Fair Trade Focus: Shea Butter & Dr Hauschka Skin Care
Fair Trade Focus: Shea Butter & Dr Hauschka Skin Care
April 2009
Shea butter, also known as karite butter, is a cream-colored fatty substance made from the nuts of karite nut trees that grow in the savannah regions of West and Central Africa. Karite trees, or shea trees grow only in the wild and can take up to 50 years to mature - they can live up to 300 years! We are just beginning to recognize the considerable health and beauty benefits of shea butter, something Africans have known for thousands of years.
Shea butter:
- helps diminish wrinkles by moisturizing the skin
- promotes cell renewal and increases circulation
- contains cinnamic acid, a substance that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays
- heals burns, sores, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, and stretch marks
- protects skin from environmental and free-radical damage
- demonstrates both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties
- contains Vitamins A and E
Shea butter is a particularly effective ingredient in moisturizers because it contains so many fatty acids which are needed to retain skin moisture and elasticity. The high fatty acid content of shea butter also makes it an excellent additive to soap, shampoos, anti-aging creams, cosmetics, lotions, and massage oils. Its soft, butter-like texture melts readily into the skin.
Dr Hauschka Skin Care is active in communities around the world, aiding local farmers in their efforts to apply Biodynamic and organic methods to the production of economically viable crops. A perfect example of this type of initiative is Dr Hauschka's work with the women of Burkina Faso. People in the drought-stricken West African Nation rely heavily on the few plant species hardy enough to survive extreme conditions. One such plant, the shea tree, has become the basis for the local economy.
In accordance with tradition in Burkina Faso, only women gather the sacred shea kernels and hand-process them into shea butter, an essential ingredient in many Dr Hauschka products such as Rose Day Cream, Lemon Body Wash and Lip Care Stick. In 2001, with support from Dr Hauschka more than 350 women of Burkina Faso organized a producer's cooperative with the goal of working toward the efficient and fully organic production of shea butter. Members share equally in the benefits and the results have been a great success! Dr Hauschka began purchasing fixed quantities of shea butter and has provided investment aid to keep equipment and facilities efficient and well maintained. The women of the cooperative have invested the fruits of their labor into their communities, buying long-needed food, medicine and amenities. Now, for the first time, every one of their children is able to attend school.
The women of Burkina Faso are enjoying the benefits of Fair Trade while Dr Hauschka customers are enjoying the nurturing, soothing benefits of pure organic shea butter. This project is an example of holistic business in action!
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