For Me, Us, and the Earth, Check 'Fair Trade' When Buying Cosmetics

Fair Trade Cosmetics Respecting Farmers and the Earth Environment
High-Quality Ingredients Lead to a 'Virtuous Cycle' for Consumers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Where and by whom are the numerous plant and fruit ingredients in the cosmetics we apply daily cultivated, and how are they supplied to cosmetic companies? The concept of fair trade, which emerged in the early 2000s from coffee and chocolate, and the awareness of it have been expanding beyond the food and fashion industries to the beauty sector recently. As conscious consumption trends that consider not only corporate ethics and social responsibility but also the environmental impact of products expand, interest in the production and supply process of cosmetic ingredients has also grown.

Fair trade cosmetics mean that the company provides fair transactions and pleasant working conditions to workers at the ingredient source and supports sustainable development, while also indicating that the ingredients contained in the products are ‘high-quality crops’ cultivated in an earth-friendly manner. Fair trade is closely related to eco-friendly organic farming that cultivates healthy plants and fruits without damaging the soil.

A beauty brand that protects the environment and improves ingredient quality through organic-based fair trade is the American organic cosmetics company Dr. Bronner’s. Starting fair trade in 2005, Dr. Bronner’s believed that the deterioration of soil quality caused by pesticides and chemical fertilizers was a cause that impoverished not only the environment but also local communities based on agriculture. They supported organic farming systems for fair trade partners at the source of organic oil ingredients, the main components of Dr. Bronner’s soap, in Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Palestine, Israel, Ghana, India, and other countries.

Dr. Bronner’s provides about 10,000 organic fair trade partners worldwide with wages far above the local minimum wage and various welfare benefits. The main ingredients of Dr. Bronner’s products, such as olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and peppermint oil used in ‘Pure Castile Soap,’ are sourced at the highest quality through this fair trade. Furthermore, Dr. Bronner’s leads research and education on regenerative organic agriculture, which purifies polluted soil and helps slow climate change, as part of the global campaign ‘Heal Earth!’

Additionally, The Body Shop sources high-quality natural ingredients and accessories through fair trade with small-scale farmers and traditional artisans in 21 countries, while L’Occitane purchases high-quality shea butter produced in an environmentally friendly way in Burkina Faso, Africa, supporting the economic independence of local women. Burt’s Bees is also known to source main ingredients such as natural beeswax through fair trade that respects nature and benefits local communities.

As a domestic company example, Amorepacific’s ‘Arittaun Purchase’ method, aimed at coexistence with local communities and environmental protection, is noteworthy. By continuously connecting with local farms and purchasing high-quality plant ingredients grown eco-friendly at reasonable prices, it provides consumers with safe products and contributes to the development of village communities through fair transactions.

Michael Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s, said, “In the supply process of cosmetic ingredients, a distorted structure still prevails where only large corporations and middlemen profit while farmers at the production sites starve, and the environment is harmed in the process.” He added, “When purchasing cosmetics, having an interest in the many ingredients contained within and choosing fair trade products as a small habit can create a better society and a healthy global environment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.