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Dafne Berlanga, vice president of international business development of Oakworks
How important is it for the spa industry to be sustainable? Vitally important. There should be no separation between personal wellbeing and sustaining the health of the planet. Our individual wellness is directly dependent on our access to a healthy environment.
As a company, you place heavy emphasis on sustainability – could you tell us about that? Jeff and Linda Riach, the founders of Oakworks, have always been committed to sustainability. Since 1978, before it became a global trend, Oakworks took a step-by-step approach to ensure a high level of protection of the environment. Jeff hand-crafted our first portable table with regionally-sourced materials.
Today, we manufacture all tables and trolleys at our headquarters in Pennsylvania, which is an ISO 13485 certified medical facility. Materials are locally sourced when possible and are non-toxic – we use PVC-free fabric and water-based sealers and lacquers. We also partner with companies such as 3form, which provides recycled and responsibly-sourced materials.
Since January 2008, we’ve also been donating to Trees for the Future, a non-profit organisation. In 2017, we planted our millionth tree through the initiative.
Do you see being sustainable as a way of standing out in a competitive market? Any efforts to stop global warming and to reduce carbon footprints will be an advantage when talking to wellness customers. While sustainable practices do add a cost to products, true wellness practitioners understand that the best experience comes from a holistic approach. It is counter-intuitive to provide a wellness session where a customer breathes in toxic fumes from foams that have not been regulated on a table built with wood that hasn’t been responsibly processed.
Do you think the wellness sector places enough emphasis on sustainability? There isn’t enough emphasis yet to the urgency of regenerative practices and their impact on health and wellness. The challenges are both philosophical and practical, where perceived costs and the reluctance to take more “robust” risks prevent companies from adopting sustainable practices.
The good news is that we will be hearing more and more about these programmes in the near future. The Global Wellness Institute, through its Sustainability Initiative, is already planting the seeds.
KEYWORD: Oakworks
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Oakworks
Dafne Berlanga, vice president of international business
development of Oakworks, discusses the importance of sustainability
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Bellezi
Founded in 2009 as a Dutch family business, Bellezi brings more than 20 years of experience in treat [more...]
Dafne Berlanga, vice president of international business development of Oakworks
How important is it for the spa industry to be sustainable? Vitally important. There should be no separation between personal wellbeing and sustaining the health of the planet. Our individual wellness is directly dependent on our access to a healthy environment.
As a company, you place heavy emphasis on sustainability – could you tell us about that? Jeff and Linda Riach, the founders of Oakworks, have always been committed to sustainability. Since 1978, before it became a global trend, Oakworks took a step-by-step approach to ensure a high level of protection of the environment. Jeff hand-crafted our first portable table with regionally-sourced materials.
Today, we manufacture all tables and trolleys at our headquarters in Pennsylvania, which is an ISO 13485 certified medical facility. Materials are locally sourced when possible and are non-toxic – we use PVC-free fabric and water-based sealers and lacquers. We also partner with companies such as 3form, which provides recycled and responsibly-sourced materials.
Since January 2008, we’ve also been donating to Trees for the Future, a non-profit organisation. In 2017, we planted our millionth tree through the initiative.
Do you see being sustainable as a way of standing out in a competitive market? Any efforts to stop global warming and to reduce carbon footprints will be an advantage when talking to wellness customers. While sustainable practices do add a cost to products, true wellness practitioners understand that the best experience comes from a holistic approach. It is counter-intuitive to provide a wellness session where a customer breathes in toxic fumes from foams that have not been regulated on a table built with wood that hasn’t been responsibly processed.
Do you think the wellness sector places enough emphasis on sustainability? There isn’t enough emphasis yet to the urgency of regenerative practices and their impact on health and wellness. The challenges are both philosophical and practical, where perceived costs and the reluctance to take more “robust” risks prevent companies from adopting sustainable practices.
The good news is that we will be hearing more and more about these programmes in the near future. The Global Wellness Institute, through its Sustainability Initiative, is already planting the seeds.
KEYWORD: Oakworks
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Oakworks
Dafne Berlanga, vice president of international business
development of Oakworks, discusses the importance of sustainability
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Bellezi Founded in 2009 as a Dutch family business, Bellezi brings more than 20 years of experience in treat [more...]
