Gardiner Family Apothecary are committed to sustainable practices, producing dermatological skincare under environmental standard ISO 14001 at their sole research and manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Ireland.
Gardiner Family Apothecary, manufacturers of Ovelle and Elave formulations for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin types, are committed to sustainability targets and reducing environmental impact.
The business, founded in Dundalk in 1934, produces licensed medicines under global standards Pharma GMP, Medical Device ISO 13485, PETA Cruelty-Free, PETA Vegan and Ecocert Cosmos Natural and Organic skincare standards.
As a member of SEDEX, one of the world's leading ethical trade membership organisations, they adhere to ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management systems, and safety-test to the highest international pharma and ethical criteria.
Gardiner Family Apothecary uses a short supply chain to support sustainability and the local environment. They have provided jobs for four generations of Irish families and currently employ 75 staff making over 70 different products for 1,800 pharmacy customers at in Ireland, as well as 11 international markets globally.
“We want to play our part in making the earth a safer, more sustainable, and more ethical home for all,” says CEO Joanna Gardiner. “To achieve that end, we believe it is essential to employ practices which protect our ecosystems and support the best interests of the local and global environment.
“Following the four Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover – minimises the generation of waste and environmental impact of our operation, and as a result we are rapidly progressing towards our vision of a 'circular economy'.
“We have switched most of our pump packs to 100% recyclable materials and have introduced redesigned smaller caps which use 80% less plastic. The Elave Sensitive Renew range, for example, uses tubes made from aluminium, which can be endlessly reprocessed and reformed at low cost and low carbon footprint.
“Also, to reduce our consumption of plastic and the carbon footprint of shipping, we have moved towards offering larger pack sizes, as well as giving customers the option to purchase multi-packs free of packaging – and plant a tree at the same time!”
Gardiner Family Apothecary is partnering with Reforest Nation, whose mission is to restore biodiversity and fight climate change by planting one million native trees by 2024, to donate one tree for every Ovelle and Elave Skincare Essentials pack purchased ‘Unboxed’ online.
The company’s Ecocert Cosmos Vegan and Organic certifications guarantee that the ingredients in their formulations are derived from renewable resources and products are manufactured using environmentally friendly processes.
The bunny symbol signals PETA Cruelty-Free status, meaning no animal testing, anywhere in the world at any time, on any of the products or any of their individual ingredients. A select few products contain Manuka honey, beeswax or lanolin, but 96% of their skincare is certified PETA Vegan.
Gardiner Family Apothecary have been awarded multiple accolades recognising their expertise in sensitive skincare and commitment to sustainability, most recently Best Cruelty Free Skincare Brand and Best Sustainable Skincare Brand in the prestigious Global Health & Pharma Awards.
Obtaining energy from renewable sources has become an even higher priority lately, and they produce their own power thanks to 220 solar panels installed in 2018 at their fully integrated research and GMP manufacturing and distribution facility in Ireland.
Heading into the 2022/23 financial year, the business is determined to drive continued improvement in reducing waste, minimising resource consumption, and increasing environmental awareness among staff – all with the aim of helping to create a safer, greener and more sustainable world.
For more information on Irish made, sustainable and sensitive skincare visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.