Contents 6 sections
Regular visits to our suppliers are an important part of a relationship of trust for us. They allow us to get to know cultivation, processing and sustainability commitments first-hand on site. In India, we took a closer look at the production of our organic castor oil and organic neem oil and gained an insight into the work of our long-standing partner.
Our organic partner in India
Our Indian partner is a family business with more than 40 years of experience in the production of plant oils. With growing awareness of certified organic products, the company set up the production and export of certified organic oils around ten years ago.
The company employs eleven people across three oil mills and its administration. The finished oils are exported worldwide via the port of Nhava Sheva or Mumbai airport, among other routes.
Working with this partner is particularly valuable to us because technical expertise, organic quality and social commitment are closely linked here.
Origin of the raw materials
The plant-based raw goods for our oils come from controlled wild collection or from organic farmers.
For our organic neem oil, the seeds of the neem tree are harvested predominantly by women, who thereby secure an income of their own.
For our organic castor oil, smallholder farmers in the Maharashtra region of India grow the castor plants under certified organic farming.
Gentle processing on site
In one of the three oil mills, the seeds are gently cold-pressed and filtered after harvest. Processing on site means that a large share of the value creation remains in the region of origin.
The resulting press cake is reused as compost and fertiliser and thus returned to the agricultural cycle.
Social commitment in rural regions
When selecting our partners, we look not only at the quality of the organic oils but equally at the company’s values and commitment.
Through our partner’s cooperation with smallholder farmers and women in rural regions, the standard of living of many families has improved noticeably. Children gain access to school education and vocational training. Together with non-governmental organisations, our partner works against child labour and ensures that children can attend school – every year they are provided with school bags, books and uniforms.
In addition, our partner provides insurance for its employees as well as medical assistance that also benefits family members. Because rural areas often lack basic sanitation infrastructure, the company supports the construction of sanitary facilities – especially for women. In the winter months, jumpers and blankets are distributed to more than 100 farmers and villagers.
The standards of upstream raw goods suppliers are also checked: for example, compliance with occupational safety and child protection laws, fair pay and the protection of female employees. For our organic castor oil, our partner is aiming for Fair for Life certification in future, which verifies fair incomes and working conditions for small producers.
Promoting organic farming
An important goal of our partner is to further promote organic farming in India. Conversion to organic farming usually takes three years and requires knowledge, guidance and trust.
That is why our partner offers regular training courses and seminars for farmers. Topics include the benefits of organic and sustainability standards, natural fertilisers and natural pest control.
Circular economy and resource conservation
Waste avoidance and recycling are a high priority for our partner. Resources are to be used as efficiently as possible and returned to the cycle.
When it comes to energy, too, the focus is on resource-saving solutions: solar energy is used for basic needs such as charging lamps.
The combination of organic farming, gentle processing, social commitment and a circular economy makes this project an important example of responsible raw material sourcing for us.
