Ecover

Infobox_Company
company_name = Ecover

company_type = Private
company_slogan = "Power of nature"
foundation = 1980
location_city = Malle
location_country = Belgium
key_people = Jørgen Philip-Sørensen
industry = Consumer Products
products = Natural Cleaning Products
homepage = [http://www.ecover.com/ www.ecover.com]

Ecover is a Belgian company manufacturing and internationally trading domestic ecological cleaning products.

Ecover cleaning products are based on plant and mineral ingredients. Ecover states that its products are made to both clean effectively and have "the absolute minimum effect on the environment". [ [http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/ Ecover United Kingdom - Welcome to Ecover ] ]

The company was founded in 1980 and since 1999 has been solely owned by Jørgen Philip-Sørensen CBE (who also owns the Group 4 security firm). The Ecover Group also include the Wellments brand under which personal care products are sold.

Mission and Visison Statement

Ecover's mission and vision statement states

We regard the environment as an inseparable part of the economy. Negative impacts on the environment are reduced by means such as stimulating and conducting research on new technologies and raw materials. [ [http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/About/Mission+UK.htm Ecover United Kingdom - Mission UK ] ]

Products

Ecover sells the following product ranges under the following brands:
*Ecover: domestic detergents, cleansing agents, and personal care products.
*Eco Lino: domestic detergents and cleansing agents.
*Held: domestic detergents and cleansing agents.
*Techno Green: professional detergents and cleansing agents.
*Ecover Professional: professional cleansing agents.
*Wellments: personal care products [ [http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/About/The+Ecover+Group+UK.htm Ecover United Kingdom - The Ecover Group UK ] ]

Unlike most cleaning products, some Ecover products (Washing Up Liquid (both varieties), Fabric Conditioner, Laundry Liquid, and Multi-Surface Cleaner) are available from a container refill service, or in 5 litre containers which can be used for refills at home. By re-using the bottles over and again, customers are enabled to reduce the overall environmental impact of distributing the product. Ecover refill facilities are still fairly rare in the UK and currently limited to independent health food stores and small local cooperative schemes. [ [http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/Dishes/Refill.htm Ecover United Kingdom - Refill ] ] [ [http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/WhereToBuy/ Ecover United Kingdom - Reiniging ] ]

Factory

Ecover claims to have the world’s first "ecological factory," opened in 1992 [http://www.ecover.com/us/en/About/] . The factory is made from recycled and recyclable materials. The factory recycles waste water which is returned for use in the factory using a windmill pump. The grass-covered roof has insulating properties which saves energy and supports a wildlife garden. The roof was included by the architects as a functional piece of the designs. The factory also included grass banks and reed beds around the factory to help it merge into the countryside.

ponsorship

Ecover are sponsoring yachtsman Mike Golding in his attempt to win the Vendee Globe 2008/09. Visit [http://www.ecover-vendeeglobe.com] for more information.

External links

* [http://www.ecover.com/ Ecover]
* [http://www.ecover-vendeeglobe.com Ecover & Mike Golding Vendee Globe 2008]

References

* Ecover United States. [http://www.ecover.com/us/en/About/ "About Ecover"] . Accessed July 1 2007.