Working together on a green tomorrow
Sustainability has many dimensions at AlmaWin
The concept of sustainability is present throughout the company. Every employee contributes to this corporate culture every day with their commitment and individuality. For us, sustainability means being one step ahead. Our research and development is networked in several projects and platforms that deal with resource conservation and sustainable production.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity as a whole. It has already caused irreversible damage in many parts of the world. It is therefore a matter close to AlmaWin's heart to counteract the ongoing climate catastrophe with all available means.
All our measures, which we have been driving forward for several years, are aimed at achieving the greatest possible reduction in operational CO2 emissions: The use of exclusively green electricity, heat recovery , the use of recycled materials for packaging, the promotion of the circular economy, to name but a few.
It is important to us that we do not let up here and continue to reduce our CO2 emissions.
WATER
Our products are free from microplastics, phosphates and other ingredients that pollute the groundwater, which makes our products exceptionally environmentally friendly.
Packaging
Our packaging consists of recycled materials, FSC-certified cardboard and alternative packaging, such as grass cardboard.
Concentrates
Most of our products are concentrates, so you only need a small amount each time you use them. This saves packaging and energy, and reduces carbon emissions as well as your costs.
Production
The majority of our energy requirements are covered by 100% green electricity from hydropower. Our building is heated and cooled in a climate-friendly way using a heat pump. Innovative technology for heat recovery from production, LED lighting throughout and green roofs help to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
Environmental Certifications
As a DIN ISO 14001 and EMAS III certified company, we are audited annually for the implementation of our environmental goals.
With our environmental guidelines, we are committed to treating the environment and our fellow human beings with care.
Commitment to Climate
We offset some of our remaining, unavoidable CO2 emissions by supporting certified climate protection projects that support the UN's Sustainable Goals.
With our commitment to CleanHub, we support global plastic waste collection projects to prevent more plastic from entering the environment and the oceans.
With our membership of EthicDeals, we support sustainable, responsible, resource-conserving consumption.
See for yourself where & how we practice sustainability
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the whole of humanity. It has already caused irreversible damage in many parts of the world. It is therefore a matter close to AlmaWin's heart to counteract the ongoing climate catastrophe with all available means.
All our measures, which we have been driving forward for several years now, are aimed at achieving the greatest possible reduction in operational CO2 emissions:
We work and produce exclusively with green electricity.
We use innovative heat recovery technology in production.
We promote the circular economy through the almost universal use of recycled plastic for product bottles and, in some cases, closures.
In addition to fsc-certified cardboard, we also use grass cardboard for our cardboard packaging,
We offset some of our remaining, unavoidable CO2 emissions by supporting certified climate protection projects.
The fact that we can also improve the social and economic situation of local people with these projects is particularly important to us.
With our environmental guidelines, we are committed to treating the environment and our fellow human beings with care. The majority of our energy requirements are covered by 100% green electricity from hydropower. Our building is heated and cooled in a climate-friendly way using a heat pump. Heat recovery, LED lighting and green roofs help to save energy. The use of bottles made from 100% recycled plastic saves resources. We also promote the recycling of materials and reduce the volume of waste.
All of this helps to reduce our ecological footprint.
Without water, there’s no life. We need (clean) water to survive. To protect our aquatic resources as much as possible, the vast majority of ouyr products are made to 100% from natural ingredients. We don’t put any harsh chemicals in our products, and refrain from touching genetically modified enzymes, nanotechnology, synthetic dyes and fragrances, synthetic preservatives, mineral oil and petrochemical-based surfactants. To protect our oceans, all our products are without microplastic and liquid polymers.
To make sure our impact on our rivers, lakes and oceans is minimal, our products are 100% biodegradable, meaning that they will remain in our environment long.
This is our contribution to protect our lakes and oceans and its habitat. Good to know it also protects you, too!
Already since 2015, as one of the first in the industry, we have been using PE and PET bottles from recycled plastic. Why? Because we thereby don’t need any virgin plastic, saving heaps of petroleum (- the main raw material used for new plastic bottles).
The recycled plastic that ends up becoming our bottles is collected from the household recycling system in Germany. This means that your old yoghurt cup (or your old AlmaWin bottle) might become your new AlmaWin bottle! And the next one, as plastic can (in principle) be recycled endlessly, just like glass.
In order to protect our resources, we also offer eco-packs and refill bags, which save up to 80% of new plastic. With your help, we could already save more than 256.000 kg of new plastic – meaning less petroleum, water, energy and fewer emissions, too.
Since all our products are highly concentrated, we need fewer resources to make, store and transport them. And it saves garbage, too.
With our bulk canisters for self-filling, we support and promote the idea of unpacked stores. For this purpose, we offer numerous products in canisters that can be cleaned and reused.
Our certified quality
Relax, you’re using eco-certified, dermatologically tested quality Made in Germany!
AlmaWin’s products are not only made with the finest natural ingredients, but they are also all eco-certified by independent institutions, following some of the strictest standards. To make our products, we do only comply with some of the most advanced national (German) and international (EU) laws, but also have our products’ safety for you and the environment re-established in our annual audits.
All our products are successfully dermatologically tested by independent institutes in Germany, certifying that they can be used even on sensitive sin. At AlmaWin, since 1993, we have made sure you only clean and wash with the best products. You have our word – and our certifications. Have a look what the many certifications, tests and labels stand for.
