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~ Coffee Corner ~

offee or tea? When and how? offers a very strong and distinguished mix of clean formulation,
“That is a great question! Although I know it is a traceability of renewable & low footprint cultivations &
Cquestion that all interviewees of coffee corner are harvests, green packaging and production, and efficacy and
asked, in my case, it is not only a personal question but is also safety.
linked directly to APIVITA and our products. The choice
is Greek Mountain Tea, as we have a Greek Mountain Tea Last but not least, it is innovation that has always been
infusion global patent to use in our products for its local central to APIVITA philosophy and is supported by our
antioxidant, anti-ageing, protective against cellular ageing, own laboratories staffed with a team of experts in the fields
as well as hydrating and photoprotective action. Also, Greek of chemistry, cosmetology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and
Mountain Tea as a beverage has many health benefits and is chemical engineering. Our specific research fields are extraction
naturally caffeine-free, so it can be enjoyed at any time of the and stabilisation of products from the beehive, Mediterranean
day and throughout the year (hot in the winter and ice-cold in flora and seabed, and skin molecular biology. As a result, we
the summer).” own seven patents to date, while we also maintain partnerships
with the international academic community, with the aim
Can you tell us a bit about APIVITA and yourself? of conducting extensive research on beekeeping products,
“APIVITA (which means “life of the bee”) offers effective indigenous medicinal and aromatic plants, elements of the
natural beauty products for the face, body, and hair. Our Mediterranean seabed, and new efficacy assessment techniques.
formulas harness the power of Greek nature with key We are currently working closely with 74 research institutions
ingredients derived from value-added bee products and in 23 countries.”
medicinal plants, enhanced by cutting-edge green cosmetology.
In March 2017, APIVITA SA joined the Spanish group Sustainability seems to be a very important aspect
PUIG, which is active in the fashion, perfume and cosmetics of APIVITA. Can you tell us a bit more about the
sectors, with an international presence in 150 countries. importance of sustainability within APIVITA?
PUIG’s investment in APIVITA was of strategic importance “Sustainability, as I have already mentioned, is in APIVITA’s
as it enhanced the company with resources and expertise to DNA and is testified by our B Corp certification. Thanks to
develop internationally to an additional 26 countries over its numerous ecological initiatives, as well as social action at
the past three years with great success, reaching a total of 38 a local level (creating jobs for the local population, fighting
countries globally and aiming to expand in 60 countries in the corruption, developing partnerships with more than 41
following two years. At the same time, APIVITA headquarters philanthropic associations, etc.), the brand is the first and
and production line remain in Greece, fully utilising the only Greek company to obtain B Corp certification, which
potential of the company’s research laboratory and state-of- recognises companies that meet the highest social and
the-art facilities. environmental standards. In 2021, APIVITA started the
re-certification process of B Corp! We are committed to
APIVITA understood the importance of digitalisation earlier maintaining our status as a member of the international
compared to other cosmetics brands. Since I had a strong network of purpose-driven companies that use business as a
background in e-business, I joined APIVITA in 2011 to build force for good. For APIVITA, being re-certified as a B Corp
its digital presence, and at the moment, I lead the development has strategic importance and will serve as an inspiration and
and implementation of e-commerce, digital communication, example for all, as it is not enough for our company to be “The
social media, and PR. Since 2011, we have developed our own Best in the World”, but to become “The Best for the World”.
e-shops that specialise in cross border e-commerce in Europe
and the USA.” B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and
environmental performance, public transparency, and legal
What distinguishes APIVITA from other beauty accountability. Currently, the B Corp network consists of
brands? more than 3,400 companies from 150 industries and 70
“The idea of APIVITA SA was conceived when two young countries, including companies such as Patagonia, Natura,
pharmacists (Niko and Niki Koutsiana), who were passionate Danone North America, Ben & Jerry’s, Pukka, Dr Bronner’s,
about bee society and inspired by Greek nature’s biodiversity etc. Our evaluation and re-certification process is expected
and fascinated by the amplifying power of science, created their to be completed in 2021, aiming to score higher in more
first natural cosmetics company in Athens, Greece. The story evaluation pillars but also to re-enter – for the 3rd consecutive
of APIVITA is a story of passion, commitment and vision, year – in the “Best for the World” list of B Corps regarding
which led a small company in Greece to establish its presence environmental performance.
and gain loyal customers all over the world. This evolution,
as well as our dedication to natural cosmetics, distinguishes Obtaining this international certification for the second
APIVITA from many brands. Also, another important fact is consecutive time will strengthen our commitment to
that sustainable development is deeply etched in APIVITA’s sustainable and socially responsible operation, in conjunction
DNA, which will be further explained below. APIVITA also with the Sustainable Development Report to be published in

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