold every 3 minutes in the world!