One of Tom's of Maine's central beliefs is that a company can be financially successful while behaving in a socially responsible and environmentally sensitive manner. Tom's was recognized for its 36-year commitment to sustainable business practices and in particular for its 2005 advancements regarding:
* Converting its entire manufacturing facility to wind energy, thus
eliminating 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
This is equivalent to planting 214 acres of trees each year or removing
138 cars from the road annually.
* Sustainable Lighting - replaced 467,400-watt metal halide fixtures with
sensor-controlled fluorescent energy-saving fixtures. Tom's will save
250,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
* Recycling - The majority of Tom's of Maine packaging is made from
recycled materials, and all of it is recyclable. Tom's encourages its
consumers to recycle its packaging and in its own facilities, recycles
aluminum tubes, cardboard, folding cartons, mixed paper, cans, bottles
and even challenging items such as shrink wrap. In 2005, Tom's
increased its recycle program to over 200,000 pounds per year. As a
result of using recycled cartons, per year Tom's saves 376,396 pounds
of solid waste; 97,286 gallons of water; 5,373,000,000 BTUs of
electricity and 52 years of electricity as required by the average U.S.
home.
Founded in Kennebunk, Maine, by Tom and Kate Chappell in 1970, Tom's of Maine creates effective personal care products using simple, natural ingredients derived from plants and minerals. Tom's of Maine products - toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, deodorant, and soap - do not contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors, flavors, or animal ingredients; are tested for safety and efficacy without the use of animals; are biodegradable; and are packaged in earth-friendly ways.
