All objects have a value, some more than others! We don't like intensive cultivation and industrial production but we prefer small projects with an intense degree of love and passion! Here is our commitment to an ethical and supportive supply chain, which benefits the environment and the people who live there, as in the case of Lotus, our soap dish with an ethical heart.

As you know, here at La Saponaria we care about all those projects that have a high social value, which improve the living conditions of communities and represent an important grain for improving those around the world. For this reason, in our aware cosmetics you can often find the "fair trade supply chain" icon which signals the presence of at least one Fair Trade ingredient.

We love to carefully choose the raw materials that make up our cosmetics and, for this reason, when it is not possible to use local products as in the case of Argan Oil, we make sure that the ingredients that come from afar are not only of excellent quality and organic, but which are also part of Fair & Solidarity projects in support of less advantaged communities.

Sometimes, together with our cosmetics designed and produced in our perfumed laboratory in Pesaro, you can also find some accessory products which are the result of the artisanal work of communities in distant lands, as in the case of our Cotton make-up remover wipes and the new Lotus ceramic soap dish. Fair Trade projects are important because they guarantee fair compensation to the workers involved and very often part of the proceeds is reinvested in the local community in social projects aimed at promoting self-entrepreneurship.

Bat Trang ceramics have a unique style characterized by five types of finishes: brown, blue and white, ivory white, moss green and cracked effect. The main raw material used is a type of highly heat-resistant clay worked by hand and modeled on turntables or cast in molds, in the case of the most difficult shapes. The traditional craftsmen follow the ancient working methods to the letter, which involve soaking the clay for about 3-4 months, purifying it by passing it into other tanks and keeping it to dry for 3 days. The objects are then fired at a high temperature and become very resistant and long-lasting.

Lotus: the soap dish that's good for your soap and more!

Lotus is our new soap dish, ideal for keeping your favorite solid cosmetics in the best possible way. It is made of ceramic and comes from Vietnam, from the village of Bat Trang, a suburb of Hanoi. You should know that ceramic art is one of the oldest activities in Vietnam and Bat Trang is one of the most famous villages for this activity thanks to the availability of excellent quality white clay and a river that facilitates the transport of the products. Our Lotus is a product made through Craftlink, a non-profit association that supports local artisans, especially the most disadvantaged, by promoting forms of sustainable and lasting development to improve their living conditions. It is a unique product, handmade with heart and passion.

Its design has been specifically designed to best preserve soaps and solids of all kinds, in order to avoid water stagnation. In fact, Lotus is slightly convex and has holes that allow water to drain. Your solids will be safe, will last longer and will always be dry ready to be reused. Choosing Zero Waste solid products is nice because it's good for the environment, making them last longer and avoiding waste is even more so!

Some of the other Fair Trade projects

Our Cotton make-up remover wipes come from Turkey and are made of 100% natural unbleached organic cotton, certified organic according to the GOTS standard. They are produced by a historic fair trade company, which has been using exclusively certified organic cotton for more than 50 years. The sachet is produced in India and is 65% cotton obtained by recycling processing waste from knitwear products.

Our Hennetica vegetable dyes come from India and are not only a certified product subjected to multiple checks (For further information https://blog.lasaponaria.it/en/insights/hennetica-vegetable-dyes-beauty-and-health-for-your-hair) but they are also fair! In fact, the dyeing herbs contained in Hennetica come from controlled crops, are produced and packaged with respect for the environment through sustainable agriculture and are included in a beautiful fair trade project. This project envisages sustainable and ethical supply chains in which all the actors involved are compensated correctly and can benefit from long-term projects to ensure production stability and sustainability.

Our Argan oil, the basic ingredient of the Argan Line, comes from Morocco and is part of an important local project "Marocavie". Over the years, this project has made it possible to develop local horticulture to meet local food needs and to improve the socio-economic conditions of many families, thus also improving the level of schooling. To find out more about this ingredient, read the dedicated sheet.

Our cane sugar instead comes from Peru, from the Cooperativas Sin Fronteras. A non-profit organization that brings together 30 associations and cooperatives from Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala. To find out more about this ingredient, read the dedicated sheet.

Our peppermint and lemongrass both come from India. The marketing of these raw materials takes place through a company in Bangalore, Phalada, which deals with the promotion of organic products, guarantees fair compensation for all workers and promotes socio-cultural projects.