Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2025

70 • Massage Therapy Journal

I n response to both consumer demand and climate science, sustainability has become more of a main focus throughout various industries, including massage therapy. Today, more and more massage therapists and massage therapy product companies are striving to optimize their sustainability efforts. For massage therapists, part of this work focuses on the sustainability of purchased products and materials, as well as the day-to-day efforts to decrease energy usage.

disinfectants,” says Dan Woolford, senior director, sales and marketing, Virox Technologies. “At the core of our sustainability strategy is the engineering of disinfectants featuring safe, natural and biodegradable active ingredients.” To this end, accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP) powers Prevention products. AHP is a safe, effective, and sustainable disinfectant technology where hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient, is able to break down into oxygen and water with no negative impact on the environment. All Prevention disinfectants are non-irritating to eyes and skin, do not emit VOCs, are made with biodegradable ingredients, and have the EPA’s lowest available toxicity rating. At Performance Health, a company focusing on massage cremes, lotions, gels, exfoliators and essential oils, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is priority No. 1. “We have set our targets to achieve net zero for scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission categories*, supported by the standards of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBCi),” says Darren Umbers, managing director (ANZ) and head of sustainability (global), at Performance Health. “Our Carbon Reduction plan was finalized at the end of 2023 and we are targeting a net zero date of 2050 for all categories, relative to our 2022 baseline.” This plan includes a goal of a 4% reduction in GHG for 2024 globally. Sustainability Partners in the Massage Therapy Space Many of the sustainability efforts these companies make have led them to partnerships with nonprofits and groups outside of the massage therapy space. “We will remain sponsors and supporters of environmental and humanitarian organizations such as Trees for the Future, Sustainable Harvest, the Green Spa Network and the Red Cross,” says Mazzola. “Through our Trees for the Future partnership, we can globally offset our carbon footprint each year. Trees for the Future aims to ‘break the cycle of hunger, poverty and environmental destruction’ by training farmers how to care for their land and build up their communities and landscapes.”

Meanwhile, massage therapy companies have begun focusing on sourcing eco-friendly materials and working closely with sustainability partners. As the demand for environmentally conscious solutions continues to rise, the integration of sustainable practices in massage therapy underscores a commitment to health, wellness and the planet. How are Massage Therapy Product Companies Practicing Sustainability? Many companies in the massage therapy space that we talked with have placed a large emphasis on sustainability. Earthlite, a manufacturer of massage tables and other massage supplies, for example, focuses on using environmentally friendly materials and processes whenever possible, and minimizes waste and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the production of all of their products. According to Melissa Mazzola, Earthlite Director of Business Development, some specific measures the company has taken include: • E-waste recycling of electronics, batteries, toner and hot towel cabinets • Use of a local, licensed disposal company that keeps disposal in state • Sends paint and stain cleaning water to a recycling facility for solvent distillation • Replaced fluorescent bulbs with low voltage LED throughout their factory Virox Technologies, the developer of Prevention disinfectants for spas and salons, has a different approach to sustainability that the company has tailored to its own product line. “Our commitment is rooted in the goal of reducing the environmental footprint associated with essential products such as

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS *According to NationalGrid.com , Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions that a company owns or controls. Scope 2 and 3 are indirect emissions produced as a consequence of the activities of the company, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it.

“Through our Trees for the Future partnership, we can globally offset our carbon footprint each year. Trees for the Future aims to ‘break the cycle of hunger, poverty and environmental destruction’ by training farmers how to care for their land and build up their communities and landscapes.” — Melissa Mazzola, Earthlite Director of Business Development

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