Launch of "Jean-Michel Cousteau by Concept Amenities"

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – August 29, 2011 – In his more than 30-year odyssey as an explorer, environmentalist and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau has journeyed to the far-flung reaches of the globe and delved to the depths of its massive oceans.

The son of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society – a non-profit marine conservation and education organization – in 1999 to carry on his father’s pioneering work. He serves as a global diplomat for the environment, and has produced more than 80 films and television program including the recent award-winning television series Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures for PBS.

For over 30 years, Cousteau and his team have conducted the Ambassadors of the Environment education program in more than seven countries. And he has lent his name and scientific expertise to the design of numerous green hotels around the world – most notably the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort.

But one of Cousteau’s most challenging endeavors has undoubtedly been his 18-month quest to craft a revolutionary eco-friendly collection of bath and body care products for the world’s growing number of environmentally friendly hospitality guests.

This unique collection – Jean-Michel Cousteau by Concept Amenities – is inspired by the beauty and wonders of the oceans and reflects Cousteau’s life-long commitment to the environment. But it took more than inspiration to drive the project – the brainchild of Maricoid, an innovative Australian skincare brand – from inception to development to final product.

For the pure organic marine ingredients, Cousteau and Maricoid turned to Marinova, an Australian biotechnology company which researches marine plants for use in medical, nutritional and skin care applications.

To assist in the formulations and biodegradable packaging, the team enlisted the aid of Concept Amenities, a world leader in the supply of environmentally responsible guest amenities.

After months of painstaking effort and attention to detail, the creators of the branded Jean-Michel Cousteau by Maricoid collection knew they had something special:

• Paraban free liquids and soaps that are specially formulated with 100% organically certified seaweed extract from pristine Tasmanian waters.
• Biodegradable packaging with artwork softly mirrors a love of the ocean.
• A comprehensive line of liquids, soaps and accessories to compliment any luxury hotel accommodation and suit all guest bathroom amenity needs. These include nourishing shampoo, hydrating conditioner, soothing body lotion and relaxing body wash in 1.4 fluid ounce sizes.

Vegetable based soaps contain raw materials sourced from established plantations. Moisturising lotion features Grapeseed oil and Organic Aloe Vera extract. Fragrance notes include traces of tropical coconut and apple, and sweet florals.

And all ingredients and packaging components are biodegradable.

Concept Amenities has scheduled a press conference and global launch of the Jean-Michel Cousteau by Concept Amenities collection at this year’s Hospitality Design Boutique Exposition & Conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center on September 14th at 10a in the BLLA pavilion.

“This is the world’s first global product launch that addresses and helps solve the problem of plastic wastage in the hospitality industry,” says Michael Matulick, managing director at Concept Amenities. “As a company that prides itself on its commitment to the environment and making a solid contribution towards the improvement of eco-friendly consumer products, we’re especially proud to be a part of this project.”

“Our planet is a living organism,” says Cousteau, putting the mission in perspective. “We have the capacity to design our own future, and bring our values and actions in line with ecological necessities. This is the commitment we need to make to the world, now.”

To learn more about the Jean-Michel Cousteau collection of guest amenities, please visit www.conceptamenities.com

About Ocean Futures Society

The mission of Ocean Futures Society is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean’s vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet. Founded by Jean-Michel Cousteau, OFS is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. with offices in Paris, Lucca, Italy and Sao Paulo, Brasil.

For more information, visit www.oceanfutures.org.

About Concept Amenities

Naturally Australian since 1983

Concept Amenities prides itself as a world leader in the supply of naturally better guest amenities that deliver on quality, luxury, style and environmental solutions. For over 28 years we have established expertise in all areas from design and formulation to production, dispatch and delivery.

Our comprehensive range of exclusive hotel toiletry collections, each with its own distinctive appeal, contain the finest formulations created using natural botanical ingredients, sophisticated fragrances and a rich array of organic extracts to truly nourish the skin, body and soul. Our packaging is biodegradable, and recyclable, with a care for the environment.

For more information, visit www.conceptamenities.com.

About Maricoid

Maricoid is an Australian brand founded by an experienced team of skincare professionals. It is the brainchild of James Dunne and Craig Williams who envisaged a range of high quality and purely organic products, in harmony with the environment and manufactured to therapeutic standards.

For the Maricoid range James and Craig have sought to utilize unique bioactive ingredients in very high quality, cosmetically appealing formulations.

The highest benchmark has been set for the Maricoid range requiring only extracts involved in leading edge scientific research into their anti-aging, skin lightening, anti-viral, skin healing, hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory characteristics.

The Maricoid team draws global experience from their previous involvement with several well-regarded skincare companies such as L’Oreal, LVMH, GlaxoSmithKline, Ego Pharmaceuticals and Estee Lauder.

For more information, visit www.Maricoid.com.

About Marinova

Marinova is a progressive Australian biotechnology company focused on developing innovative medical and nutritional applications from marine plants. The company is based in Tasmania, a pristine natural environment and home to some of the cleanest waters in the world.

Marinova has state of the art research laboratories and a specialist extraction facility, which is the first of its kind in the world.

Marinova leads the world in the development and production of fucoidan compounds for nutraceutical, skin care and pharmaceutical applications.

For more information contact Steve Duggan, Director Marketing & Communication steve@conceptamenities.com +61395809977 or Darleen Delisle, VP Marketing & Communications, (954) 629-5503; darleen@conceptamenities.com