Shea butter. good for. you. good for. them

Transcription

1 fair trade & organic Shea butter good for you good for them

2 Shea butter Trends >>> Discover fair trade organic shea butter, one of Africa s natural treasures. Consumers are undoubtedly fond of fair trade organic products and the body care product industry is also affected by this new trend. Fair trade organic shea butter, either pure or used as an ingredient for cosmetics, meets the requirements for this promising market on the rise. >>> In North America and Europe, the demand for shea butter-based cosmetics increases every year. (Source: West African Trade Hub) ECO-BEAUTY, A GREEN APPROACH THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED Organic products address the population s growing concerns regarding environmental protection and sustainable development. Health is also an influential factor in the purchase of organic products, which represents a worldwide market of over 25 million Canadian dollars (18 billion Euros). good for you The food industry and the needle trade have already brought about a greener approach; it is now the cosmetics industry s turn to take the lead. In Europe and North America, there are more and more beauty products made with natural organic ingredients. This is not surprising knowing that more than half of the Canadian population prefers cosmetics made with certified organic natural products. FAIR TRADE: GOOD FOR EVERYONE The objective of fair trade is to improve the shea butter women producers living conditions by establishing committed commercial relationships between the various actors: importers, producers and distributors. Offering to the women producers a stable purchase price, higher than that of the traditional market, is also the essence of fair trade. >>> 48% of Canadian consumers would be willing to pay more for fair trade certified cosmetics. (Source: Léger Marketing) The fair trade certified product market is clearly on the rise. In 2006, the fair trade worldwide market was worth over 2 billion Canadian dollars (1.6 billion Euros). In Canada, in the United-States and in most European countries, the demand grows at an annual rate of 45% for this type of product.

3 Shea butter Women at the Heart of Shea Butter >>> Shea butter production is an activity solely assigned to African women, who have been using it since time immemorial for the entire family s body care. good for them MAKING SHEA BUTTER The fruit of the shea tree is made of pulp with a nut at its core. This nut contains the almond from which the fat is extracted to make shea butter. From June to September, women pick the fruits fallen from the trees, remove their pulp and clean the nuts. These nuts are then boiled and shelled, and the almonds are extracted. Once sun-dried, the almonds are crushed to obtain a brown paste. This paste is then manually churned with water to extract the fat, which will be filtered and thickened to obtain shea butter. UNITED TO SUCCEED In villages, women establish cooperatives in order to participate to the economic development of their community. >> Access to collective equipment and installations allow the production of larger quantities of shea butter. >> Access to training in management and new technologies allow women producers to improve the quantity and diversity of their products to enter the international market. >> The quality of the products is guaranteed by a laboratory analysis remitted with each order to international clients.

4 Shea butter Benefits >>> The shea tree only grows naturally in Africa, in the Sudan- Sahelien region. Produced in accordance with the traditional African techniques, the shea butter retains all its natural properties. It is recognizable by its beige color, its smooth texture and its typical smell. White shea butter is odourless; this means it has been refined chemically and that most of its unique properties have been lost in the process. Because it is exceptionally rich in unsaponifiable matter, fatty acids, latex and vitamins A, D, E, F and K, shea butter provides a soothing effect, moisturizes and protects the skin. Shea butter contains the highest proportion of unsaponifiable matter; this high concentration sets it apart from any other oleaginous plant cultivated for their seed or fruit rich in lipids. >> Shea butter nourishes and moisturizes the epidermis. It helps to relieve minor wounds and several skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. >> It nourishes dry and broken hair. >> It protects lips and skin from cold and provides relief after sun exposure. >> It helps to relax and soothe muscles before and after physical activities. >> It can lessen the effect of skin aging since it stimulates cell regeneration. It also helps to maintain the natural skin tone, elasticity and smoothness.

5 Shea butter Usage >>> Because of its unique composition, natural shea butter can be used pure or as a basic ingredient to prepare various products: body, face, lips and hair care products. SKIN CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY > Moisturizing body milk for dry skin > Moisturizing cream for the face, hands and feet > Regenerative anti-wrinkle night cream > Healing lip balm > Skin and face soap HAIR CARE > Shampoo and conditioner > Untangling and invigorating hair products > Nourishing hair mask SKIN CARE FOR BABY AND MOM S DELICATE SKIN > Moisturizing cleaning lotion for baby s skin and hair > Massage oil for baby s wellbeing and relaxation > Natural edible breastfeeding ointment to prevent cracked nipples > Stretch mark prevention massage oil for expecting mothers RELAXATION > Massage oil > Softening body scrub > Sportsmen s muscle relief lotion

6 Shea butter Corporate Social Responsibilities In Africa, only a very small percentage of harvested shea almonds is transformed in shea butter on-site. The great majority of untreated almonds (95%) is exported in Europe, where they are industrially processed. This type of trade leaves very little room for any value added labour for African women. By purchasing FAIR TRADE ORGANIC shea butter >> You demonstrate your social and environmental commitment with concrete actions. >> You have a natural shea butter that has retained all its properties. >> You contribute to improve your customer s health by offering a chemical-free, natural product. >> You help to protect the environment by encouraging organic production. >> You help to reduce poverty among African women. >> You and your customers participate to this worldwide solidarity movement that fair trade represents. >> You are among the visionaries who promote business practices that are respectful of human beings and of the environment. good for you good for them

7 Learn more SHEA BUTTER Center for International Studies and Cooperation >> West African Trade Hub >> United Nations Conference on Trade and Development >> FAIR TRADE CERTIFICATION Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International >> Canada: United-States: France: Transfair Canada >> Transfair USA >> Maxhavelaar France >> ORGANIC CERTIFICATION Canada: Québec Vrai >> Écocert Canada >> France: Écocert France >> United-States: The National Organic Program (NOP) >> To purchase fair trade shea butter, see attached forms.

8 Document produced by the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), a Canadian not-for-profit organisation committed to international development. >> CECI has been supporting shea butter women producer cooperatives for over ten years in West Africa: in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Niger. Center for International Studies and Cooperation 3000, Omer-Lavallée Street Montreal (Quebec) CANADA H1Y 3R8 Tel : Fax : info@ceci.ca >> CECI supports women producer organisations in their efforts to develop new markets by establishing fair and sustainable business relationships. >> With the campaign Good for them, Good for you, CECI aims to raise public awareness about purchasing fair trade shea butter. >> CECI is not a commercial agent. This publication was made possible thanks to the financial contribution of the Government of Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Graphic Design: Amélie Binette Design; Photos: CECI, Amélie Binette, Cindy D Auteuil. Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. 100%