Melissa: B-Certification
There is a movement happening in the business world. It calls for businesses to have a greater responsibility than just profits. The leaders of this movement are companies that have become Certified B-Corporations. B-Corporations strive to meet high standards of accountability and transparency and are mission-driven companies that balance purpose and profit. These corporations measure their impact in 5 different areas: Stockholders, Workers, the Community, the Environment, and their Customers.
For a company to meet the standards to be a certified B-Corporation, it must commit to each impact area that solidifies its mission and give a framework for good and ethical practices in its operations. To become a B-certified company, it must complete an assessment by B-labs to ensure it meets or exceeds the high standards required to use the B-corporation logo. It must renew this certification every three years so you, as a consumer, can know your money is going to a company that has a mission for good.
In 2023, RidgeCrest Herbals worked hard to earn this certification for the first time. We learned a lot as we went, but the team we worked with was impressed with the high standards we began with, and we are excited to continue to grow and learn how to be the best company we can be.
Nichole: Rebranding
Have you noticed a new look on our labels? We’ve spent the last few years working hard to bring you these new, updated designs. We wanted the brand to feel more aesthetically natural, bring the feel of our products and our Almanac together, and better support our company mission. At RidgeCrest Herbals, we aim to change how people use herbal medicine. So we wanted to draw more attention to the incredible herbs we use in our products. On the front of each label, you'll notice a unique set of plants that reflect the herbs found therein. Not only do these herbs represent the power of nature, but they also bring attention to their benefits by association with the product's use and purpose. They also visually demonstrate our eclectic, effective, and innovative approach to formulation, known as Portfolio Formulation™, which you can read more about on our website.
We’re also implementing a new process to color code the products based on their primary body system. Intelligut™, for example, is light blue, representing the nervous system, as the product is for brain health. Any product which helps the nervous system will have a light blue color. This change will gradually occur over time and continue to be rolled out with new product launches. Currently, your favorite products will still be identifiable with their normal color scheme (i.e., ClearLungs Classic will still be colored red).
As a side note and fun fact: all the herbs you see on our bottles and in our branding were hand painted by a local artist, Carel Brest Van Kempen, who also creates our Almanac covers!
Aspen: New Names!
If you work in the natural products industry, you know things are constantly changing, for better or worse. One of the things we deal with daily is ensuring that our company stays in line with guidelines and best practices from the FDA and the FTC to ensure the quality and safety of our products and to fall in line with regulations regarding our advertising. We don’t want to say anything that will overpromise or mislead our consumers.
You will notice an FDA disclaimer on each product we sell: “The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” As the years pass, the FDA’s own interpretation of this statement tends to shift, and we have to shift as well. In 2023, this meant a review of the names of our products, with several changes you will notice this year:
- Adrenal Fatigue Fighter is now AdrenaLove!
- Blood Sugar Balance is now Blood Sugar Buddy!
- Anxiety Free is now SereniZen!
The formulas for these products did not change, but you will soon start to see the new labels on store shelves and online.
