RIVERSIDE, California – July 25, 2011 – Based in Riverside, California, GAR Labs has become known for its clear record of quality and cost effectiveness. GAR Labs has undertaken a three-year major initiative that, according to founder Tom Raffy, “separates us from 99% of all Cosmetic Contract Packagers.” Allocating extensive time and financial resources, the GAR Labs facility has decreased its energy usage while generating substantial amounts of electrical power. “I have spent a considerable amount of time and money to lower the GAR Labs’ energy usage and demand while generating up to 100,000 watts of electricity every day,” reported GAR Labs founder and President Raffy.

Recently, GAR Labs announced the completion of a major solar panel installation. Covering 11,000 square feet, the solar panels of GAR Labs will create a platform for the ages. “The daily and monthly amount of power that GAR Labs is generating is massive,” stated GAR Labs’ Raffy “and it is totally green.” For GAR Labs, this is just one of the major recent changes in their efforts to move towards renewable energy sources.

According to Raffy, GAR Labs has installed green oriented compressors, chillers that required half the needed energy and water purification systems that save energy. “It has been a huge undertaking, reviewing and replacing many entities of the packaging process right down to our security cameras being motion activated to save energy,” reported the GAR Labs founder. And according to Raffy, if GAR Labs can take such steps to reduce their carbon footprint, other companies can follow the same path.

“Local, national and global corporations want to know that contract packager companies like GAR Labs are making the right decisions environmentally,” stated Raffy. He said that the strategy for GAR Labs is simple but effective. “In our effort to convert GAR Labs to a facility completely powered by renewable energies, we are establishing a more competitive position,” reported the GAR Labs founder and president. In reducing its dependence on oil and other nonrenewable fossil fuels, GAR Labs has created a sustainable platform desired by many of the companies who are potential clients.

“For us, it has been an amazing journey of power conversion,” stated Raffy, “and the establishment of our 11,000 square foot solar panels helps us take on step closer to our ultimate goal.” That goal, concluded Raffy, is for GAR Labs to be completely powered by renewable resources.

For more information about GAR Labs, visit them online at http://www.garlabs.com

Founded in 1982, GAR Labs has grown and now operates from a 133,000 square foot headquarters located in Riverside, California. The GAR Labs facility meets or exceeds all health, safety, EPA and FDA standards and requirements, and is licensed for both alcohol filling and storage. Using only purified water, GAR Labs can serve a capacity ranging from 55 gallons to 12,000 gallons per shift.

From 5,000 to 5 million pieces, GAR Labs can develop the formulation, fill and package your product. GAR Labs is licensed and staffed to all personal care products which include sunscreens, face cream, body creams, hair care, body soaps, perfumes and alcohol related products. In addition, GAR Labs is an FDA registered over-the-counter drug (OTC) products.

GAR Labs employs its own in-house chemists that work in a full-service laboratory and can quickly make test samples of the products you want. Along with the development laboratory, GAR Labs offers clients peace-of-mind by having a fully equipped quality control-testing department.

GAR Labs works to ensure that ALL the ingredients AND the finished products are compliant by using three testing divisions:

• “Analytical Testing Lab” verifies the chemical finger print of each ingredient to guarantee compliance through Infrared Spectrometer (IR) and High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC).
• “Quality Control Department” ensures all finished products meet customer specification.
• “Microbiological Testing Department” insures all ingredients and finished products are bacteria free.

As you can see with GAR Labs, ALL raw materials AND finished products are fully tested for both quality and compliance so that you can trust what you are selling and it will last a long time.

When it comes to processing your order the team at GAR Labs is committed to offering the best in project management. Upon receiving a client purchase order, customer service reps have the ability to track the project’s progression. Using a state-of-the-art computer system, GAR Labs customer service personnel enter your purchase order and then track the progress of the work and email their status every week until your order is complete.

Even after completion, GAR Labs can help you with the technical documents that might be needed to sell your product domestically or by exporting.

GAR Labs has received rave reviews from their customer base. One such customer wrote that GAR Labs are “easy to work with” and “reasonably priced.”

Presentation Solutions: ‘Sustainability’ has becoming a real buzz word.

Raffy/GAR Labs: Yes, and overuse can obscure its meaning.

Presentation Solutions: What does sustainability mean?

Raffy/GAR Labs: Sustainability is simple. It means a system in which total energy production matches total energy consumption.

Presentation Solutions: That is quite general.

Raffy/GAR Labs: It is the underlying concept of balance in any enterprise. To implement the underlying concept of balance; that’s sustainability.

Presentation Solutions: So it means that a company has to make as much money as it spends? That doesn’t seem right…

Raffy/GAR Labs: No, sustainability refers to energy. Money is just one of the many forms of measuring energy. The rest depends on context.

Presentation Solutions: Can you give us an example?

Raffy/GAR Labs: Sure. Our GAR Labs as a private label cosmetic manufacturer needs a certain amount of electrical energy every year to operate. To achieve sustainability in the GAR Labs electrical sphere, we must reduce our consumption of electrical energy, while at the same time producing our own electricity. Over time, we aim to match our consumption of electricity to our production of electricity and achieve sustainability.

Presentation Solutions: I see. How have you reduced energy consumption?

