OpTree

The Shaklee Corporation, a global leader in environmentally friendly household products, nutritional supplements and beauty products, has just been put on the list of the Top 20 Retail Partners with the United States Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership.

The EPA’s Green Power Partnership is committed to helping consumers as well as companies understand the importance of going green, and its impact on the health of all people and the environment. The Partnership top partner rankings are meant to put a spotlight on companies that emphasize green power purchases to help reduce a negative impact on the environment.

Shaklee has had a longstanding commitment to the environment, becoming the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral Certified in the year 2000. The certification means that Shaklee has found a way to completely offset its greenhouse gas emissions, therefore resulting in zero impact on the environment. In 2002, the EPA presented Shaklee with the EPA Climate Protection Award which recognized the company for its dedication to climate protection and to preserving the environment.

“Our nation is shifting to a ‘green culture,’ with more and more Americans understanding that environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “EPA commends Shaklee Corporation for making a long-term commitment to protecting the environment by purchasing green power.”

Roger Barnett, Shaklee Chairman and CEO, is proud of Shaklee’s addition to this prestigious grouping, “We are pleased to be part of a group of companies that are showing leadership in helping reduce our impact on our planet and we hope that many more join us in the future.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

Most Americans have heard that drinking a glass of red wine can be healthy but are unaware of why this is. In 2006, researchers at the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) reported that a natural substance found in red wine, known as resveratrol, can potentially offset the negative effects of a high-calorie diet and significantly extend lifespan in mice. After the largest research project in its 53-year history, Shaklee Corporation, has introduced Vivix Cellular Anti-Aging Tonic, the first all-natural dietary supplement that combines resveratrol with a patent-pending plant extract to combat the key mechanisms of cellular aging.

Roger Barnett, Chairman and CEO of Shaklee Corporation, says, “Vivix is a revolutionary new product that goes beyond resveratrol in the fight against cellular aging,” Barnett continues, “A 30-day supply delivers the equivalent amount of resveratrol found in 3,000 glasses of red wine and has actually been shown to be ten times more powerful than resveratrol alone at slowing the formation of AGE (Advanced Glycation End Products) proteins which can compromise cellular integrity and longevity.”

Published in Nature, the Harvard Medical School and NIA report suggests that resveratrol could help offset some of the negative impacts of an unhealthy, high-calorie diet. The researchers found that resveratrol extended the lifespan of mice and appeared to blunt some of the effects of aging. The challenge was that until recently, there wasn’t a practical way to consume the necessary amount of the substance to be impactful.

Dr. David Sinclair, Associate Professor of Pathology and co-director of the Paul F Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging at Harvard Medical School says, “I’ve been working for more than a decade trying to understand more about the aging process and my research shows that there are a few key genes in our bodies that can control, not just how fast we age, but how healthy we are.” The world renowned expert on aging and member of the Shaklee Scientific Advisory Board continues, “I believe that we are going to be the first generation in human history to benefit from the significant advances in anti-aging research. This is not pseudo science. This is cutting edge and it’s here now.”

“Shaklee is proud of this breakthrough innovation of Vivix,” said Dr. Jamie McManus, Chairman of Medical Affairs, Health Sciences and Education, Shaklee Corporation. “Our team has invested years of research to locate and isolate a unique blend of potent plant phytochemicals which when combined with resveratrol have been shown in laboratory studies to positively impact four key mechanisms of cellular aging by protecting and repairing cellular DNA, positively impacting genetic regulators, promoting cellular energy production and Vivix ingredients are 10 times more powerful than resveratrol alone at slowing AGE protein formation.”*

Popularity: 8% [?]

NIR Diagnostics, Inc, an Ontario based medical device company, has just announced that they have terminated their Licensing Agreement with Shaklee over claims that Shaklee has breached the terms of the Agreement by failing to pay NIR invoices on time.

If you remember, we told you just a week ago Shaklee and NIR had joined together in a patent infringement suit against Masimo over claims that Masimo infringed on technology related to a non invasive medical device that NIR had licensed for use to Shaklee. While that case was settled, it seems that they partnership between NIR and Shaklee has broken down.

Shaklee Corp and NIR entered into an Exclusive License Agreement two years ago, August 2006. The agreement between NIR and Shaklee allowed Shaklee to use technology related to NIR’s patented non invasive medical devices NIR was very excited about the agreement and was looking forward to a lucrative partnership. Duncan J. MacIntyre, NIR Diagnostics President, CEO and Executive Vice Chairman released a statement in August 2006 expressing his excitement over the agreement, “With sales in the global nutraceuticals industry projected to reach $187 billion by 2010, and with only expensive and time consuming laboratory testing available to monitor the impact of these products, this market is an ideal application of our non-invasive technology,”

Shaklee used NIR’s technology as part of their internal testing of nutritional products. The pain free devices from NIR allowed Shaklee scientists to develop better products and allowed them to test their products in a non-invasive pain free way.

NIR claims that Shaklee violated the terms of the agreement by failing to pay amounts due to the company on time. Shaklee disputes all claims and is adamant that they in no way breached the terms of the contract.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Nature’s Bounty, a subsidiary of NBTY - a global direct sales health and wellness company, is joining forces with several organizations to make their company and the earth, a little bit greener.

Natures Bounty, has just launched the Healthy You, Healthy Earth Campaign, which is a company wide plan to reduce their carbon footprint and become a more responsible, eco-friendly, and greener company.

For years Natures Bounty has tried to be aware of global environmental issues and has taken steps to make a difference including recycling projects- using recycled goods as well as recycling their own products. Now they have taken it up a notch by redesigning their packaging, switching to CFC lighting and using water based ink for all of their copying. Then company hopes that they can reduce their carbon footprint by 5 million pounds of CO2 per year.

Natures Bounty is also joining forces with several eco friendly organizations such as Trees for the Future, an environment group that plants new trees around the world, and The Go Green Initiative, an organization that educations children about the environment and way that they can help and protect the earth.

Natures Bounty is among several Network Marketing companies who are really focusing on Green initiatives. Shaklee, Mannatech, Ocean Grown and others have initiatives underway to reduce their carbon footprint and be more eco-friendly.

Popularity: 9% [?]