Consumer support on wish list for green company battered by blaze

LEADING Australian green products manufacturer Aware Environmental Ltd, makers of the Orange Power and Aware household consumer products, recently faced one of its biggest challenges as a small business when a fire tore through its Victorian factory weeks out from Christmas destroying raw material stores and mixing rooms.

Fortunately no-one was injured in the blaze but Aware Environmental Ltd Managing Director Andrew Chaney, who is no stranger to challenges, said it was a big setback to production.

“We’ve survived over a decade with the constant threat of product deletions to private labels and large international brands in the endless battle for shelf space, but it’s tough when you lose a factory as a small business,” he said.

“We’ve lost a substantial amount of raw material stores and suffered damage to our mixing rooms but after four days of working around the clock relocating the office, laboratories and production we have made sure no deliveries were missed and we just have to sort out a few logistical issues with production.”

It’s uncertain what the long term effect on the business will be but Mr Chaney is adamant consumers will be able to buy products as normal.

“All of our Orange Power, Aware and Actizyme products will be available as normal. In fact, we’ll be relying on consumers to support us over the next few months more than ever.

The interruption may have halted Aware Environmental’s production momentarily but it hasn’t stopped its quest to become Australia’s most environmentally responsible manufacturer.

“As far as we are concerned its business as usual and we hope to rebuild an even more sustainable and improved production facility.”

Mr Chaney and his brother Iain founded Orange Power in 1991 after discovering a use for orange oils in cleaning products. The company became an unlisted public company under the name Aware Environmental Ltd and added palm oil free Aware laundry powders and Actizyme drain cleaner in its eco safe product suite.

For more information visit www.orangepower.com.au.

- Ends