Marula Makes Make-up Fair

4 Members of the Eudafano Women's Cooperative with their harvest of Marula Nuts.

The Body Shop was the first company ever to use Community Trade Marula oil in their make up and now it’s an important ingredient in nearly all of our cosmetics.

Happily, the 6,000 women of the Eudafano Women’s Cooperative (EWC) in Namibia have been able to supply all of our needs. The EWC was established in north central Namibia in 1996 to market oil from the local marula fruit. The EWC helps local women with otherwise limited employment opportunities earn fair wages. It also contributes to regional economic development.

The Eudafano women harvest fruit from wild marula trees and deliver kernels and seeds to the EWC processing factory. Juice and oil are extracted and prepared for local customers and international buyers including The Body Shop. Women now involved in the project report that the benefits to them go beyond money, affording them a sense of independence, competence and confidence. Many women use money earned to educate their children. Community Trade makes such a difference including equality, independence and confidence!

Last year The Body Shop launched a new range of make-up called "Make Me Fabulous". They tell me (because I don't really use cosmetics) the lipsticks, bronzing collections and eye colours makes you feel fabulous. Thus the name I guess. As a guy who can't tell the difference from one cosmetics counter to the next - I think people out there using our make-up should feel fabulous because they are helping some truly beautiful women out of poverty as well as minimising their impact on the environment. Here are the facts:

• The Make Me Fabulous range uses recycled plastic wherever possible in its packaging.
  
• Over 70% of colour product packaging contains post consumer recycled plastic.
  
• The range supports Community Trade by using Marula Oil from Namibia in the majority of Make Me Fabulous products.
• "Marula Oil moisturises and conditions skin"
  

WOW! What more could you ask for from your make-up?

Adam Valvasori - Values Manager

EWC Factory Image Courtesy: DeBeers