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Our Philosophy
Scenturies’ Philosophy is simple and based on Respect.
Respect for Ourselves, Respect for Others, Respect for Nature, and Respect for our Planet…
The things that REALLY matter.
Respect for Ourselves
Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies and it absorbs much of what we put on it. Choosing skin care products that are natural, safe, and free from harmful chemicals is one of the most respectful things we can do for our bodies to enhance and maintain good health inside and out.
The overall performance of a skin care product is dependent on the quality and proven effectiveness of its ingredients. We research and select the highest quality botanical ingredients in their pure raw state for our products thus preserving the rich vitamins, minerals, and active properties within. We carefully balance the pH of each formulation so that the skins protective acid mantle is respected and maintained. This results in a range of highly effective natural skin care products that deliver and support optimal skin nourishment and health. We do this out of our deep care and respect for everyone who uses our products: our customers, our families, our friends, and ourselves.
Read our blog: Why Natural Skincare is Best
Respect for Others
We respect and support local businesses, especially those who produce or supply quality raw materials or services, and protect the environment in which they live and work. All aspects of our business from raw ingredients to product design, testing, manufacturing, and packaging are sourced locally. We believe that by supporting local businesses we add social and economic value to our local communities.
For ingredients that we are unable to source locally we support companies that support the communities they work with, especially those that support initiatives like Fairtrade. Fairtrade advocates for better working conditions and improved terms of trade to empower farmers and workers in developing countries. By ensuring fair prices, fair wages, and humane working conditions people are empowered and the whole community benefits. This results in better education, health care and environmental sustainability. We proudly use Fairtrade products in our Cinnamon Spice Soap & Espresso Facial Scrub.
Respect for Nature
Cruelty-free
All Scenturie products are ‘Cruelty-free’. We test our products on ourselves, family, friends, and willing volunteers. We NEVER test on animals and we do not use animal products. Scenturie is a proud supporter of NZAVS, an amazing non-profit organisation, that defends animals used in science, and is against animal testing. We are proud to feature in their ‘Cruelty-Free Guide’.
Conscious Consumerism
Conscious consumerism is an important part of sustainability and is the awareness of how every purchase that we make has an impact on the environment.
The Problem with Palm Oil
Palm oil is a good example of how important conscious consumerism is. Palm oil is used extensively in the cosmetic and food industries and the global demand for it continues to rise with consumption exceeding 70 million metric tonnes annually. Palm oil has been, and continues to be, a major driver of deforestation of some of the world’s most biodiverse forests, causing mass destruction to the habitats of already endangered species, and contributing to climate change by releasing millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The haze from Indonesian forest fires, many deliberately set to clear land for oil palms, caused at least 12,000 premature deaths in 2015 alone.
Human rights abuses, such as child labour and forced evictions, have been well documented. On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, palm oil companies have sometimes bulldozed entire indigenous villages, leaving their residents homeless and reliant on government handouts.
If you check the ingredient labels of your skincare products most of them will contain the fatty alcohols ‘cetyl alcohol’ and ‘cetostearyl alcohol’. Fatty alcohols are used as natural structuring agents and secondary emulsifiers to improve the stability and texture of a formulation. Emulsifiers are a key ingredient in natural cosmetics. They are needed to emulsify water and oil together to create emulsions, such as creams and lotions. Many of these emulsifiers contain ingredients that are derived from palm oil. Some are made from ‘vegetable sources’ but suppliers find it hard to confirm exactly which vegetable sources. This means there is a high likelihood they are derived from palm oil. The fatty alcohols cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol, to name but a few, are derived from palm oil.
Here at Scenturie we have chosen to avoid using palm oil, and palm oil derived ingredients, wherever possible in our products. We have chosen to use ‘Brassica alcohols’ instead of the palm oil derived fatty alcohols ‘cetyl alcohol’ and ‘cetearyl alcohol’. Brassica alcohols are naturally derived from waxes found in plants from the Cabbage (Brassica) family. They are a palm oil free natural alternative for fatty alcohols used in skincare products.
Read our blog – Palm Oil: The Ugly Truth
Over-exploitation of natural resources
The popularity of aromatherapy and natural beauty products in recent years has led to increased supply and demand for natural crops that have not been able to meet the needs of consumers. This has led to the over-exploitation of resources affecting the biodiversity of many species including essential and carrier oil-bearing plants. Examples include the Indian Sandalwood tree, native to Southern India and Southeast Asia, the oil of which has been used for centuries for its fragrant and medicinal qualities. In recent years, over-exploitation has led to it being listed as a critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Similarly, the essential oil from the Atlas Cedarwood tree has been used extensively for its therapeutic and fragrance qualities. The tree is slow growing, taking decades or centuries to regrow, and is now also listed as an endangered species.
We all have a part to play
When a species is in imminent decline buyers look for substitutions, thus placing pressure on the new species. It is of vital importance that brands create natural products with proven sustainability in mind to preserve plant species that would otherwise be driven to extinction. We need to consume more mindfully and find a balance with what is appropriate and when to use it.
At Scenturie we thoroughly research all our ingredients to ensure they are safe, sustainable, and produced from renewable raw materials. We believe that being transparent about the ingredients we use and where they are from empowers our customers to make informed decisions about their skin care, their health, and the preservation of our environment.
Read our blog: Sustainable Living
Respect for Our Planet
Sadly, the beauty industry is a major contributor of plastic waste with billions of single-use plastic bottles hitting our oceans and landfill each year. A study by National Geographic showed that plastic packaging is used 120 times more in cosmetics packaging than it was in 1960. Using multi-layered packaging to make products look more ‘premium’ also creates excess waste.
Today we have become the greatest threat to the health of our planet. We are the first generation to know what we’re doing, and the last who have a chance to put things right. The science is clear, and awareness has never been higher. We know we must change the way we live if we are to sustain life on Earth. We can all play our part and live more sustainable lives. By choosing reusable alternatives to plastic, ensuring the food and products we buy are sustainable, and recycling our waste, each of us are taking steps to put things right.
Having sustainable eco-friendly packaging for all Scenturie products is very important to us and underpins much of what we are about. Our skin care products are packaged in recyclable glass bottles and jars. The lids are recyclable plastic and we are working hard to find an alternative plastic free option. Our natural soaps are wrapped in 100% recyclable eco-friendly brown kraft paper. Our organic coconut and soy wax candles are presented in reusable, recyclable glass vessels that undergo a hand-mould production process. The outer box is reusable and recyclable cardboard. Once your product is delivered the external packaging is either fully compostable or recyclable, and sustainable.
We are passionate about doing our bit to protect and preserve our planet for future generations to cherish and hope that you will unite and support us in this.
Read our blog: The Truth about Plastic
For more information on how to do your bit for the planet click on this link: https://www.ourplanet.com/en/video/how-to-save-our-planet/
