When Melaleuca was founded, protecting the environment and bringing environmentally safe products into homes and into people's lives was a major guiding principle. Melaleuca realized that this kind of commitment would take a great deal of time, effort and financial investment, nevertheless, the company has never wavered or strayed from the course it set 18 years ago. With that kind of dedication, it couldn't be long before someone noticed.

Melaleuca recently edged out all of the other companies nominated for the 2003 Environmental Excellence Award given by the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. Known as "IACI", the organization is made up of nearly 300 member companies and is widely considered the most powerful lobbying organization in the state of Idaho. Melaleuca President and CEO Frank VanderSloot accepted the award at a banquet honoring the nominees.

An independent committee made up of five environmental experts, including an employee from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chair of the Environmental Committee of the Idaho House of Representatives, scrutinized the companies nominated for the award and ultimately unanimously chose Melaleuca as the recipient.

In a press release issued by IACI that announced Melaleuca as the winner, Tom Turco, Director of Environmental Health for the Central District Health Department, said, "Melaleuca has a start-to-finish approach to environmental quality. They begin with a manufacturing process which reduces environmental impact. They carry on that theme with development of environmentally healthy products that encourage consumers to make environmental protection a part of their everyday lives.

A number of well-known companies have received the award in prior years, including Micron Technology, Albertsons, and Basic American Foods. This year's nominees were as influential and prestigious as in years past; all have national - if not global - reach.

The criteria for the award includes environmental practices, investment in pollution control, recovery from waste streams, conservation, and other environmental achievements.

Melaleuca is honored to be IACI's recipient of the 2003 Environmental Excellence Award.

Click here to read about Melaleuca's Commitment to Environmental Wellness