- Ethical Sourcing
- Protection of Biodiversity
- Fair Trade
- Protecting Traditional Knowledge
- Beauty Without Cruelty
TWICE A DAY CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER WORLD
Africa contains a quarter of the world’s biodiversity. Southern Africa alone has more than 30,000 species of indigenous plants that have been used by Africans for centuries.
Both in Africa and worldwide, biodiversity is declining at an alarming pace, with the extinction of an estimated 2,000 species each year (www.wwf.org). This loss of biodiversity threatens both our livelihood and that of Africa’s rural communities.
We believe in ethical sourcing, which respects and protects the traditional knowledge and intellectual property of local communities, assures equitable sharing of benefits and helps conserve biodiversity. Savane is a member of PhytoTrade Africa, and in the process of becoming a member of the Union for Ethical Biotrade.
WHEN CONSUMPTION ACTUALLY BENEFITS BIODIVERSITY
Several species of African fruit bats feed on the nectar of fragrant night blooming Baobab and Kigelia flowers. These bats play a crucial role in pollinating these flowers and ensuring the survival of these trees. Deforestation in Madagascar and some parts of mainland Africa have severely reduced the numbers of Baobab and Kigelia trees, which could ultimately threaten the existence of these bats.
By paying fair-trade prices for our Baobab and Kigelia extracts we are encouraging farmers to protect these natural resources and indirectly protect African fruit bats which will carry on pollinating the flowers of these trees.
Our wild ingredients (Marula, Kigelia, Manketti, Kalahari Melon and Baobab) are harvested under the supervision of PhytoTrade Africa. PhytoTrade Africa and the Union for Ethical Biotrade ensure the natural ingredients we use are sustainably sourced in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of ecosystems and their biodiversity.
FAIR PLAY
Even though you may never meet the Owambo and Swazi women who collect the Marula fruits or sit with them under a tree and learn the skill of cracking the nuts to extract the oil, you can be certain that the fair price we pay for this oil will empower these women to live a more rewarding and fulfilling life. It will allow them to grow their business and take better care of their families. You can be certain that these women will protect the Marula trees, even planting more trees to preserve this natural resource for future generations.
Paying fair-trade prices for our ingredients helps improve the livelihood of the thousands of women from Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Kenya and Uganda who harvest our ingredients. We use fair trade ingredients whenever available. Our Baobab, Kalahari Melon, Kigelia, Marula, Manketti and Rooibos ingredients are Fair Trade and certified by Phytotrade Africa and FloCert. Currently 5 out of 6 of our products are made up of more than 50% Fair Trade certified ingredients.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A SAUSAGE TREE COULD GET RID OF WRINKLES?
The Shangaan and Tonga women of the Zambezi valley have known that for centuries. They apply Kigelia fruit pulp mixed with water onto their faces to ensure a blemish-free complexion and smooth firm skin.
Savane products are inspired by the traditional knowledge of indigenous plants from the tribes/communities who first discovered their properties centuries ago. Ethical sourcing of our ingredients helps preserve this cultural heritage, and simultaneously benefit those who have shared this knowledge with us.
BEAUTY WITHOUT CRUELTY
We do not test our products on animals. We do not use ingredients that have been tested on animals. Our products do not contain ingredients derived from animal products. All our products are endorsed by Beauty Without Cruelty.