Technical: Environment

Union-Swiss strives to provide safe conditions for employees and to minimize the impact of its activities on the environment. In order to achieve this objective, the company is committed to selecting top-quality raw materials that are environmentally-friendly, to reducing energy consumption, and to adopting manufacturing processes that are both safe and efficient.

Raw materials:

• Certificates of analysis are provided with each lot/batch of raw material.
• Material safety data sheets are strictly scrutinized for each raw material.
• Preference is given for the selection of bio-degradable ingredients.
• Bio-Oil’s ingredients are regularly tested for adulteration, contamination and microbiological contamination.

Manufacture:

• Energy: Total energy consumption (including electricity, light fuel and natural gas) is monitored and compared year-on-year in relation to total production volume.
• Emissions: No harmful emissions (including CO2, inorganic gas or VOC) are generated in the production of Bio-Oil.
• Safety: No fatalities or severe accidents have ever been reported in the production of Bio-Oil. GMP valuations including strict safety education/training and risk assessment practices are conducted on a regular basis.
• Water consumption: Bio-Oil contains no water, thus minimizing water consumption in the production process. No waste water is generated in the production of Bio-Oil.
• Waste: No hazardous waste is generated in the production of Bio-Oil.

Packaging:

• All Bio-Oil packaging is recyclable. Packaging cut-offs and waste paper are also recycled.
• All paper materials are certified to be in accordance with the requirements of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
• Wherever possible vegetable-based, bio-degradable printing inks are utilized.

Animal testing:

Union-Swiss has a strict policy against testing on animals. As of March 2000 (our fixed cut-off date), no Union-Swiss products or their ingredients have been tested on animals. The company has also committed never to commission any testing on animals – either on our products or the ingredients used in them.