NAFTEMPORIKI: Growth prospects through investment in Zeolite – The Zeolite venture | Zeolife and Zeotec Hellas Group
A strong case for the development of new entrepreneurship – and, in particular, innovative and environmentally friendly entrepreneurship – zeolite is gaining momentum in our country, even before mining of the rich Greek deposits in Thrace has properly begun.
[innovation] The Zeolite | Zeolife and Zeotec Hellas Group venture
By Vasso Vegiri
A prime example is provided by the companies Zeolite | Zeolife in Evros and Zeotec Hellas Group in Volos, the former specialising in the standardisation of zeolite for every possible application and the production of natural, handmade soaps and cosmetics, whilst the latter produces detergents based on natural zeolite, which, as is well known, not only causes no harm but, on the contrary, has a beneficial effect on the environment; the latter.
zeolite is a porous, natural clay-silicate mineral. Due to its molecular structure, it exhibits a remarkably high ion-exchange capacity and neutralises the pH of water and soil. In other words, it binds heavy metals, toxins and free radicals, as it is one of the very few negatively charged minerals found in nature. Furthermore, it has the ability to absorb water and other substances essential for living organisms, which it then releases at a specific rate depending on environmental conditions. Because of this ability, it could be likened to a ‘stone sponge’.
Recently (February 2017), the company Olympus S.A. – Industrial Minerals (headquartered in Assiros, Thessaloniki), which was founded in 2013 by mining engineer Giorgos Georgiadis, was granted an exploitation licence by the Ministry of Environment and Energy for a zeolite quarry in Northern Evros at the Kokkalo site, as well as a licence for exploratory work in the neighbouring area at the Mavri Petra site.
In 2014, in the midst of the crisis, the Zeolite | Zeolife venture was launched in Evros, which processes zeolite and sells it wholesale, retail and wholesale levels, whilst also producing natural, handmade soaps in its own workshop using zeolite and Samothraki olive oil or vegetable glycerine. According to the company’s founder and owner, Chrysovalanti Hatzigeorgiou, once the production of Greek zeolite begins, will seek partnerships and also plans to expand its production into the field of zeolite-based cosmetic products, as well as edible zeolite. At the same time, she is in talks to begin exporting her soaps to Sweden and the Netherlands, as well as via the online platform eBay.
Zeotec Hellas Group IKE commenced operations in Volos in January 2016 with the aim of producing innovative and environmentally friendly detergents (16 product codes are already in production) based on liquid zeolite, for professional use, with zeolite as the raw material sourced mainly from Bulgaria and Slovenia. Apart from the Volos plant – where, according to the company’s chairman, Christos Christou, is expected to reach €1.5 million by the end of 2017 and is being funded from the company’s own resources – construction is also underway on a plant in Russia, just outside Moscow, which is expected to be completed in early summer and through which export activity to many European countries will be developed. However, the plant in Volos has already begun exporting to Germany, Russia, Ukraine, the USA and Turkey, and the company is planning to enter the Greek retail market this year, targeting domestic consumers with small pack sizes and is already in discussions with Greek supermarket chains. The company places particular emphasis on research and employs five scientists in this field, whilst simultaneously developing a nationwide network of agents (it already has 29 agents) and planning a future expansion of the investment in Volos. [SID:10948616]
read the Naftemporiki supplement below
Products from this article
All soaps →
Soap with MED® zeolite, activated charcoal and sandalwood – 125 grams★★★★★ (14)7,60 €View →
Soap with MED® zeolite, ganoderma, chamomile and goat’s milk – 125 grams★★★★★ (10)7,60 €View →
Soap with MED® zeolite, Dead Sea salt, shea butter and goat milk – 125 g★★★★★ (8)7,60 €View →
