last word
Horst M. Rechelbacher
New frontiers
Organics pioneer Horst M. Rechelbacher says the interconnectivity of the natural world should be refl ected in spa products and business practices
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ccording to quantum physics, everything is interconnected. There is no right or wrong, things simply are. Likewise, nature just is. However, nature also refl ects our actions – we reap what we sow – and the spa and wellness industry must consider how to ethically meet consumer needs while respecting the environment. The word ‘spa’ is itself associated with healing and nurturing, but if the products used in spas don’t have a footprint that supports that, they will become an obstacle to the healing function.
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Behind the greenwash These days the word ‘natural’ has become almost meaningless. Substances grown with chemicals, even those grown from genetically-altered seeds, can be labelled as ‘natural’. The phenomenon of ‘greenwashing’ – the deliberate environmental spin used to falsely promote the idea of eco-friendliness in products or organisations – means people no longer know what is natural and what is not. As a certifi ed organic company, Intelligent Nutrients holds fast to the principle of sustainability. We do not ‘claim’ to be organic, we are organic. All our ingredients are food-grade and grown without insecticides, herbicides, pesticides or fungicides which all pollute our bodies, the water and the earth.
Positive energy Non-sustainable production has created a toxic mess that we all suffer from, but there are things we can do to redress the balance. The fi rst is to use renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, as
opposed to coal or gas. We must invest more in alternatives to fossil fuels. My company is currently moving completely away from the use of natural gas as we can no longer support something that so obviously spoils the integrated ideal picture. Packaging can also make a difference. We favour
glass. Unlike plastic, it doesn’t leak, bleed or sap the potency of the product. Glass is a better solution than even modern carbohydrate-based plastics. We must make glass packaging more appealing to the consumer by adding coatings and making it shatter-proof, so it is more reusable and recyclable.
Organic science
Organics are often seen as un-scientifi c, but we now have new ingredients such as plant stem cells, from which we can formulate super-nutritional substances, 1,000 times the potency of the whole plant. Plant-derived, edible silicones are another new organic technology. These can replace more common sand and petro-chemical, fossil-fuel silicones, the use of which in cosmetics such as lipsticks, creams, lotions, eyeshadows and sunscreens has been proven to interfere with the body’s natural functions. Despite the efforts of many companies to blur the lines between natural and synthetic products, consumers are demanding products that are good to their bodies and the environment – and as this desire grows people will become more diffi cult to fool. Authenticity will prevail and the spa and wellness industry should refl ect this by staying true to its aim and providing a healing and nurturing environment for those it serves.
european spa |
www.europeanspamagazine.com Above: Horst M. Rechelbacher
created Intelligent Nutrients to off er a comprehensive line of beauty,
health and lifestyle products free of chemicals or harmful toxins (below)
Horst M. Rechelbacher is to be honoured with the ISPA Visionary Leader Award at this year’s ISPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, in October. Since founding the Aveda Corporation in 1978, he has gone on to create Intelligent Nutrients, which produces a comprehensive line of beauty, health and lifestyle products free of chemicals or harmful toxins and available at spas, salons and fi ne retailers worldwide.
www.intelligentnutrients.com
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