Aveda’s new solar array is wildlife friendly, accented by several acres of new landscaping to create a natural pollinator habitat underneath the panels. It will offset more than 1,100 metric tons of CO2 annually, which is equivalent to 2.6 million miles driven by the average passenger vehicle; energy for 124 homes for one year; or the consumption of 2,485 barrels of oil.
“We are proud to be able to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability through the use of renewable energy via our new solar array,” said Barbara De Laere, Aveda SVP and Global General Manager. “Aveda has pioneered the use of renewable energy since 2006, when we became the first beauty company to manufacture using 100% wind power (through the purchase of energy credits). Now, our new 2,900 panel solar array will power up to 50% of our manufacturing facility’s annual demand for energy, with the remainder powered by wind. With the launch of this array, we are one step closer to our goal of becoming a carbon-positive manufacturer, one of the many sustainability goals we have set for the next decade.”
Aveda’s manufacturing facility produces more than 600 different products which make up approximately 80% of the brand’s total product offering. It is situated on the company’s 58-acre campus in Blaine, Minnesota alongside honeybee colonies, an employee-curated vegetable garden, electric vehicle charging stations and miles of running trails. The land is National Wildlife Federation Certified, and employees enjoy frequent sightings of a variety of wildlife including turkeys, deer, turtles and groundhogs. The main office building has an emphasis on sustainability: it is powered by solar and wind energy, is carpeted with recycled fibers, has composting and recycling bins throughout the building and an organic cafe on the first floor. The company also recently installed energy-saving, LED lighting which has saved 346,271 kWh over four years (equivalent to burning 269,555 pounds of coal!).
ABOUT AVEDA
Founded in 1978 in Minneapolis, MN, Aveda creates plant-based hair, skin and body products for beauty professionals and consumers. Aveda innovates in botanical technologies, combining the principles of modern science and Ayurveda, the ancient healing art of India, to develop performance-driven hair, skin and body products—made with pure flower and plant essences— that are created with respect for the Earth, and a comprehensive menu of ritual-based treatments for holistic beauty.
Throughout the years, Aveda has pioneered new benchmarks of environmental responsibility in beauty. It was the first company to sign the Ceres Principles in 1989—a nonprofit organization mobilizing business leadership on climate change, water scarcity and other sustainability challenges—and the first beauty company to manufacture with 100 percent wind power in its primary facility1. Aveda was also the first beauty company to receive a Cradle to Cradle charter for its commitment to sustainable products, packaging and production. In 2013, Aveda was honored with the first Legacy Leaders Award from Cradle to Cradle for its pioneering role in environmental leadership. Aveda received the Sustainability Leadership Award in 2017 during the Sustainable Beauty Awards organized by Ecovia Intelligence for its leadership in packaging, green formulations and sustainable ingredients. Since 1999, Aveda’s annual Earth Month campaign, held each April, has raised $65 million to support environmental projects around the world.
