Weleda AG, the world market leader in holistic natural cosmetics and anthroposophic medicines, achieved a 2.7 percent increase in sales in 2018. Disregarding the effects of exchange rates, growth was as high as 4.7 percent. The consolidated, provisional turnover of the Weleda Group for 2018 is around 412 million euros.
Global sales of natural cosmetics increased by 5.2 percent (by 6.7 percent excluding exchange rate effects) to around 308 million euros in 2018. Internationalization was a key driver of this growth. Whilst sales in the D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) rose by around 1.0 percent to EUR 157 million, the regions North America, Western Europe and Central/Eastern Europe recorded double-digit growth.
In 2019, Weleda expects further growth in natural cosmetics and stable sales of pharmaceuticals due to the introduction of new products and the continuation of its internationalization strategy.
Contribution to healthy soils and ecological diversity
With its commitment to sustainability, Weleda is making a substantial contribution to healthy soils and the preservation of ecological diversity. A cornerstone of its current sustainability programme is the promotion of regenerative agriculture (currently over 80 percent of its natural raw materials are organic, 30 percent of which will be grown biodynamically by 2022). Since 2011, Weleda has also audited its 1000+ supply chains of plant-based raw materials according to the very stringent standards of the Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT). This ensures a high level of transparency and environmental and social responsibility. Additionally, the processing of its raw materials was certified in 2018. All the packaging for Weleda’s natural cosmetics will now bear the UEBT seal, “Sourcing with Respect”, which the company has been awarded for the first time.
