Many successful businesses recognize the need for social responsibility, and L’Occitane is one of them. Giving back to the community is a key objective of the L’Occitane Foundation, through its continuous efforts in three fields of action: supporting the visually impaired, economic emancipation of women in developing countries, and the preservation of the knowledge of nature.
Every holiday season the L’Occitane Foundation collaborates with Burkina Faso soap factories to offer a product sold exclusively to raise funds in its stores worldwide. Each year 100% of the proceeds are donated to ORBIS, a global non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness. It may surprise you to know that 75% of blindness is either preventable or treatable. That’s an amazing number!
Last holiday, our boutiques sold the Animal Soap Sets, collecting 163,000 Euros (about $240,000 US Dollars today). These funds contributed to ORBIS’ efforts in Bangladesh – to train local staff, conduct over 20,000 eye exams, 600 eye operations, and even help set up an eye care hospital.
This holiday we hope to raise even more! L’Occitane boutiques will offer a Moments In Africa Soap Set, to raise money for the same cause. The soaps exemplify the beautiful craft of soap making in Burkina Faso. All the soaps are made by the women of Burkina Faso, using local soap recipe’s and ingredients, including shea butter. These soaps contain over 70% shea butter! If you are a L’Occitane customer, you know how important shea butter is in our products.
On each bar of soap are stamped images representing moments in life in Burkina Faso: a harvest morning in Boromo, a wedding day in Leo, or children playing in Koudougou. Even the design of the box was inspired by African bogolan fabrics, making this a truly authentic gift.
L’Occitane’s collaboration with the soap factories has not only helped develop the business of the women in Burkina Faso, but has also allowed Burkina Faso to be part of the Foundation’s global initiative to fight blindness.
~ Anna
