Packaging
Gilchrist & Soames Introduces BeeKind Collection
Monday 01. December 2008 - Signature formulations, environmental packaging and a charitable donation elevate in-room amenities
A sophisticated approach to nature-inspired bath and body products, the Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind Collection is on display at IHMRS booth 2756 and slated to begin shipping in late November.
Kathie De Voe, president of Gilchrist & Soames, says “We are very excited about this new collection. It is perfect for todays market with our new environmentally friendly packaging, unequalled skin-friendly formulations and modern, yet natural design.”
BeeKind is the first Gilchrist & Soames collection to employ an environmental alternative to plastic bottles. The BeeKind paper bottle is a 59% reduction in packaging material by weight, as well as a 92% reduction in waste space after use compared to rigid plastic bottles.
The BeeKind Collection will feature Gilchrist & Soames Signature formulations, which contain no parabens, phthalates, petrol-derived ingredients, mineral oil, urea, DEA, TEA or propylene glycol. They do contain food-grade, naturally derived USP glycerin; natural conditioning agents from honey and the Brassica plant; and soybean and cottonseed oil, instead of petrochemicals. The BeeKind formulations are also free of any artificial colours or dyes.
Along with the eco-friendly packaging and formulas, the company is supporting honey bee and sustainable pollination research at the University of California at Davis Entomology Department. De Voe states, “While developing this new line, we learned more about the plight of the honey bee, colony collapse disorder and the serious toll on the honey bee population. The University of California reports that one third of our diet depends on honey bee pollination, so this is a serious issue. We decided to help by donating a portion of the proceeds of the sales of the BeeKind Collection to the Universitys Honey Bee Research Program.”
The five BeeKind liquid productsShampoo, Conditioner, Conditioning Shampoo, Body Wash and Body Lotionare available in a 1 fl oz (30 ml) size. With a fresh lemon verbena fragrance and extracts of honey and certified organic extracts of red clover, calendula, lemongrass and chamomile, BeeKind is as soothing as it is stylish.
The collection also features two gentle, vegetable-based, aloe soaps. The soaps, available in 0.6 oz (17g) and 1 oz (28g) sizes, are low-weight to reduce the amount of waste. De Voe says, “Although low in weight, we designed these bars to have a large surface area, which increases performance by having a larger area in contact with skin to produce more foam.”
To round out the collection, BeeKind offers a full range of necessity products.
Like all Gilchrist & Soames products, BeeKind embraces cruelty-free development and manufacturing practices, ensuring that the products are never tested on animals, nor contain animal-derived ingredients.