Trading ethically has always been one of our priorities. So in 2009, with our 2 in 1 Purifying Mint Mask, we were proud to become the first UK brand to launch skin care certified to both organic and Fairtrade standards.

 

Choosing certified Fairtrade ingredients helps ensure farmers and workers in developing countries have a fair wage and decent working conditions. In addition, the Fairtrade premium is invested into the local community; schools and other infrastructure.

 

We hope to certify more products as Fairtrade now that the standards have been harmonised in Europe. 2011 sees further groundbreaking innovation with the launch of our exciting new make-up* range! We also are looking forward to being able to use even more certified Fairtrade ingredients as they become available. Our coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil and sugar are all purchased from Fairtrade certified producers.

 

Mindful of our commitment to sustainability and the need tominimise our carbon footprint, we try to strike a balancethrough our relationship with growers,by sourcing locally where possible andthrough fair trade organisationswhen we need to buy outsidethe UK and Europe.

 

About our organic Fairtrade sugar

Many small scale sugar cane farmers from Iturbe in Paraguay grow the organic sugar that we use in our skincare products. To preserve biodiversity, the growers use traditional, organic methods of agriculture that have been inherited from ancestors, rather than intensive agriculture in which the sugar cane is burned. The producers receive the Fairtrade minimum price for their sugar plus the premium, a bit extra to invest in community projects – the sugar plant or 'Azucarera' of Iturbe funds the education of hundreds of children in the town’s High School. In addition, Essential Care, itself a small family-run company, and Azucarera Iturbe have a Trading Partnership Plan, that outlines how Essential Care will support the producers by increasing their knowledge of opportunities and trends in cosmetic ingredient markets.