Previously, on Nicky Goes Natural… she was about to tell us something awesome about doTERRA, when her train of thought veered wildly off track. The train was last seen flying over a cliff – will she be able to bring it back on track? Will it land safely with her reputation intact? Will she ever get to the point? Find out in this week’s instalment… (hopefully)
So, we’ve established I’m a bit of a fan of good sourcing, & supply chains. Turns out – so is doTERRA! They created something called “Co-Impact” Sourcing. My post will not be comprehensive on this (because it’s too awesome), so I will link to it when I’m done rambling.
What is Co-Impact Sourcing? It’s working directly with the growers of the plants, working together to develop long term relationships. doTERRA work with growers from over 40 different countries, more than half of which can be labelled “developing”. They treat them fairly and ethically, they pay them on time (a big deal to me!). In some cases, they teach them how to work with each other, to form co-operatives or to find long term (and sustainable) solutions to their socio-economic problems. For decades people have been pouring money into these “poor” countries. Endless fundraisers are still going on. Great causes, great ideals, but do they solve the problem? I may cause offence here (not my intention), but this is how I see it. Celebrities make you cry, you hand over your money to charity of the week, and then…. well, there are expenses to cover. Genuine expenses, I agree. Overheads, people who work for the charity at all levels. Then, the rest goes to the country it’s needed. No doubt some high level officials need to skim some off the top to allow it through. But then the rest gets to where it’s needed. From what can tell, it buys food, it feeds starving children, it gives them life saving medicine, it gives them clean water, clothes. It saves lives. That is a wonderful thing. But it’s a bandage on a gaping wound & no one stops the bleeding. (I know there are awesome people out there who are trying to get to the root of it, I’m not saying there aren’t.) But there has to be a better way to help.
doTERRA research the oils that they want, then they find where in the world they grow best. Then, they go there and see for themselves. Yes, millionaire founders of a global fast growing company out there in their shorts checking it out for themselves. They want the best product. That comes when they plants are grown at their best, in their natural environment, with conditions they were created for. If that means a war torn country, a beautiful holiday destination, or their own back yard, then so be it.
But when the best place is a “developing” country, they work with the growers. Most of the time the growers know best about the plants, as it’s been passed down for generations. doTERRA shows them how to get the best deal from these plants. To quote their site: “Growers and harvesters are encouraged to form cooperative groups to share collective benefits and bargaining power while improving skills and capacity”. They are effectively taught the business side. And they have a reliable supplier, who values their product and skills, and pays them appropriately (on time, remember!).
By teaching people how to use the resources they already have available to them, and providing what they don’t need to start, they are able to grow or purchase their own food. When you teach people to work with what they have, instead of giving them what they need in the short term, you not just save a life, but you change a life! And not just one life – a whole community. They are able to pass these things on to their children, who will have opportunities to do even greater things. This is a very long winded way of saying “Teach a man to fish”, but sometimes you need the detail to fully appreciate it.
I believe in economies. You can buy a small bottle of something that can bless your life, and the money you paid goes through the supply chain to bless the life of everyone in that chain, all the way to the source, empowering them, giving them money to spend in their own local economies. It’s not a bandage, it’s healing the wound, and allowing it to become something healthy and strong.
I encourage you to look at some of the Co-Impact sourcing projects. doTERRA care about their products. They want you and your family to have the best their is. They also care about where they come from. By choosing to use doTERRA oils, you are not only doing the best for your own family, but also for the families of the growers. And to me, that is awesome. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/difference-co-impact-sourcing
This is not the last you’ll hear from me on the subject. Next time I might get to how Co-Impact sourcing affects you, the user, and delve into the wonderful world of the healing hands foundation. Bet you can’t wait 😉
[If you are ready to start your own essential oil journey, go to http://www.mydoterra.com/nicolastanton or get in touch]
Nicky Goes Natural 