profile
charné le roux
founder
greenspa.africa
16 years
senior partner
adams & adams law firm
24 years
+27 83 630 7730
about
profession:
Green Spa Developer and Sustainability Expert, retired intellectual property lawyer
academic:
Bluris – University of Pretoria (1990)
LLB – University of Pretoria (1992)
formal qualifications:
Accredited professional of the Green Building Council SA (2010)
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) – panellist for all top level domain name disputes (2003)
Fellow – SA Institute of Intellectual Property Law (1996)
Admitted lawyer (1994)
sustainability experience
sustainability experience
gsn planet (usa)
Member of the Programs and International Committees, tasked to develop GSN’s Sustainability Toolkit and its international expansion program (2012).
global wellness institute (usa)
world spa organization
spa & wellness association of africa
Committee Member responsible for sustainability (2020 – ongoing).
professional beauty magazine
Initiated and maintain responsibility for the magazine’s Sustainability Newsdesk (2022 – ongoing).
world spa awards
Judge for the category – Sustainable Spa of the Year (2022).
sa spa association
Board Member responsible for the promotion and development of the green spa industry (2010-2015).
potchefstroom beauty academy
Member of the academic board to oversee the introduction of sustainability principles to student lectures (2010-2012).
adams & adams
Responsible for the Sustainability Committee of one of the largest law firms in Africa, which was tasked to develop the firm’s sustainability profile. This included preparation of its annual sustainability report, assisting with the green building certification of one of its buildings, the creation of sustainability policies and the implementation of programs to measure and reduce its carbon footprint (2010-2018).
alto bioreserve
Managing trustee, responsible for biodiversity protection on the bioreserve, preparation and implementation of the environmental management plan, energy and water conservation practices, guest management (2014-ongoing).
tulbagh community garden
Co-founder, designed and established a food garden, arranged educational workshops for local community (2014-2018).
slow food
Committee member of the convivium Cape Town (2010-2013).
awards and recognition in field of sustainability:
I developed Vygenhoek Organic Spa in 2003 as the first dedicated organic spa in South Africa. The spa was awarded the Les Nouvelles Award for Unique Spa in 2008, shortly after opening, and received a Merit Award for Excellence in 2009 from the Mpumalanga Institute for Architects, in recognition of the sustainable design features incorporated in the spa building.
I received the Les Nouvelles Visionary Award in 2010 for my work in developing the green spa industry.
I regularly receive invitations to speak on the subject of sustainability business practices in the spa environment at conferences, seminars as well as product launches directed at the wellness and hospitality industries, including Green Spa Network Annual Congress (2011); several Les Nouvelles Spa Conferences and workshops (2009-2015); Green Expo (2010); Comfort Zone organic cosmetic launch (2009); International Spa Convention (SA); World Spa and Wellness Convention (2018), several Professional Beauty conferences in UK and SA (2020 onwards). I am often invited to present lectures to students at skincare and beauty schools on sustainability practices for spas, including for SAAHSP, Potchefstroom Beauty Academy, University of Johannesburg, ISA Carstens Beauty Academy, Madge Wallace Beauty College, Camelot Beauty School (2013 onwards).
publications / books / software / articles
publications / books / software / articles
publications
Leef magazine (March 2010), Marie Claire (Aug 2010), Odyssey magazine (April 2011), Shape (March 2012), Financial Mail (2012), Les Nouvelles Esthetiques (2007-2012), Professional Beauty (Oct 2020-ongoing), SWAA magazine (Nov 2020), Day Spa magazine USA (July 2021) published articles about my work and experience.
books
Green Spa Guide – Comprehensive guide developed for spas and wellness retreats dealing with issues concerning sustainability, green building, fair trade, organic cosmetics, waste management and slow food principles. The 1st edition was published in 2010, the 2nd in 2021.
software
Greenspa Calculator – a world first working tool for spas and wellness operators to measure their sustainability performance. Launched as a desktop resource in 2014 and a mobile app in 2021.
online course
Sustainable Spa Practitioner course – a pioneer, accredited training course that provides wellness practitioners with fundamental, hands-on, knowledge of sustainable business practises and treatment choices for the greater benefit of their industry and clients and, ultimately, for the preservation of our natural and social environments
articles
What is a Green Spa – Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, HealthSpas Guide, Odyssey magazine, Financial Mail
Why Spas are Going Green and How to Find One – Spa Index, Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
The Essence of Green Cosmetics – Spa Index, Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
When is Green not really Green? – Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
Treading Lightly, the Green Spa Footprint – Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
Green or GreenWashed ? – Beeld, Polity News, Biz Community
Who are South Africa’s Green Watchdogs – published on Adams & Adams website and several news reports
Consumers Do Care About Organic Food and Wine – Biz Community
Green Spa Kitchen – Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
Green Spa, a Case for Certification – published in Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
Hi-Green Hygiene in Spas – published in Les Nouvelles Esthetiques
Can I eat my lipstick? – SWAA magazine
Comparing Curves, Covid vs Sustainability – Professional Beauty
7 Ways in which sustainability unlocks value in your business – Professional Beauty
The slender route- a look at skin obesity – Professional Beauty
What is a Sustainable Spa? – SWAA magazine
From the Ground Up – How green education will help the spa industry become more sustainable – WellSpa 360 USA
Balancing green cleaning with hygiene – SWAA magazine