Our certifications
What our Ecogarantie certification guarantees:
- Natural, plant- and mineral based ingredients (preferably from organic agriculture)
- No petrochemicals
- No synthetic fragrances, colours or preservatives
- No microplastics
- No nanotechnology
- No GMOs
- No animal testing
- Ecologically sound production processes
- Good biodegradability
Product certified by Certisys sprl. www.ecogarantie.eu
What our Ecocert certification guarantees:
- Natural, plant- and mineral based ingredients (preferably from organic agriculture)
- No petrochemicals
- No synthetic fragrances, colours or preservatives
- No microplastics
- No nanotechnology
- No GMOs
- No animal testing
- Ecologically sound production processes
- Good biodegradability
Natural Detergent certified by ECOCERT Greenlife according to the Ecocert standard available at https://www.ecocert.com/en/home
What our Green Brands label guarantees:
We have been awarded as GREEN BRAND since 2013. This label is only awarded to ecologically sustainable brands that show a whole-hearted, continuous commitment to climate protection, sustainability and ecological responsibility.
Read more about: green-brands.org
What the DAAB label guarantees:
The DAAB label, awarded by the Deutscher Allergie- und Asthmabund, Germany’s oldest and most influential Association for people with allergies and asthma, highlight that the products are safe to use even from people with skin problems and allergies.
Read more about: daab.de
All our products are successfully tested for their dermatological properties. The skin-friendliness of all our products is confirmed by independent institutes, who rigorously test each product scientifically.
EMAS III is the world's most demanding system for sustainable environmental management. As an EMAS company, we continuously improve our environmental performance with the help of a standardised management system.
DIN ISO 14001 specifies requirements for the AlmaWin environmental management system. This commits us to adhering to and optimising environmental guidelines and environmental goals.
Our process-oriented quality management is certified according to DIN ISO 9001. This enables us to further develop processes at all levels.
Our Ingredients
In our products, you only find carefully selected ingredients.
Our products are made following some of the strictest national (Germany) and international (EU) laws in regard to health and environmental protection. In addition, we refrain from using any ingredients we consider to be an environmental or health risk, even if they are legally permitted, such as synthetic dyes, microplastic or silicone.
Our promise to you how our products are made:
- without synthetic fragrances and dyes
- without synthetic preservatives
- without nanotechnology
- without phosphate and chlorine
- without optical brighteners
- without GMOs
- without microplastics and liquid polymers
- without animal testing
Why we do not use the following ingredients
Synthetic fragrances, dyes and preservatives are copied from nature and produced chemically. They are cheaper to produce than natural variants but are usually difficult to degrade and can accumulate in the environment, in animals and in humans. It is also not easy for consumers to see whether the declared fragrances are of natural or synthetic origin, or whether they are a mixture of both, if we do not want to use this.
More and more products contain nanomaterials. Why? In cleaning products, for example, nanomaterials can seal surfaces so that they become less easily soiled. However, while this might be convenient, it could be dangerous to our health as nanoparticles can be absorbed by the body through the skin or through breathing. While initially, no highly toxic effects can be detected, several studies indicate that nanoparticles could have negative effects on the brain, which may possibly cause Alzheimer's disease.
For decades, phosphates were a central component of detergents and cleaning agents. Their salts serve as water softeners and prevent dirt dissolved in the washing water from settling back onto clothing. However, they harm our environment. If end up in our water (such as rivers and lakes), they act as fertilisers and accelerate the growth of algae. As a result, they deprive the water of oxygen and release toxic gases, which leads to fish dying.
Optical brighteners are used by many conventional manufacturers to give white clothes a particularly bright-looking touch. In the washing process, optical brighteners cling onto the fibres and cause ultraviolet light, which is invisible to the human eye, to be transformed into visible blue light. This additional blue light, together with the complementary colour yellow, makes the clothes look ‘whiter’.
In this process, optical brighteners can be absorbed into the fibres and remain in the textiles, from where they can be absorbed by our skin. Several scientific studies suspect optical brighteners to impact our hormonal system, distorting our body and potentially leading to severe illnesses.
In addition to the long-lasting negative health effect they might have, optical brighteners are hard to biodegrade. Optical brighteners can be removed from wastewater, but most of them remain in sewage sludge, from where they can reach our water systems.
In short: they are harmful to the environment, and potentially detrimental to our health, without having any washing effect. That’s why they’re strictly banned from our ingredient list! Less is more, we believe.
Enzymes in detergents help to wash laundry thoroughly from as low as 20°C by breaking down molecules of protein, fat and carbohydrate soiling. Most enzymes in detergents are obtained from genetically modified microorganisms. By genetically modifying the microorganisms, the enzymes can be made more efficient. However, the long-term consequences of genetically manipulated enzymes entering the environment via wastewater are uncertain.
We deliberately do not use enzymes from genetically engineered microorganisms. Our GMO-free enzymes from GMO-free microorganisms are neither dangerous for us humans, nor for the skin and the environment.
Microplastics released into the environment can potentially impact animal and human organisms through their chemical ingredients (e.g. bisphenol A and plasticisers). It is believed that the increasing amount of microplastics in humans has adverse health effects.
While valid studies on the effects of microplastics on humans are still pending, they are believed to cause diseases ranging from cancer to obesity.