A.Vogel: A Sustainable Business Committed to Preserving the Earth
In 2023, Canada celebrates its 43rd anniversary of Earth Day.
Dr. Owen Wiseman, ND
A.Vogel is hailed as a model of sustainability, and our commitment to preserving the earth is celebrated by many. As Earth Day approaches, Canadians reflect on how lucky we are to have access to clean water, air, and land. We also have an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance of taking care of these natural resources.
A.Vogel is a company that has been investing in sustainable practices long before it was trendy. We were founded on the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainability, and we continue to operate with those values today.
Our mission is to promote health and harmony – in individuals, in our community, and in the world around us.
And that means being good stewards of the planet we all share. Our commitment to sustainability is evident in everything we do, from the products we make to the way we run our business. And it starts with our founder, Alfred Vogel, who had a deep respect for nature and a belief that we should live in harmony with the natural world.
Alfred Vogel was born in Switzerland in 1902. He was a pioneer in the field of natural health and an advocate for sustainable living. In the early 1900s, he understood that we have one planet and we must take care of it. He was one of the first to advocate for using fresh plants instead of dried, and he championed the use of natural medicines throughout Switzerland.
Alfred Vogel believed that we should work with nature, not against it. He was ahead of his time in many ways, and his legacy continues to influence the way we do business today.
We are proud that we continue to meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. And we are committed to continual improvement, which is why we have set some ambitious goals for the next few years.
Medical Advisor Dr. Owen Wiseman, ND recently had a chance to meet with the global Head of Production, Stefan Bauer, and Head of Cultivation, Vanathy Erambamoorty. We got an inside peek into the current challenges presented by climate change and discussed the ways A.Vogel is protecting our future.
- 12% of the energy demands of our operations are currently met by solar installations, and we plan to increase that to 25% by 2025. This will help reduce our reliance on energy supplied by fossil fuel sources.
- Waste heat recovery ventilation recycle the heat generated from production and manufacturing and a cooling circuit save cooling water. This helps heat our facilities and improve overall energy efficiency.
- About 50% of our plants and herbs are sourced from within 50 kilometres of our production facility. This reduces our carbon footprint due to transportation. Working as local as possible has always been something A.Vogel has prioritized considering transport alone accounts for 20% of global carbon emissions.
- Herbicide-free cultivation is what you're guaranteed when you purchase an A.Vogel product. This helps reduce your toxic burden and ensures a safer product.
- Plant waste is recycled back into the land, creating a natural compost and fertilizer that helps herbs thrive for years to come. The goal is to create as much of a circular production as possible.
We know that it's not enough to just talk about sustainability – we have to walk the walk. And that's why we are constantly innovating and experimenting, to find new ways to reduce our environmental impact.
We are committed to using organic principles on our farms.
Organic agriculture is a way of farming that takes into account the health of the soil and the environment. It's a sustainable way to grow crops, and it helps keep our planet healthy. Through our BioDiversity Project, every A.Vogel employee participates in a day of farming to familiarize themselves with our practices. They might help plant herbs, weed or cultivate our pollinator species on the edges of the farm. Crops are constantly rotated and after a certain number of cycles, the land is allowed to return to a meadow state. This helps improve soil health by increasing microbial diversity and naturally interrupts the cycle of different weeds and insects.
Quality control means quality products.
Every tincture undergoes over 100 quality assurance steps. This includes testing for multiple heavy metals, close to 300 pesticides, in addition to aflatoxins and mycotoxins. All of these tests are done in our on-site, state-of-the-art laboratory.
A circular business and production.
A circular economy is one that is based on the principles of recycling and reusing resources. This helps to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. In a circular economy, products are designed for durability and recyclability, and materials are reused whenever possible.
Some of the benefits of a circular economy include:
- Reduced environmental impact
- Improved resource efficiency
- Improved economic competitiveness
While our products have been packaged to size for years, A. Vogel is committed to moving towards a circular economy. We are constantly on the hunt for packing solutions that reduce our environmental impact. This includes the search for biodegradable packaging that can handle moisture and heat during extended transport while still meeting pharmaceutical grade standards set by EU organic standards. This is part of our commitment to reducing the amount of waste we generate.
We continue to be inspired by Alfred Vogel's vision of a sustainable future. We are committed to educating our employees and customers about the importance of preserving the planet, and to do our part to preserve the earth for future generations.
Thank you for supporting our Earth Day campaign!
