Roses Not Opium Project, Iran
In honor of World Fair Trade Day, May 12th this year, we are featuring some of the projects Börlind supports to foster economic growth and sustainability in Third World nations.
Responsibility and sustainability have always been central to the Borlind philosophy. Annemarie Börlind is committed to obtaining natural raw materials from socio-ecological projects that follow fair trade practices. Adherence to these standards has to be proven with certificates from state and independent organizations.
1. Roses not Opium Project – Iran
In the Iranian province of Kerman, at an altitude of 10,000 feet in the highlands of the Lalehzar Mountains, you’ll find farmers cultivating damask roses. 4,000 kilograms of rose petals yield one liter of Persian rose oil, the precious oil that lends its delightful scent to the Annemarie Börlind Rose Dew Series.
These fields used to be planted with opium.
In 1978 Zahra Rosewater Company pioneered the cultivation of this crop in an effort to improve the livelihoods of local farmers and provide a cash crop to replace opium poppies. Today the company has grown to a semi-cooperative comprised of several hundred rose planters with farms no larger than ten acres. Börlind purchases its rose oil from these farmers, providing them with reliable, long-term contracts that have given 1,500 people in the area a secure income. A portion of the profits is donated to the Sanati Foundation to fund orphanages and a women’s refuge.
Houses of Hope, Siokoro, Mali
2. Houses of Hope – Mali
In 2009, Börlind initiated a socio-ecological shea butter project in the impoverished community of Siokoro, Mali in cooperation with Houses of Hope. Considerable funding was provided to create the necessary infrastructure, education & training, and to purchase sustainable production equipment.
Not only does Börlind equip and maintain the new laboratory for processing the nuts, it hires educators to train the harvesters in sustainability practices.
The long-term plan is to produce roughly 20 metric tons of shea butter a year using solar wells and hot water collectors to generate the energy required. Börlind is also offering training and assistance in building trade relations between Siokoro and potential customers in other countries around the world.
3. Kenyan Organic Oil Farmers Association (“KOOFA”) – Kenya
The Kenya Project is located high up Mount Kenya. It started with 90 farmers producing only borage seed oil. Now the community has grown to 250 farmers producing organic-quality avocado oil, almond oil, and sesame oil as well – all used in numerous Annemarie Börlind products, including the System Absolute Series.
Kenyan Organic Oil Farmers Association
Operated under the auspices of Earthoil, a sustainable organization devoted to promoting cooperative organic cultivation projects, farmers are educated in growing and harvesting organic raw materials. The raw materials are also processed in Kenya, providing additional jobs for the people
Both the cultivation itself and trade in the final products are certified and regularly inspected by independent organizations such as Fair for Life.
4. Other Projects
Other Fair Trade projects Börlind supports include:
• Brazil – Crodamazon – essential oils harvested and refined in the Amazon Rainforest
• Morocco (rhassoul – cleansing clay)
Jhaljhalla, Bangladesh
Börlind has also built hostels in Jhaljhalla, Bangladesh so that children who live a distance from school have a place to stay. In addition, Börlind is working with the community to develop a program for distribution of textbooks, medicines, and healthy meals for students.
When you purchase an Annemarie Börlind product, you are also helping to promote fair trade and sustainability in Third World nations.
Further reading on these Fair Trade partners:
borlindbeautybuzz 