Raffy/GAR Labs: By installing a comprehensive system of energy efficient equipment, by installing 100’s of LED and T-5 fluorescent lights throughout GAR Labs, to a state-of the-art efficient cooling unit that only uses 50% of it’s cooling power unless needed and to running all of GAR Labs on motion activated, next-generation lighting that keeps all warehouse and office lights off unless there is a person in the room.

Presentation Solutions: And how have you improved energy production?

Raffy/GAR Labs: I am proud to say that GAR Labs has finished installing a 100,000-watt solar energy system at our facility. By capturing the abundant ultra violet rays of California, GAR Labs is taking the final steps toward living independently off–the-electrical grid.

Presentation Solutions: Quite impressive.

Raffy/GAR Labs: Thank you.

Presentation Solutions: Aren’t these changes expensive? Many business owners are wary of the cost of greening their buildings and operations.

Raffy/GAR Labs: Now in the long run these changes saves – even makes – money. Sustainability is encouraged, for example the city of Riverside is offering many rebates to stimulate and support the investment in alternative energy and GAR Labs took advantage of that rebate.   GAR Labs and the city of Riverside are thinking about sustainability from a longer perspective. Imagine the day when your business no longer has to pay an electric bill. Imagine producing extra energy, which the electric company then buys back. Sustainability is as good for the bottom line as it is for the planet.

Presentation Solutions: Thank you so much for your time and your insights.

Raffy/GAR Labs: Thank you for the invitation.

Headquartered in Riverside, GAR Labs operates a three building, 133,000 Square Foot facility.

As the decades roll on, GAR Labs strives to maintain its position as an industry leader in the world of contract laboratories. GAR Labs does this by constantly working to improve products and services. In fact, GAR Labs has grown to maintain an extensive New Product Development department. Clients can always discover something new in the works at GAR Labs. In a recent interview with Oceans 2003, Tom Raffy of GAR Labs revealed some of their latest development projects.

Oceans 2003: Greetings. Thanks for taking time out to answer some questions.

GAR Labs: Certainly, always a pleasure. What can I do for you today?

Oceans 2003: Well, our readers have expressed interest in your New Product Development Department and what you specifically do at GAR Labs.

GAR Labs: In short, we design and produce Private Label health and beauty products for personal care companies around the nation.

Oceans 2003: Like lotions, crèmes, and shampoos?

GAR Labs: Yes, but also much more.

Oceans 2003: What are some examples?

GAR Labs: Our Product Development department maintains thousands of hair and skin care formulas and prototype formulas. If you are a vendor, GAR Labs can supply you with a free test sample of ANY beauty product you are interested in developing.

Oceans 2003: That’s a lot of range.

GAR Labs: What’s more, in addition to custom cosmetics, we have an expansive Fragrance Library, allowing customers to add a custom scent to any product, using excellent quality essential oils.

Oceans 2003: What about your services after the products are manufactured?

GAR Labs: We are a full-service facility, of course, right down to FDA approval and attractive packaging. The GAR Labs product development team electronically analyzes each ingredient of each product. This ensures that each product is compliant with FDA regulations and is of the highest quality.

Oceans 2003: What about price?

GAR Labs: We take value very seriously. GAR Labs uses a computerized Low Cost “no-haggle” pricing system. We strive to give every client one fair price that will bring them back for more business. We do not abide by subjective pricing practices.

Oceans 2003: Thank you for the detailed description of your New Product Development Department. We wish you the best of luck.

GAR Labs: Thank you, also.

For more information about GAR Labs, visit them online at www.garlabs.com or call (951) 788 0700.

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About GAR Labs

Founded in 1982, GAR Labs has grown and now operates from a 133,000 square foot headquarters located in Riverside, California.  The GAR Labs facility meets or exceeds all health, safety, EPA and FDA standards and requirements, and is licensed for both alcohol filling and storage.  Using only purified water, GAR Labs can serve a capacity ranging from 55 gallons to 12,000 gallons per shift.

From 5,000 to 5 million pieces, GAR Labs can develop the formulation, fill and package your product.   GAR Labs is licensed and staffed to all personal care products which include sunscreens, face cream, body creams, hair care, body soaps, perfumes and alcohol related products.  In addition, GAR Labs is an FDA registered over-the-counter drug (OTC) products.

GAR Labs employs its own in-house chemists that work in a full-service laboratory and can quickly make test samples of the products you want.  Along with the development laboratory, GAR Labs offers clients peace-of-mind by having a fully equipped quality control-testing department.

GAR Labs works to ensure that ALL the ingredients AND the finished products are compliant by using three testing divisions:

• “Analytical Testing Lab” verifies the chemical finger print of each ingredient to guarantee compliance through Infrared Spectrometer (IR) and High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC).
• “Quality Control Department” ensures all finished products meet customer specification.
• “Microbiological Testing Department” insures all ingredients and finished products are bacteria free.

As you can see with GAR Labs, ALL raw materials AND finished products are fully tested for both quality and compliance so that you can trust what you are selling and it will last a long time.

When it comes to processing your order the team at GAR Labs is committed to offering the best in project management.  Upon receiving a client purchase order, customer service reps have the ability to track the project’s progression.  Using a state-of-the-art computer system, GAR Labs customer service personnel enter your purchase order and then track the progress of the work and email their status every week until your order is complete.

Even after completion, GAR Labs can help you with the technical documents that might be needed to sell your product domestically or by exporting.

GAR Labs has received rave reviews from their customer base.  One such customer wrote that GAR Labs are “easy to work with” and “reasonably priced.”