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Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular within the UK, with just over 3 million adults eating exclusively vegetarian and vegan diets. As we stride into a more sustainable future, British consumers have invested a staggering £600 million in meat-free meals in 2020 alone. In fact, the plant-based alternative industry is expected to continue to grow and is forecast to reach a staggering £6.6bn by 2025.
Just like plant-based diets, the plant-based medicine industry is also on the rise, with an expected growth of 25.1% between 2023 to 2030 as a result of new regulatory reforms. One company playing a significant role in the growth of this industry is the US-based alternative medicine brand - Phoenix Aurelius.
Founder of the Phoenix Aurelius Research Academy, Phoenix runs educational classes on plant-based medicines alongside continuing research into the health benefits of the natural world. Through their Shopify store, they also sell herbal medicines to the general public.
Sustainability is at the core of everything the Research Academy does, and they strive to ‘walk in nature’s footsteps’.
“When I founded the Phoenix Aurelius Research Academy, I built this entire stance into our business model from the herbs we harvest and use, our methods of extraction, the bottling solutions we use, the packaging we choose to use, the wages we pay, how our profits are used, and what impacts we choose to make with each purchase.” - Phoenix Aurelius, Founder.
Ensuring they only use biodegradable and recyclable materials for their packaging, including shipping boxes, inks, tapes and bottling solutions, they keep their waste to a bare minimum. They also actively order from suppliers who use biodegradable packing peanuts and tape.
“We offer our employees and contractors more-than-sustainable wages and ample paid time away from work to spend with their families and doing the things they love.”
Phoenix Aurelius and Greenspark
In August 2022, Phoenix joined the Greenspark community to strengthen its sustainability commitment. By integrating their Shopify store with our platform and the setup of automated triggers, The Academy effortlessly set its eco-conscious plan into motion.
They plant five trees and rescue twenty ocean-bound plastic bottles with every order placed.
“We started giving a significant portion of our profits from each product to fund useful projects that do a lot more to help the environment and the people and animals who dwell in the areas that are focused on. Furthermore, it is a very simple integration, it works great with our website, and we just love the whole mission.”
Partnering with Greenspark hasn’t just helped them facilitate the planting of over 15,000 trees and the rescuing of 66,000 plastic bottles (as of August 2023); it’s helped them strengthen their customer relationships and improve customer loyalty.
“We proudly showcase our impact on our home page as well as on our charity page, and in every monthly Newsletter, we include a snapshot of the progress we made that month with Greenspark’s integrated programs. We do this because we want our supporters and customers to know exactly how much they are supporting the environment by supporting our business. We try to get our customers as excited as possible about the progress we make and want them to realise that just by supporting us, they are making a huge impact on the environment.”
The Academy’s community is predominantly made up of eco-conscious and mindful consumers, so their work with Greenspark resonates. A decision that’s not only positive for community building but also for the success of the business. Research suggests that companies with a customer experience mindset can achieve revenue 4-8% higher than the rest of their industries.
Not only that, but 73% of consumers say a good experience is vital in influencing their brand loyalties. The results from The Academy’s research into its customer base have proven this to be true.
Phoenix actively contacted his community to understand exactly how they felt about his partnership with Greenspark. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
Their loyal customer base regularly leaves positive feedback in response to their impact, with a huge 95% of their customers stating that the academy is doing more for the planet than other businesses they shop with.
Plus, a massive 63% of them said they actively choose to shop with Phoenix Aurelius over competitors due to the environmental impact they’ve added to their products.
Building trust and efficacy is crucial for the business as a player in the natural medicine and health space, so gaining positive customer feedback continues to help them turn new customers into loyal community members who purchase regularly:
“I think it’s great that your company has engaged an ecological impact company to create such a positive impact.”
“It brings me joy to know there are companies making a difference planting trees and cleaning plastic waste”
“I’m a brand new customer. I’m extremely impressed with you and am excited to learn more about you and your products. It makes me feel like I’m helping in a small way too.”
"I appreciate the innovative and holistic manner in which you do business and I am pleased you have brought Greenspark into my awareness! I'm always happy to support such a great team as yours."
The research academy’s ethos is about embedding sustainability from the beginning. They show how taking steps for a greener planet can amplify customer relationships and build strong communities willing to provide positive feedback at every step.
“Our customers know that when they support our research, they are supporting an entirely sustainable and regenerative philosophy that applies to agriculture, ecology, and wild harvesting practices.”
Their valuable data from customer research further highlights the significance of addressing consumer demands for sustainability and understanding your audience's needs.
If you'd like to learn how to achieve similar results within your business, one of our team would be happy to speak with you. Email us or book a call with us today to learn more!
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