|
 A comprehensive range of personal care and home care products by Herbon Natural Products Pty Ltd has been assessed and has been accepted as compliant to the requirements of the “ Good Environmental Choice” Label. The requirements of the verification are publicly available at www.aela.org.au.
Environmental and human health considerations
The range of home care and personal care products by Herbon Natural Products meet the high environmental expectations of Australians. The product range offers 21 certified products that have been formulated with environmental and human health considerations in mind and are suitable for most commercial and domestic uses in Australia.
“ Good Environmental Choice” certified products
In comparison to other commercially available products the “ Good Environmental Choice” certified products from Herbon contain chemical formulations which are readily biodegradable are effectively treated in town sewage facilities reducing water pollution are formulated with natural and low toxicological compounds mainly being from natural substances and oils and which have the benefit of being gentle and suitable for people with sensitive skin. The primary environmental impacts of detergents, general cleaning and personal care products that have been applied to this verification include:
• the toxicity and ecotoxicity of chemical formulations such as solvents, surfactants, fragrances, colourants,
• the levels of volatile organic compounds, phosphonates, sodium,
• the biodegradability of aerobic and non-aerobic substances,
• product formulation restriction on endocrine disruptors or enzymes,
• the chemical nature of preservatives,
• the comprehensiveness of consumer information and the type or packaging and recycling options in Australia including marking of the type of plastics and requirements for recycled fibre for cartonboard packaging.
When these important environmental attributes are assessed the results of this verification demonstrate the certified Herbon range have significant environmental load reductions compared to similar products in Australia.
Description of the verification.
The Australian Environmental Labelling Association Inc. manages the Good Environmental Choice – Mark of Conformity in conformance to ISO 14 024 – International Standard for Third party Environmental Labelling and Declaration as the only product life cycle independent environmental declaration in Australia ( www.aela.org.au)
The organisation and is an independent non-profit environmental research and certification organisation recognised as the Australian member of an international network of ecolabelling schemes under the Global Ecolabelling Network.
Following an independent audit against the below environmental labelling and declaration standards by the Australian Environmental Labelling Association Inc the product has been awarded the "Good Environmental Choice" label for the Australian market. The relevant Standards for this verification are:
• AELA20 - General Purpose Cleaners Standard
• AELA 19 - Laundry Detergents Standard
• AELA 17- Hand Dishwashing Standard
• AELA 18 - Machine Dishwashing Standard
• AELA 6 - Toiletry Products Standard
• AELA Shampoo, Body Shampoo, Liquid and Solid Soap Products Standard:
The criteria and environmental performance characteristics tested are available at:
http://www.aela.org.au/standardsregister.htm
The Ecolabel
 The Ecolabel is awarded to those products that meet or exceed voluntary standards of environmental performance. The verification procedure is managed via a Documented Quality Management System and Certification Program Manuals which have made significant use of the ISO 14 000 series. The following standards have been adapted to the programs requirements, ISO 14 001, 14 0012, the 14020 series, 14 031 environmental performance evaluation, 14040. This verification report has been compiled in conformance to these procedures and ISO 14 024.
3. The manufacturing operations
Herbon was founded in 1982 (formerly known as Puren Australia) by an industrial chemist who was actively involved in the research and development of environmentally preferable and allergy free products. Herbon Pty Ltd is run as a family business and services the Australian market through distributors to health food outlets, supermarkets, pharmacies and food co-operatives. Herbon Pty Ltd has a warehouse factory and head office in Carrum Downs in Melbourne, Victoria where the products are manufactured.
The Carrum Downs warehouse facility is the primary site of manufacture equipped with a dry mixing area for all powder products and four mixing vats of varying sizes to mix liquid products. The end product is stored in the front half of the warehouse awaiting transportation. It is then distributed via road by sub-contracting transport companies to distributors who are responsible for any additional off site requirements such as selling the product.
Herbon Pty Ltd is recognised as being a leader in producing environmentally preferable home and personal care products market.
For the complete environmental report see here:
 Environmental product declaration sheet
|
