OUR PHILOSOPHY

The inspiration for our business and products stemmed from our love of natural fibres, products and ingredients, but more importantly our love for the planet. There are so many products on the market, from baby clothes to skincare products, that claim to be good for us, and our bodies. However, one only has to read the ingredients lists on some products to realise that all those chemicals, whether we put them on as clothes or creams, cannot be good for us. We all know that petrochemicals, parabens, PEG's and other chemical ingredients are bad for our health, and it isn't easy finding alternatives - but it should be!

That's why we decided to set-up a business that provids a holistic range of products, from organic cotton baby carriers to our own range of natural and organic skincare products.

Believing in the planet and in natures own ingredients is a whole way of life for us. It's about knowing that the products we buy or make have not and will not contribute to environmental degradation. It's about knowing that the people who make many of our products have good employment standards and pay. It's about knowing that the wholesalers we use have similar ethical and environmental policies as us. It's about finding a better way to live for us and the planet.

In a nutshell, our philosophy is:

• We NEVER use any man-made chemicals or other synthetic ingredients in our Love To Be Natural skincare range'. We also never use palm oil as it is virtually impossible to find truly ethically sourced palm oil.
• Wherever possible, we only source ethically and fairly traded products.
• We firmly believe in the ability of mother nature to provide us with all the ingredients we need for life, and as far as possible we strive to source and include organic products and ingredients.

OUR PRODUCTS

Our products reflect our holistic philosophy. As far as possible we try to deal with wholesalers and companies who believe in the same principles as us, in terms of their environmental policy, and the nature of their products.

OUR LOVE TO BE NATURAL SKINCARE RANGE AND INGREDIENTS

We believe that ingredients found in nature have the ability to nourish, feed and protect the skin. As such we only use 100% natural, and where possible, certified organic ingredients. Many of our ingredients are sourced from co-operatives in West Africa who employ predominantly women, due to their skills and long-held knowledge about ingredients such as shea butter. All of your Love To Be Natural skincare products are handcrafted by us in small batches to ensure the products reach you freshly made.

OUR PACKAGING

When we were considering what packaging to use for the Love To Be Natural skincare range, we deliberated for so long! The amount of research we conducted into bottling and containers for the products was mind-boggling. We tried to determine which of the two mediums, glass or aluminium, would have least environmental impact and best suit the needs of customers. After much deliberation we settled on aluminium, mainly for the following reasons: it is a very light medium, so is easier to transport - less of a carbon footprint. It is totally recyclable, in fact we believe virtually all of our packaging, except the atomiser on the spray bottles, is entirelly recyclable - a fact we are very proud of. Lastly, we decided that glass would be entirely unsuitable for families on the go, with a large glass jar being too heavy for a nappy bag.

The paper we use in the office is recycled, our toner cartidges are recycled, and we strive to reuse as much packaging as possible. Any packaging we buy is either recycled, such as our cardboard boxes and envelopes, or compostable, such as our filling product. We really strive to have as minimal impact on the environment as possible.