FGB Environmental Responsibility & Sustainability
Our Company philosophy is based around safe, natural and effective products. The key focus on natural health and wellbeing is enacted where possible throughout the Company. FGB is committed to operating in an ethical manner as an environmentally responsible corporate citizen and therefore adopts environmentally sustainable practices throughout the business.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus Oil is a fantastic example of an environmentally friendly, sustainable and renewable resource.
In summary:
- There is no harm to native wildlife
- Harvesting improves the diversity of floral species
- Harvesting reduces the risk of fire
- No pesticides or fertilisers are used in the process
- Harvesting improves soil quality
- The by-product biomass is used in the production as fuel and excess can be recycled and used for gardening, breaking down to organic humus
Bosisto’s ‘Parrot’ Brand Eucalyptus Oil is produced from 5000 hectares of unique natural forest in the Inglewood and Wedderburn districts of central Victoria. It is a natural, renewable resource which does not harm the eco-system or the environment. It is also an important element in Australian heritage.
Most of the oil produced is derived from ‘Blue Mallee’ (Eucalyptus polybractea) known to produce the most potent medicinal oil from all of the hundreds of eucalyptus species tested.
The ‘Blue Mallee’ tree only grows to waist height before being harvested every two years. The ‘Blue Mallee’ roots are hundreds of years old and are ever ready to send up new growth after each harvest.
The land on which the ‘Blue Mallee’ has been regularly cut every two years has the purest and healthiest stands. Some areas have been harvested for 100 years with no evidence of damage to the trees. It appears the ‘Blue Mallee’ thrive under these conditions which are not unlike the regular burning off by the initial aboriginal inhabitants, thereby creating a natural firebreak.
There is also no evidence of damage to flora or fauna – in fact, wild flowers and native plants flourish in this environment, as they cannot survive under large trees with no natural light. The harvesting also provides ground cover against feral predators so in fact benefits native birds and animals by providing shelter and a safe refuge.
During the growth of trees, no weedicide, pesticide, fertiliser, additives or irrigation is used. The trees are simply natural stands and use the sun, soil and rain for growth.
National Packaging Covenant:
| In 2005 FGB became a signatory of the National Packaging Covenant. It aims to reduce waste through the impact of consumer packaging and developing economically viable and sustainable practices. |  |
Initiatives include:
- 100% recycling of plastic waste
- 100% recycling of cardboard waste
- 100% recycling of office paper
- Purchasing cardboard shippers that contains 38% to 80% recycled cardboard and paper
- Using recyclable containers- glass, plastic and steel
- Re-using cardboard packaging in production
- Re-using cardboard packaging for postal purposes
- Compressing plastic waste to greatly reduce the volume to be transported for the plastic to be recycled
General Office Recycling:
Every member of staff has a recycling box and a general waste bin. This encourages staff to recycle and keeps paper and general waste separate. The contents of the recycling boxes are emptied regularly and are collected by Datashred Pty Ltd. This not only keeps confidential information secure, but helps minimise waste. The Security Bin is collected on a fortnightly basis. When these bins are both full, the fuel used to transport their contents has not been wasted.
To reduce the amount of paper used within the office staff are encouraged to reduce their amounts of print-outs by only printing what is necessary. Duplex printing also cuts down the amount of paper used.
Where possible, FGB endeavours to purchase re-manufactured printer cartridges as opposed to brand new cartridges. Re-manufactured cartridges have been used, cleaned and then re-filled with cartridge toner. FGB recycles used cartridge toners by returning them to our supplier. This reduces the number of cartridge toners being disposed of as general waste, helping to reduce landfill.
FGB recycle all glass, plastic and aluminium bottles and cans used within the general office. A recycling bin is located in a central area in the staff lunch room to encourage recycling. This bin is emptied on a regular basis.
Marketing Materials:
FGB endeavour, where possible, to print Point of Sale and Promotional Material such as brochures, letters, product neck tags and corporate folders on recycled paper.
FGB print various Point of Sale material including brochures and product neck tags. Where possible, FGB have promotional brochures and neck tags printed on “Monza” Recycled Paper. The Monza paper is manufactured under stringent waste management conditions. Monza is composed of 55% recycled fibre that meets the International Environmental Standards 14001 (ISO) and the Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control Standards (IPPC). Monza paper is Elemental Chlorine Free and is manufactured from mixed sources that meet the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FGB is aiming to print all Marketing Materials on Monza Recycled Paper in the future.
Felton Grimwade & Bickford send letters and conduct mass mail outs to Consumers, Doctor’s, Medical Practitioners, Newspapers and Magazines every year. The cover letters are printed on a 100% recycled paper.
Packaging Materials:
FGB often send out products and samples to consumer, customers and doctors. Samples of products are wrapped in EnviroBubble wrap. EnviroBubble is a completely bio-degradable bubble wrap that incorporates EPI’s (Environmental Products Incorporated) Totally Degradable Plastic Additives. The use of EnviroBubble reduces landfill volume, reduces greenhouse gas effects and reduces plastic pollution.
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In order to protect products during transit, FGB use Envirofill cushioning material. Envirofill is manufactured from Australian grown wheat that is ground by local millers. It is a natural renewable raw material that is reusable, compostable and easily disposed of in landfill. Envirofill meets the highest standards of packaging protection.
Environmental advantages include:
- 100% biodegradable
- Compostable without residues
- Rapid organic recycling
- Made from annually renewable resources
- Water- Soluble, does not pollute groundwater
