Here at amika, sustainability is at the forefront of our minds. Whether it's a promotional item or a new formula for a product, we are always concerned with environmental impact. We're always striving to go cleaner and greener, and we’re taking steps to become more sustainable to preserve our planet for our next generation.

With social distancing being the biggest priority these days, it can be easy to let sustainability and environmental impact slip from the mind. To give you some green tips while at home, we reached out to the legendary green queen, Jamie Richards. Keep reading for tips on how to cut down waste while at home, as well as what our plans are to become more sustainable over the next few years.

"Happy Earth Day Everyone!! (Although I like to think everyday is Earth Day)

My name is Jamie Richards and I’m the Assistant Purchasing Coordinator at amika, but I’m also known as the resident “Green Queen” in the office. I help lead our sustainability initiatives, which includes everything from composting in the office, to calculating amika’s travel footprint, to even launching a recycling program that all of you can participate in!

I know things are tough right now, and sustainability might not be the first thing on your mind, but I want to share some ways that I try to be sustainable in my own home. This is what I’m currently doing in my house to stay safe, healthy, and green!

Use natural light instead of turning on a light whenever you can. This saves energy and provides us with some much-needed sunshine during this time. Opening up a window, or just getting some sun in a room can also prevent us from raising or lowering the thermostat, another great way to save some energy!

Not only is it really hard to find paper towels right now, but using reusable towels and hand washing them, or throwing them in with another load of laundry is a great way to save some trees and limit the amount of waste you produce!

I lovvvee to cook with a ton of vegetables but I’m always left with onion skins, garlic husks, and other veggie trimmings. I save all of my scraps in a container and keep it in the freezer, and when I get about three cups of veggie scraps, I cook them in a pot with just water and a little bit of salt and taa daa! Instant veggie broth! Then you can dispose of the scraps (I prefer composting) when you’re done!

Most of us are working from home using our laptops, phones, and other electronics from 9-5. Turn them off completely & unplug them! When things are plugged in, or power strips are still on we are still using energy! Remember to unplug everything to save some energy and some money $$$

I hope you try out at least one of these & have a very happy Earth Day 😊" - Jamie Richards

Like we mentioned, we have some big goals in the pipeline to increase our sustainability and minimize our environmental impact.

• Launch a recycling collection program to guarantee the recyclability of our products into new ones.
• Source our key ingredient, Sea Buckthorn, from organic farms that practice sustainable harvesting and social responsibility. Our partners are funding education for local children and preserving biodiversity in their communities.
• Launch our first bottles made from 90% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. BTW, if you didn't already know, our current bottles are still recyclable!

• Guarantee 90%+ of the plastic we use in our packaging will be post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic.
• Onboard 100+ salons into the Green Circle network- salons dedicated to recycling waste and decreasing energy and water usage.
• Commit that all brand travel will be carbon neutral

• Have B Corp Certification. B Corporations are businesses that uphold the highest social and environmental standard, legal accountability and public transparency.