BeeswaxUpdated 7 months ago

Category: Skin conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying 
Sourced from: Beehive 
Country of Origin: West Africa
Certified to: Organic - USDA NOP or equivalent

Although our product lines are otherwise vegan, we do use certified organic beeswax in our Lip and Magic Balms. We have not yet been able to find a certified organic plant-based wax, and Sue Kastensen, the creator of our balms, has not found a plant-based substitute for the amazing qualities of natural beeswax. Based on her experience and her extensive training and mentoring under the Native American herbalist Keewaydinoquay, Sue formulated her original lip balms with just avocado oil and beeswax. We have chosen to add the jojoba, coconut, hemp, and olive oils because each one has unique skin nourishing properties.

We have gone to great lengths to find a well-established, reputable source for beeswax and obtain certification by Ecocert. To obtain organic certification for beekeeping and ensure the ethical treatment of bees, we meet the following requirements:

• The hives managed are chemical-free, and pesticides are not applied to the crops visited by the honeybees. 
• The harvesting bases are located on the side of a mountain, isolated from any chemicals, pesticides, or non-organic compounds. 
• The beekeepers are qualified and trained on a regular basis through continuing education programs to ensure organic manufacturing standards are met. 
• Bees are fed honey and pollen. 
• Supplemental feed or antibiotics are strictly forbidden. 
• Queen bees are not mishandled, threatened, or killed during any part of the process. 
• Their wings are in no way clipped to contain them in the hive. 
• The colony is not destroyed after production of the beeswax. 
• Neither insemination nor breeding is involved.

Additionally, farmers place boxes in fields far enough from non-organic land to attract wild swarms that need a home. When it is time for the beekeepers to harvest, a smoker is used to drive the bees out before removing the wood that contains the honey and beeswax. The beehive is evacuated to prevent any bees from being harmed.

The organic beeswax is produced in compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standard, which ensures ongoing testing of all major GMO risk ingredients, inspections of the facility, and an annual audit to guarantee the producer meets the highest possible standards for GMO avoidance.

Our supplier maintains a strong relationship with the producer of our organic beeswax granules, with ongoing communication and correspondence to maintain confidence and trust in their organic-certified production process. 

Found in: Organic Lip Balm, Organic Magic Balm