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Good for people, good for the planet. That sums up the WholyMe approach. All WholyMe products use organic ingredients and nothing else – absolutely no exceptions – while sustainability is at the heart of all the company’s business practices.
Who better, then, to explain why organic and sustainability aren’t merely buzz words at WholyMe than Quitterie, the company’s co-founder and COO?
Quitterie considers herself passionate about nature and finding more rational, virtuous solutions to preserve our planet and way of life. She has a strong background in clean technologies and sustainability consultancy, with former clients including the likes of Microsoft, Anglo American, Airbnb, Nike and multiple banks and investment funds.
“We believe everyone should find solutions for their wellbeing in nature first,” she says. “We care by improving people’s lives in bringing them the best of nature. Being organic is a standard of excellence and exemplifies our caring approach of going to great lengths to find the very best ingredients for our customers.
“So we make sure what our customers ingest or apply to their skin is pure, potent and only good for their body and mind.”
Sustainability was a crucial and undisputed aspect of the WholyMe business model from the start, says Quitterie. “We wanted to do better than our competitors and be more caring. Sustainability was never even a question for us, because we believe it’s another word for true value. We’re here to find solutions that work in the long run, not to sell quick wins.”
Always organic, always sustainable
So how exactly has WholyMe embraced its core values of organic and sustainability?
“Our ingredients are all organic certified, and our products are certified by the Soil Association, which is the UK’s leading organic certification body,” says Quitterie. Soil Association certification, she explains, means all steps in the supply chain for each product are rigorously checked, from the way the ingredients are grown right up to the production and packaging.
“Our product packaging is also fully recyclable: the primary packaging is glass and the secondary packaging is made from recyclable paper that’s FSC certified, which means the paper comes from forests that are managed responsibly.”
Even the ink used on the packaging uses the Imprim’Vert standard, which is awarded to printers that meet the requirements of environmental specifications, including specific rules for waste management.
Supporting the environment
The fact that the WholyMe product range is fully organic helps support the environment too, not just people.
“Organic farming practices reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility and use less energy,” explains Quitterie.
Farming without pesticides, she says, is also better for wildlife as well as for people who live near farms, with mixed planting used for natural pest control rather than toxic chemicals. Such natural farming methods have been shown to help preserve biodiversity, encouraging a natural balance within the ecosystem and preventing certain species dominating others. They also help support wildlife by maintaining hedgerows found on field borders, which are incredibly important wildlife habitats.
Profits vs sustainability?
With sustainability an increasingly essential requirement for today’s consumers, should all businesses follow the WholyMe example if they want to thrive?
Quitterie says businesses shouldn’t consider sustainability as a trade-off between making profits and social responsibility. On the contrary, she believes a robust sustainability strategy can actualy help businesses succeed financially – and there are two ways this can happen:
- Since consumers these days demand responsible behaviour from companies, meeting their expectations can only be good for a brand.
- Social problems caused by excessive capitalistic behaviour can have an impact on the economy, and therefore individual companies. Investing in long-term sustainable strategies, however, can work out less expensive than dealing with the consequences of these issues.
Quitterie cites Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, as an example. “He was a visionary in that sense,” she says. “He steered a giant company towards reducing its environmental impact andincreased its beneficial contributions to the communities it operates in. He understood this was necessary to stay in business for the long haul.
“At WholyMe, we are progressively setting the pillars of a truly sustainable business, so we are here to stay and aim to have a positive impact on the communities we seek to thrive in.”
Learning curve
- Organic and sustainable products are good for people and good for the planet.
- Sustainability is at the forefront of everything the WholyMe team stands for.
- Co-founder and COO Quitterie has much experience in bringing sustainable solution to markets.