For 80 years, a Geneva manufacturer has been making products that help people look beautiful. Zotos International Inc. is now applying that concept to the environment and, ultimately, its bottom line.

"Zotos is a beauty company. And to us, beauty is much more than just in the products that we make, it's also in the way that we do business," said Anthony Perdigao, vice-president of plant operations at Zotos.

Perdigao said the international hair care manufacturer is committed to powering it's 750,000-square-foot plant with 100 percent renewable energy by the end of next year.

"Zotos is taking the lead in sustainable manufacturing, and doing everything that we can to be extremely competitive and grow our business into the future," Perdigao said.

Perdigao said Zotos focused first, on reducing energy usage. It installed sensor lights throughout its Geneva facility and upgraded equipment.

"This is where we manufacture all of the products that go into our bottles,” Perdigao said during a tour of the plant. “It's a very efficient, new, operation. It was installed about two to three years ago, and is one of the most automated processing facilities in the industry today."

That was just the beginning. Perdigao says a $7 million wind project, which received the final green light from the city's zoning board of appeals this week, will produce 70 to 80 percent of the plants annual power needs.

"This is the largest wind power renewable energy program of any manufacturer in the country. So, it’s a significant investment and a significant commitment to our sustainability," Perdigao said while showing YNN an animation of what the two 350 foot tall turbines will look like.

Because the two turbines will go up in an industrial park, they received little opposition.

"To me it's quite beautiful," Perdigao said.

Federal stimulus money will pay for 30 percent of the project cost, allowing Zotos to see a return on investment in less than five years.

"This is really the perfect time to do this initiative with the grants that are available," Perdigao said.

Zotos has committed to donate 5 percent of wind power generated on the site to the city.

Perdigao said the turbines should be up by the end of the year.

He said Zotos is also exploring uses for solar and cogeneration technologies.

"It helps to secure our future," he said.

Zotos International Inc.,