Amway has cut the ribbon on a US$13 million R&D facility in Wuxi, China, named The Amway Botanical Research Center (ABRC). The direct sales giant will use its new site to study plants associated with traditional Chinese medicine for potential future use in its products.

“Our Nutrilife brand of vitamins and dietary supplements were first formulated after the brand’s founder, Carl Rehnborg, observed how the use of plants and botanicals in China promoted optimal health and natural balance,” said George Calvert, Amway’s Chief Officer of Global R&D and Supply Chain. “The new ABRC is our effort to research and understand Chinese botanicals to a greater extent – using the most advanced technology and scientific practices – and integrate the findings into our products.”

The ABRC’s 84-acre plot took five years to locate and develop and boasts an advanced laboratory as well as a large greenhouse.