Sustainable jojoba oil, a natural beauty treasure from Peru

Our jojoba oil is produced sustainably and ethically. For us sustainability is not a trend, but our long-standing corporate philosophy. Learn more about sustainable agriculture, which helps prevent desertification and has a positive impact on the climate, as well as our fair working conditions in the megadiversity country of Peru.

The Biodiversity Country Peru

Peru is one of the 17 defined megadiversity countries on earth. Nature here is exceptionally diverse: the different landscapes range from the high mountains of the Andes region to the rainforest and a desert coastal strip. More biodiversity than in Peru is hardly possible! So Peru has the best conditions for the production of sustainable raw materials. In the coastal desert in western Peru, the balanced climate with frost-free winters is ideal for our jojoba plants.

Sustainability is here to stay

It is not only in the cosmetics industry that the topic of sustainability has increasingly left its niche in recent years. Raw materials of natural origin or from organic farming now play a major role when it comes to buying cosmetic products. Transparency is in rising demand: more and more customers want to know where the raw materials and active ingredients in their cosmetic products come from. Moreover, consumers wish beauty products not only to care for their own skin, but also to do something beneficial for others.

Organic farming without pesticides

The resistant jojoba shrub needs neither pesticides nor fungicides or herbicides in Peru’s dry desert climate. Of course, we do not use GMOs. That is why we have relied on certified organic cultivation from the very beginning.

This also includes that we are preparing the compost and fertilisers on our farm ourselves according to the guidelines of organic certification. Since 2019, we have also been working on producing a special organic fertiliser with microalgae in our own laboratory on site.
Our worm farm helps to naturally produce compost for our jojoba plants. Recycled jojoba leaves and peels from our plantations are used for this.
Jojoba plants need very little water. Therefore, we use a water saving drip irrigation system to grow our plantations. The water comes from a partly underground river from the Andes that flows to the coast, which is not far away from our farms.
Waste collection and separation have been introduced on our farm since 2005.

Pro climate: Against desertification and for a better climate

Our jojoba plantations fight the continuing desertification of Peru’s coastline. Thanks to the deep taproots of the jojoba shrubs, the soil is protected against erosion and the dunes are fortified in a natural way.

The positive microclimate of the jojoba plantations can also lead to more cloud formation and thus more rainfall. Furthermore, the jojoba plantations bind considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, which is additionally positive for the climate.

Social Responsibility: Fair working conditions and social commitment

We employ 140 permanent staff on our farms, and up to 260 people during harvest time. A further 15 employees work at our facility in Panama. In 2021, we have been certified with the social label “FOR LIFE”, which confirms our fair working conditions in Peru and Panama. This means that our employees receive, for example, health and social insurance, holidays, daily free meals and free bus transportation. In 2022 we started our membership in “UEBT”, the Union for Ethical Biotrade. We believe that we can as a member have a great impact on sourcing with respect, working together to regenerate nature and securing a better future for people through ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity.

We also take responsibility in the Ica region: in addition to create reliable long-term jobs, we have been supplying the local school and kindergarten in Humay with school materials, stationary and digital equipment for over 20 years. A canteen was set up for high school students. In addition, scholarships are awarded for the regional agricultural school. After the great earthquake in 2007, our company supported employees who had lost their homes with loans and building materials and helped with the reconstruction.

Our certificates

Our jojoba oil is certified organic, Cosmos approved, Cosmos certified, Kosher, Halal and certified as a social responsibility product according to the FOR LIFE standard, certified by Ecocert. INCA OIL Jojoba plantations comply with Nagoya protocol from 2014.

To guarantee sustainability we regularly invest in the renewal and increase of plantations and high-quality German processing equipment.

Please learn more about our INCA OIL quality promise

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