Interested in natural cosmetic products, ones that support local communities and don’t deplete our natural resources? You aren’t alone!
Growing consumer interest in the environmental and ethical credentials of cosmetics has spurred interest in sustainably- and ethically-sourced beauty products, which include many forest products, also known as non-wood forest products (NWFPs).
Growth in natural cosmetics industries is at almost 10 percent per year. In order to tap into this market to raise the income of rural, forest communities worldwide, FAO and the Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) network examined some of the different, forest-derived beauty products, which have been used since antiquity in traditional practices and trade in various Asian and Pacific countries.
With the publication, Naturally Beautiful: Cosmetic and Beauty Products from Forests, FAO and the NTFP-EP bring attention to the role forests play in supplying beauty products and show how these products can provide livelihood options for forest communities. It assesses constraints and identifies opportunities for growth, particularly for community-based enterprises.
Here are four beauty products found in nature that hold great potential to support forest communities:
1) Sandalwood oil in the Asia-Pacific region
Sandalwood oil has been an extremely important source of income and trade in the Pacific for over 200 years. Sandalwood trees are found in various countries from India, Australia and Indonesia to the Pacific Island countries. Sandalwood oil is distilled from the tree’s roots, and owing to its coveted fragrance, it is added to commercial products such as soaps, candles, perfumes and incense.
Due to the overharvesting of these trees, stocks were decimated, and sandalwood trade became almost non-existent. However, its potential for generating income is now encouraging communities to establish new sandalwood plantations in Australia and create better trade management efforts in Vanuatu. FAO is encouraging global communities to better manage and conserve sandalwood trees in order to sustainably tap into this potential income source and preserve its cultural importance.