How Biosphere Corporation works during the war
"Biosphere products are designed to meet the demands of various consumer groups, and besides that, to evoke positive emotions. We create value in products, relationships, and communication with our clients, partners, and our team”, Andriy Zdesenko, CEO and owner of Biosphere Corporation.
Biosphere Corporation is one of the largest Ukrainian manufacturers and exporters of household and personal hygiene products. The corporation has three production facilities and a logistics center located in Ukraine. Besides, there is a factory located in Estonia — a joint venture of Groupe Lemoine (France) and Biosphere.
Exports
The company's products can be found in major Ukrainian and European retail chains, and include basic commodities, such as household products, personal hygiene items, as well as items for professional use. We export our products to over 30 countries in Europe and Asia.
Our products include household and personal hygiene items, biosphere professional and private label goods. Our brand portfolio unites such brands as Freken BOK, Vortex, Smile, Bonus, Novita, Bambik, Go Wipes, and others.
"We strive to be a leader in innovations that make life better, more comfortable, and full of colors".
How the war has impacted our business
In the first days of the war, the corporation suspended its production for several days to ensure the safety of employees. However, as of now, the enterprises have resumed their work, since we realize that the corporation produces essential goods.
So far, we have focused our efforts on the following areas: employee safety, producing basic commodities, volunteering, and enhancing exports, including our international initiative «Support Ukrainians», which aims to support Ukrainian producers and the economy and help Ukrainian children affected by the war.
"The corporation has three factories, a logistics complex, and branches in various parts of Ukraine, including in the zone of active hostilities. In hotspot regions, the number one task for us is to ensure the safety of the team and adapt the operations of the branches. This is what our front is, and we are working on this front non-stop".
The work of each enterprise is regulated separately based on the situation in the regions where they operate. Some of the facilities have been relocated to safer regions. All enterprises and offices have been equipped with special bomb shelters where the employees go during air-raid warnings.
Over 2,000 people work for the corporation, and currently, the team is divided into several clusters. As the owner of the corporation, I am based in Dnipro now and I personally coordinate all company’s operations. Some employees were evacuated to the West of Ukraine, where two management units, operational and logistical, were formed. We established a working process that allows a part of the team to work remotely.
Social responsibility of our business during the war
Biosphere Corporation is a socially responsible company and it is actively cooperating with volunteer and charitable organizations. We are helping the Ukrainian army, the national police, the Ukrainian Railways, hospitals, orphanages, volunteers, and all those who need help.
We have recently launched our international export project «Support Ukrainians». Within this project, we cooperate with the charitable foundation «Tvoya Opora».
“Support Ukrainians” is an international campaign established by Biosphere Corporation jointly with large European retail chains. The project is aimed to support Ukrainian manufacturers, as well as the social and economic stability in Ukraine during the war”.
As part of the campaign, we are introducing specially branded shelves with Biosphere Corporation products in the stores of major European retailers to draw consumers' attention to products made in Ukraine. The project has recently been launched in Croatia and is a great success among both buyers and retailers. In the near future, we are going to launch this campaign in other European countries.
Besides, as part of the campaign, we will transfer a certain amount from each item of our products sold to help children affected by the war in Ukraine.
We use every chance to change the world for the better and we believe in our victory! In the meantime, we continue to work, support Ukraine's economy and promote Ukrainian products so that the whole world can learn about them!
Author of the material: Andriy Zdesenko, CEO and owner of Biosphere Corporation
Website: https://biosphere-corp.com
This article has been prepared for the special project «Trade with Ukraine: tell the world Ukraine works». The project aims to promote domestic export-oriented enterprises, operating during the war, in Ukraine and abroad.
USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine supports EEPO in their efforts and initiatives to promote Ukraine’s businesses in Ukraine and abroad. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.