SUSTAINABILITY
It is our quest to search the vast continent of Africa for remarkable ingredients that will help transform skin and also reinvigorate rural communities and their natural environment. We understand that we are custodians of the natural world and our future is directly dependent on it. We respect our source, Earth gives us everything, it is our desire to give back.
SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING
Inhabiting a pristine marine environment near the southernmost tip of Africa where two great oceans meet, our Cape Kelp is sustainably harvested from the wild and entirely done so by hand. Among the fastest growing species of kelp in the world, it has fast regrowth and self-regeneration helping to ensure its sustainability for generations to come, maintaining its role in the ecological balance, empowering rural communities with sustainable employment, and stimulating their local economy.
With only 10% of the wild biomass being harvestable, sustainable harvesting practices and strict government guidelines are adhered to, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the species. Through efficient utilisation of the raw material, the entire biomass of the kelp is used, resulting in nearly zero percent waste, and requiring very little to no waste management.
Our luxurious Marula is sustainably sourced from the Marula Belt in Limpopo, South Africa. The marula tree can yield up to 3 tons of fruit, and once they have fallen to the ground is sustainably wild harvested by hand. The Marula fruits enable empowerment of rural communities with employment, benefit sharing and resource protection. Our producers minimise waste, distributing all other vegetal material to other industries. Fair trade practices and an organic certified value chain ensures the entire process is ethical and respects the environment.
Our 100% natural Shea Butter conforms to EcoCert and Cosmos cosmetic standards. A Sustainable Beauty Award Winner and Best Sustainable Ingredient at the 2014 Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, our shea butter ethyl ester is derived from renewable sources and produced using energy-saving catalysts and processes. Conventional processes for making esters require high amounts of energy and in contrast, our ester is made using lower temperatures, shorter processing times and biodegradable catalysts, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas footprint. Harvested through a community outreach program, shea butter is a significant enabler for conservation and development in West Africa.
Our ingredients are ethically derived, sustainably sourced, and harvested by hand, minimising our impact on the environment. Our small artisan farmers participate in sustainable resource conservation programs, fair trade practices, and conform to Ecocert and Ceres certifications, empowering rural communities with employment, contributing to landscape conservation and ensuring the ecological balance remains intact.
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
We use reusable, recycled, recyclable and biodegradable materials where possible. The Afrakari collection is packaged in beautiful dark-stained glass with special protective properties that block damaging visible light, and preserve and prolong the durability & potency of our active ingredients. 100% Reusable and Recyclable.
Our miniature Afrakari ceramic spoons are sustainably handmade and locally sourced.
All paper and board packaging is locally printed, fully recyclable and 100% FSC-certified. When shipping, we use a mix of post-consumer waste, reusable, recycled and recyclable materials.
We are constantly seeking ways to improve our sustainability footprint and our collective impact on the environment.