Our commitments
Innovating: discovering
new natural-origin key ingredients
Innovating: discovering
new natural-origin key ingredients
plant samples held by the Group, the largest private collection in the world
of our revenue is made from products containing active ingredients that come from the natural world
years of research to constantly unravel more of the mysteries of Avène thermal spring water
An integrated chain of expertise
An integrated chain of expertise
Plants are complex, tricky-to-handle research subjects. Around thirty passionate members of staff work daily to understand the benefits.
Discovering new plants
Proving activity and identifying the key ingredient
Identifying the extraction methods
Selecting and growing the plant
At the heart of our research on plants
At the heart of our research on plants
Faithful to our pharmaceutical background, based on rigor, science and proof, we will only use a plant in a product if we can prove its efficacy and understand its mechanism of action. We therefore conduct a battery of tests in the laboratory (pharmacological tests, identification of the molecules responsible for these activities, optimization of effective quantities, etc.) to find the answers to all these questions. This precious information enables us to make claims on the activity of our end products, respecting our consumers and patients. This is also vital in the pharmaceutical industry, in order to obtain Marketing Authorization.
Avène, a laboratory to unravel the mysteries of thermal spring water
The success of our Eau Thermale Avène brand is largely down to 40 years of research conducted to understand the composition and mechanism of action of this unique thermal spring water. This research is conducted by the Water Laboratory, located in Avène, at the foot of the source.
Protecting biodiversity
Protecting biodiversity
Using plants, with benefits that are known or yet to be discovered, in a way that respects their sustainability, for lasting protection of biodiversity.
of plants used by our brands suffer no impact on their sustainability
of our supply chains are certified organic
of our plant suppliers are audited based on best practices
Since 1994, the primary mission of our company's Klorane Botanical Foundation has been to protect endangered plant species. A range of actions are being taken to prevent endangered plants from becoming extinct, including regenerating extinct species from old seeds, protecting the habitat of a species or replanting a species in an area where it no longer grows.
Respecting our partners
Respecting our partners
A process that is respectful to our partners, farmers, harvesters, suppliers and contributes to the sustainable development of our supply regions and their communities
fair trade certified supply chains
of trusting relationships with 64% of our plant suppliers
Our ethical supply chains
Our ethical supply chains
Created in 2004, SOTOKACC, a small company in Toussiana (Burkina Faso), which supplies our René Furterer brand with shea butter, not only guarantees regular income and social autonomy for its 16 female employees, but also for over 200 women producers and nut collectors.
We have a 5-year supply contract with this small company, with 100% pre-financing of the shea butter ordered.
In Madagascar, René Furterer carries out several missions. First and foremost an economic and environmentally-friendly mission, providing technical support to farmers: yield improvement, acquisition of best production practices, crop diversification, etc. Another fundamental mission for René Furterer focuses on the fight against malnutrition: farmers are therefore trained in the benefits of growing fruit trees and Moringa oleifera and using the leaves as vegetables, since they are rich in vitamins and minerals.
For our supply of dates from the desert date tree, we work with Baobab Des Saveurs in Thiès, Senegal. In order to harvest the dates, this company works with two Economic Interest Groups (EIGs) in the Mboumba and Galoya regions of northern Senegal. These two EIGs include around 100 women who pick the dates over a farmed area of almost 100 hectares, which is certified organic.
Our René Furterer brand uses pfaffia, or Brazilian Ginseng, in our anti-hair loss hair care ranges. For its supply, the brand is developing a dual commitment in Brazil (social and environmental). It is a primarily social commitment, as it undertakes to only work with small local producers (belonging to the Querência de Norte – ASPAG organization) to improve their standard of living and help stabilize the rural fabric. However, it is also an environmental commitment as, by organically farming Pfaffia, René Furterer undertakes not to resort to wild harvesting and therefore helps combat deforestation and protect local plant resources.
Guaranteeing the quality of our natural-origin key ingredients
Guaranteeing the quality of our natural-origin key ingredients
Growing the plants we use in our products ourselves is the most direct way to guarantee full traceability, and we can cultivate more than ten medicinal and aromatic plants each year on our 180 ha of farm land.
When we do not cultivate the plants ourselves directly, we require full traceability for our batches of plants. For this reason, our suppliers of plants for pharmaceutical uses are audited at least every 4 years.
Each plant and active ingredient is checked at each stage of the manufacturing process. In our plant extraction unit, on average, 6 checks are performed for each plant used in dermo-cosmetics and 20 are performed for the plants used in pharmaceuticals.
To manage the quality of Avène thermal spring water, we have established a series of partnerships with local players for the whole catchment area (Haut Languedoc Regional National Park, Regional Forest Property Center, Hérault Bird Protection League, etc.).
Grown by our Naturactive brand, helichrysum is cultivated on our own organic farm land and distilled just after harvesting at the edge of the field. From field to product - full traceability!