*This feature is not sponsored or paid for in any way by Avirida or any other invested party
The natural skincare market is huge. So huge, in fact, that a lot of brands are trying to get a piece of it, claiming natural ingredients in their marketing. While the word “natural” on labels and marketing doesn’t technically mean anything, it’s a big draw for a lot of consumers. One independent brand, however, has taken “natural” to a whole new level.
Meet Avirida - a skincare line made only with natural oils and butters in probably the most sustainable packaging you’ll ever come across. If you love natural, sustainable skin care products and have never heard of Avirida, stick around to learn about it because we think these could be right up your alley. We spoke to founder Bec Erdalli who took some time to talk to us about the brand.
OWNERSHIP
Avirida is privately owned by Jack and Bec Erdalli, from Dorrigo, New South Wales, Australia. The company was born through a Kickstarter campaign in 2018.
INGREDIENTS & RAW MATERIALS
All ingredients in each Avirida product are on each product page on their website. Avirida products only use organic ingredients and are free of the following: artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, emulsifiers, preservatives, formaldehyde, petro-chemicals, parabens, sulphates, and palm oil.
All their ingredients are also cruelty-free and certified organic, and their products are not sold in mainland China. They are, however, not certified for either of those yet. As of the time of correspondence (September 2020), they are in the process of obtaining their CCF certification. Most of Avirida’s products are also vegan, although they do use beeswax in some.
It’s important to note though, that because Avirida products do not have preservatives, they have special care and storage requirements. and have a shelf life or around 12 months.
INGREDIENT SOURCING & MANUFACTURING
All Avirida ingredients are sustainably sourced and they procure ingredients locally as much as possible. For example, their beeswax and hemp seed oil all come from local farmers. They also manufacture their products and packaging locally in Dorrigo, New South Wales, Australia.
PACKAGING & RECYCLING OPTIONS
Avirida’s fully compostable packaging is the standout feature that makes them unique. They could not find packaging that was sustainable enough for them so they made their own. Their timber packaging is made from salvaged timber such as storm-damaged logs or non-native weed species of trees that farmers chop down with the intention of burning them. Avirida gives them a second life as Avirida packaging that when you’re done with, you can either toss in compost as worm food or upcycle as jewelry holders.
Their shipping boxes are also made from upcycled supermarket boxes and they are held together and sealed with a natural glue that they also make themselves. This makes the whole shipping parcel 100% compostable.
They also have a refilling program - refills are offered at a 20% discount with free return shipping.
GIVING BACK & ADVOCACY
Avirida plants a tree for every single order through their partners: Trees for the Future and Greenfleet. They also plant trees in their local area in Dorrigo. So far, they’ve planted over 5000 trees.
Avirida is also 100% carbon neutral.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY
Avirida co-founder Bec gave us this statement regarding their company’s diversity: “Avirida is 50% female and Middle-Eastern owned, and half our employees are women. We are inclusive of all ages and races, some of our employees are aged 50+.”
As far as natural skin care products go, we don’t know if you can get any more natural or sustainable than Avirida. For them, it’s not a trend or a marketing ploy. From their ingredients to their packaging, we can tell that sustainability really is at the center of everything the brand does - a refreshing departure from the store aisles. If you’re curious about the brand and want to learn more, you can listen to Bec and Jack talk about the brand here.
Whether you’re keen to try some truly natural skin care or want to support entrepreneurs that put sustainability at the center of their business, we encourage you to check out Avirida’s products. You can also try their products risk-free with their money-back guarantee.
Avirida ships worldwide through their website. A list of their stockists can also be found on their website.