Amway has opened a $13m Botanical Research Centre in Wuxi, China. The company will use the new facility to study plants associated with traditional Chinese medicine for potential use in future health and beauty products.
Amway sells a number of health and beauty products including the Artisry skin care and cosmetics brand. All its products are sold exlusively through a direct selling model.
The Amway Botanical Research Centre (ABRC) is set on a 84 acre site and includes a laboratory, large greenhouse and plans to research soil nutrients, plant physiology, extract quality and processes. The facility has been in development for the past five years. The farmland selected for the site was chosen for its optimal growing conditions said to match those at Amway's Brazil, Mexico and US organic farms.
George Calvert, Chief Officer of Global R&D and supply chain at Amway, said: "Our Nutrilite brand of vitamins and dietary supplements were first formulated after the brand's founder, Carl Rehnborg, observed how the use of plants and botanicals in China promoted optimal health and natural balance. The new ABRC is our effort to research and understand Chinese botanicals to a greater extent – using the most advanced technology and scientific practices – and integrate the findings into our products."
