Being near and natural is the only way forward to a sustainable world
We want to make a difference with skincare products that don't harm our bodies or the planet we live on. In our own factory in Frillesås, Sweden, we work for a better world, one natural product at a time. Our natural minerals and ingredients come directly from the growers and we like to buy from those around the corner. Our local connection and the values that have grown here are today a big part of our strength and success. Protecting the planet we live on has been a natural part of our work since day one, long before sustainability became a buzzword.
No room for the unnecessary
We are exposed to multiple chemicals and harmful substances every day and our skin absorbs a lot of what we put on it. Understanding how the contents of skincare products affect us and our environment has been the foundation of our company and we believe that more people than just us want to know what we put on our skin. We see it as our mission to educate and make consumers more aware and critical of what they use. A conscious consumer doesn't buy just anything and this will force the rest of our industry to respond to an increased demand for skincare that doesn't harm nature. This is why we always provide information on all the ingredients in our products. This has been a matter of course for us since we started in 1995, long before full ingredient declarations were required by law. And it has actually made us pioneers in natural skincare.
Only ingredients from our nature
We believe in natural minerals and pure plant-based ingredients that give your skin all the nourishment it needs to stay healthy and beautiful. Synthetic ingredients dry out the skin, lack fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, are difficult for nature to break down and are stored in the bodies of both animals and humans. Our products therefore contain no chemical thickeners, preservatives or plasticizers. Instead, we let various renewable plant oils such as cold-pressed vegetable and essential oils do the work while contributing to a more sustainable use of natural resources.
We don’t believe in synthetic fragrances and use only aromatic essential oils distilled from nature. We don’t use any artifical colouring either. Our products get their colour naturally from the ingredients. We care for the animals and use no animal-based ingredients. We do believe that bees are part of a healthy eco system and that is why we use Beeswax and Honey in some of our products.
We use water that is much purer than regular drinking water. It is called Aqua Purificata and it comes from nearby lake Lygnern. It is one of the purest waters in Sweden, filtered through the 13 000-year-old end moraine Fjärås Bräcka.
We want the stuff we dispose of to be transformed into new things
Therefore, in the first instance, we ensure that our waste is recycled. Other rubbish goes to energy recovery, which is a good option for recovering waste in the form of electricity and heat.
All empty containers from MARIA ÅKERBERG can be recycled!
All packaging can and should be recycled or incinerated. Nothing should end up in nature. We have deliberately chosen not to use degradation additives in our plastics. If a single plastic bag with additives ends up in a regular batch of collected plastic, the entire batch is destroyed.
We are affiliated with the organisations that ensure proper recycling of glass, packaging and newspapers in Sweden. This way we fulfill our responsibility as a manufacturer, by contributing not only to collection and recycling, but also to administration, such as information and reports to customers and authorities.
Throw your empty bottles in the recycling bin too!
Glass can be recycled as many times as you like without compromising its quality. Some of our oils require glass containers, since essential oils are too strong to be stored in plastic. Glass production is energy intensive compared to plastic. Recycling glass saves natural resources in terms of both materials and energy. It takes 20% less energy to melt down recycled glass than to make new glass with sand, soda and lime. It also emits less carbon dioxide.
Business subjected to permit or notification duty according to the Environmental Code
MARIA ÅKERBERG AB is a notifiable business under the Environmental Code and the supervisory authority for the business is Kungsbacka municipality. MARIA ÅKERBERG AB takes producer responsibility for the recycling of packaging by being affiliated with Förpacknings och Tidningsinsamlingen (fti) and Svensk GlasÅtervinning AB.
All our printed materials are made of environmentally friendly paper
We strive to reduce our impact on the environment by using environmentally friendly paper in all our printed materials. Our corrugated cardboard is made from recycled material, and the cardboard paper we use is made from locally produced virgin fiber from Swedish forests. By recycling the paper, we help reduce the need to harvest new trees, while the recycled paper is an important raw material and complement to fresh fibers from the forest. Paper fibers can be reused five to seven times before they reach an unusable level.
Our packages are as natural as our content!
We take the threat of environmentally harmful emissions very seriously. To minimise our carbon emissions, we have developed brand new, natural plastic bottles and tubes made from 100% plant-based material from sugar cane. Our bioplastics are fully bio-based and bind four times more carbon dioxide than conventional plastics. Burning our packaging releases water and carbon dioxide, which is then absorbed by the sugar cane. In addition, the manufacturing process of the bioplastic consumes carbon dioxide, resulting in total carbon neutrality and even a net uptake of carbon dioxide. The colour of the packs is obtained from white clay and they can be sorted with regular plastics during recycling.
We work with minimised energy consumption
We are proud that our factory is certified as an environmental building of the highest calibre. By using solar energy, from panels covering the roof, as well as geothermal energy, we aim to minimise our environmental impact. All internal operations are powered by this renewable energy source. To promote reuse, we convert end-of-life computers into firewalls and test servers.
We optimise our IT infrastructure by using low-energy servers and virtual servers to reduce both processing time and power consumption. We also choose low-energy options for our hardware wherever possible. To further reduce our energy consumption, we switch off all computers and monitors after working hours.
We stay as close as possible
We always prioritise local suppliers to reduce our carbon footprint. Our tubes and bottles made of bioplastic from sugar cane are produced in Ullared and Hjo, which are just a few kilometres from our plant in Frillesås. Even the bottle holders are produced within a stone's throw of the factory. In addition, our cardboard paper is made from virgin fibre from Swedish forests.
Our coffee is just as environmentally friendly as our banker
Both our coffee and our bank are environmentally friendly. We endeavour to integrate environmental responsibility into all aspects of our business, from small to large actions, to make a positive difference on our planet. This includes conscious purchasing, efficient transports and reduced energy consumption.
Our actions include using packing tape free of harmful solvents, having our own compost and offering organic coffee, tea and fruit to both visitors and employees. We have also chosen to work with an environmentally certified bank that shares our values.
We take our CSR responsibilities very seriously and believe that all companies should respect human rights, core labour principles and environmental standards no matter where in the world they operate or import from.
Do you have questions or ideas on how we can further improve our environmental performance? Do not hesitate to contact us at info@mariaakerberg.com!
