It has to be said that Burt's Bees are one of my favourite brands ever; I've been using their iconic lip balms for years and am never without at least two in my bag for emergencies. Although it's increasingly on-trend for brands to offer a natural formula, be vegan friendly and source their ingredients ethically and sustainably, few can say they've been doing it for the best part of thirty years. Burt's Bees started life as creative candles that used up the leftover beeswax from Burt's hives (yes, he's an actual person!) adding the iconic lipbalm we know and love into the line up in 1991; since then the business has expanded (with a full skincare and body collection launching in 2006,) but one thing has always underpinned their values - they've made it their mission to source ingredients responsibly and respect the communities, individuals and environments from which they're sourced. From beeswax to baobab, clary sage to shea butter, everything that goes into a Burt's Bees product has a story behind it and a genuine benefit to the skin. There's so much more to this brand than you may already know, and I'm here to help tell that story...
BORN FROM NATURE
Everything Burt’s Bees use in their products is sourced from nature - not born in test tubes. In their words “nature has billions of years of research for us to tap into!” Evolving and resilient, plants have had to continually adapt and develop their own chemistry to maintain vitality in the face of changing environmental conditions - including dryness, humidity, freezing temperatures and excessive heat. Do these challenges sound familiar? We’ve evolved with nature and human DNA is more similar to plants than different; we share around 60% of the same DNA as a banana plant! Many component in our bodies have similar components in nature (for example sebum and jojoba oil,) so Burt’s Bees skin friendly yet powerful ingredients to make their products truly effective.
COMMUNITY SOURCED
In 2012 Burt’s Bees launched an initiative that was focused on identifying key ingredients that were fundamental to the brand, selecting regions where those ingredients were produced and forming strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with communities in these regions. One of the first projects focuses on sourcing 50% of the beeswax required for the Burt’s Bees lip balms from Tanzania, using a combination of new and traditional methods. Their goal is to source 100% of Burt’s beeswax from communities and expand the program to include other natural oils, waxes and butters - so buying from the brand does more good than just giving you great skin. (You can find out more about their community sourcing here.)
THE GREATER GOOD
In 2007 Burt's Bees established The Greater Good Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization designed to encourage responsible environmental practices. The aim of this foundation is to empower grassroots initiatives, particularly in the areas of protecting honeybees and supporting sustainable agriculture. Since its inception, The Greater Good Foundation has issued $1.2 million in grants which will inevitably help to make a real difference in the years to come. It's amazing to see brands investing in the wider world and trying to make a positive impact, rather than just flogging their latest mascara. (Find out more about the foundation here.)
FOR THE LOVE OF BEES
Burt’s Bees are proud supporters of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the Adopt a Beehive scheme, which raises awareness of the importance of honey bees as well as funds to support vital research and education. Honey bees need much the same things as humans to thrive - a good, varied diet, a safe home and freedom from disease. They’re fundamental to our ecosystem, as well as providing us with tasty honey and handy beeswax. Without this essential support, we could find ourselves in a dire situation; if anyone's watched the last episode of Black Mirror, you know what I'm talking about! (Find out more about Burt's Bees work with honeybees here.)
Over the next week I'll be bringing you the lowdown on the gifts you'll just *need* to add to your Christmas list (as well as some of the treats you'll be dying to share with your friends and fam this holiday season,) alongside some thrifty tips and creative inspiration so you can take a leaf out of nature's book in the run up to the Big Day. There's a sneaky peek below, but if you want to get a head start on your festive gifting then I've got a very special offer for you: you can get an exclusive 20% off ALL Burt's Bees (plus free UK shipping) with the code BBFLASH16 all this week*. Waggle-Waggle! (That's bee speak for 'you're welcome' apparently.)
'Giving Comes Naturally Week' is brought to you in association with Burt's Bees.
Discover more about Burt's Bees and their Christmas gifting collection (which starts at £5.99) on their website. Have a go on their Christmas Gift Finder and pick out the perfect treat for a loved one too!
*offer is valid from Mon 28th Nov until 11.59pm Sunday 4th December 2016
SHOP BURT'S BEES HOLIDAY GIFTS
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Features PR samples unless otherwise stated. To read my full disclaimer, click here.
Features PR samples unless otherwise stated. To read my full disclaimer, click here.