BEAUTY & FRAGRANCE
LEVERDEN
Leverden is a portal, inviting us to unveil our true selves, embracing wholeness and healing through spiritual revelation. It transcends mere self-care, taps into ancient healing rituals found in nature and the wisdom and restoration that results. Engaging all senses, embark on a profound physical and inner journey. Each collection, rooted in a Place, an Ingredient, and a Practice, unveils rejuvenating rituals discovered in both the external and internal realms. Enter the Bamboo Salt Collection and the Shaman collection, the inaugural step on a profound journey of physical and spiritual renewal.
SUSTAINABILITY PURPOSE
In the realm of leverden, a deep reverence for Mother Earth guides every endeavor. Their commitment to the planet transcends words, embodying a circular design philosophy where product and packaging are not just recycled, but ingeniously repurposed. Packaging choices reflect this ethos—biodegradable paper, PCR plastic, and glass—all crafted to be multipurpose and decorative. Bottles embrace a new life as post-consumer recycled plastic, candles housed in reusable vessels invite creative repurposing, and seed packets echo the Collection scents, blossoming into vibrant reminders of nature's resilience. leverden's approach extends to every detail. Their ethos reaches beyond commerce; it's a pledge to uphold nature's sanctity and well-being. In this sanctuary of inspiration, leverden stands as a guardian of nature and culture. Every product, from composition to conception, echoes a commitment to health, environment, and quality. Here, the origin and ingredients align with a sacred promise—to honor the Earth, to embody the essence of nature, and to inspire a mindful, harmonious existence.
Established
2020
Headquarters
New York, USA
Categories
Beauty
First Certified
2023
Employees
10
Website
Distribution
USA
A WORD FROM THE FOUNDERS
Our idea came out of lockdown burn-out and the negativity of the pandemic world. There was so much bigotry and hate going on, we wanted to connect to something more positive and kinder; we are all one and equal; we wanted something to share.
leverden is derived from the Nordic “le verdens” or “of the world” to show just that. Our respect for the earth is found in the high-quality ingredients and materials sourced from nature in each collection. leverden taps into the discovery of healing rituals found in the world; I wanted to share some of my findings when I was travelling the world to heal some of the illnesses I was going through at the time.
Our portal is way of transporting you to the bamboo forests of South Korea, to the red sands of Namibia Desert and many more to come.
HELEN LEE & SOYOUNG CHO
CO-FOUNDERS
BUTTERFLY MARK TESTIMONIAL
Achieving the Butterfly Mark was an important milestone in reaching higher standards as the assessment challenged us to reach new levels and set best practices in our value chain.
Case study
PACKAGING EFFICIENCY
ENVIRONMENT
leverden’s packaging consists of over 75% of either biodegradable or recyclable materials. These include tubes, glass, paper, shopping bags, canvas pouches, and post-consumer recycled plastics. Sustainably sourced soy ink is consistently used to distinguish each product’s packaging. When the company ships its scented candles to customers, they include plant seed packets, which can later be grown in the reusable candleholder. leverden seeks to increase the percentage of third-party certified recyclable materials while continuing to provide multiple options for reusable packaging. An overall target of halving company generated waste by 2030 relies on the ongoing implementation of leverden’s packaging innovation strategy.
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY
ENVIRONMENT
Since its founding in 2021, nature, well-being, and circularity have been driving forces behind leverden’s interwoven business and sustainability objectives. From hand and body lotions to scented candles, reusable product containers can be repurposed for other products such as bamboo-based wax. leverden’s body washes and soaps also feature circular principles such as durable performance, cradle to cradle certification as well as regenerative designs. For instance, the charcoal bar soap comes with a hanging-linen cord that is also entirely biodegradable. While their product and packaging designs draw inspiration from nature, the emphasis on reusable materials inform a strategic target to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2050. To date, over 75% of leverden’s finished products are 100% recyclable.
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SUSATINABILITY PURPOSE
GOVERNANCE
Both leverden’s sustainability and business purpose centre on providing ethically sourced wellness products. Self-care and natural ingredients inform both a global and local ESG focus, including with key partners. For example, the company works with light4life, a candle manufacturer, which works with the U.S. based Exceptional Children’s Foundation. leverden also engages with UNICEF for which 10% of company sales have supported lifesaving work for Ukrainian children affected by the war. The company also plants a tree for each tote bag sold in partnership with the NGO, One Tree Planted. These initiatives reinforce sustainable product development such as a new leverden collection of Bushman candles produced by the Himba Indigenous community in Namibia.
