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Where are you located, and what does your business do?
Sensatia Botanicals is a small, unique profit-sharing company hand-producing delectable 100% natural body care products. We are based in Bali, Indonesia and benefit a great number of local inhabitants via our profit-sharing program. Our products are special, our people are special, and our purpose is greater than that of just profit, but rather supporting a healthy lifestyle through a fine balance of work, of play & of friends for life... Join us! www.sensatia.com |
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How long have you been in business?
Sensatia Botanicals was incorporated in 2006. Our Bali based producers CV Pak Bina's Minyak Kelapa was created by Michael Lorenti of Sensatia and has been producing Sensatia's 100% natural, handmade products, exclusively since 1999.
Does your company or products hold any "green" certifications? If so, which?
Yes, we are a proud member of "1% for the Planet", an active member of "Co-op America" "Green Products Alliance" "Natural Ingredients Resource Center" "Real Handmade Soap" "The all natural beauty website" and we are a proud signer of "The Compact for Safe Cosmetics."
What makes your company green?
Well most importantly our products are all 100% natural, and I mean really natural... not the "natural" others claim to be. We hold this idea as priority number one and have had to make some sacrifices in order to maintain our products as such, but the sacrifice is well worth the result. Please refer to any product page at our website, on the bottom of the body text is a "more info..." link where you can see all of our products ingredients.
We also package in as much recycled and recyclable material as possible. We have recently made the move to all paper/ cardboard packaging materials made of Cyclus paper which is made from 100% post consumer waste. We love this idea... of course paper should be made of paper. Paper made from trees???... thats just ridiculous at this time in history.
And furthermore we are a proud member of 1% for the planet whereby we donate 1% of our company's total sales. Not from our income after expenses, but rather from our total sales. We encourage other companies to consider becoming a member of 1% ftp.
What's the story behind your company's beginnings?
In 1999 we started with just 2 employees. After just 4 months we were honored to employ 6 more Balinese people. After just 18 months we were ecstatic to involve & empower 23 Balinese people developing & producing Sensatia products. Additionally, a plethora of others whom are continually supported by Sensatia Botanicals. Coconut harvesters, loofah sponge growers, seaweed & sea salt harvesters, herbal lulur makers, fruit & vegetable farmers, etc., probably 100 or more people have direct association & make a healthy living working together with Sensatia Botanicals. This makes us happy! We have succeeded in developing & supporting a local economic structure in a paradise that is in need of aid. Feel good knowing that 18% of the entire sale price of Sensatia products goes directly to the Balinese crew who work hard to hand produce the finest, most delectable body care products south of the equator
What have been some of the biggest challenges of maintaining high standards of social and environmental responsibility?
Some of the biggest challenges have been trying to grow, compete with other companies while maintaining a strong grip on what is important. Additionally as we produce in Bali Indonesia it is very difficult to find all these new great materials that are so easily available if we were producing in the states. In this part of the world, unfortunately, being green is a luxury not a matter of fact. But as long as we stay true to our values and find new creative ways to lead the way with the least impact we are happy
What has been your proudest moment as a green business?
Maybe when we were accepted into Co-op America. We had quite a long interviewing process and with great reason. An organization like Co-op America has its reputation on the line, so it must make sure that each and every company that is interested in joining has their hearts in the right place. Perhaps that and all the simple little things we do around our workshop on a day to day basis that helps perpetuate my no/low impact philosophy.
What is the most hopeful trend you have seen recently from the green economy?
Well, the trend I have seen that is really exciting is how quickly everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. I mean yes there is always good and bad, but it is exciting to see the movement is going ONLY further and further in that direction. It has become closer and closer to becoming the mainstream rather than left of center. It surely should, its just the right thing to do.
What’s the next green project you’re working on right now?
This project is a ways off as finances prohibit, but I am always looking for new inventive ways to make our workshop completely and 100% self sustainable. I guess you think like that out here in the jungle, hahaha, but i would love to make all of our own electricity. But the greatest immediate change we have made and are still in the process as the need arises is switching all of our old packaging from 70% post consumer waste (because thats what was available in Indonesia at the time) to now 100% post consumer waste. This makes us very, very happy.
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