MALAYSIA'S potential of turning into a preferred export site for hand-made soaps is being explored by an
expatriate couple who are tapping into home-grown resources like coconut and palm oil for their natural.
Indochine Natural produces Fair Trade cosmetic products free from chemicals preservatives and other synthetic substances. For example, using traditional methods, hand made natural soaps are made from vegetable oils, herbs, and essential oils including cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, star anise, ginger, and turmeric.
These Fair Trade cosmetic products cater to a wide variety of skin types ranging from normal right through to sensitive and allergy prone. The Managing Director of Indochine Natural, Dr. Mike Thair, has adopted a Fair Trade philosophy to produce handmade natural soaps. The company has become one of the first in Malaysia to adopt the principals of Fair Trade which aims to help marginalised agricultural producers and artisans in developing countries sell their products to an international market.
“This philosophy began when we formed a number of long term and sustainable relationships with traditional farmers to produce our range of handmade natural loofah products,” he said.
“Our Fair Trade cosmetics also encompass care for the environment” Dr Thair said, and he has plans to work with a resort owner on an island on the East Coast of Malaysia to recycle used cooking oil into soap based cleaning products.
This initiative began at the Asia Community Service’s Stepping Stone Centre in Penang where members with intellectual disabilities are producing dishwashing soap made entirely from recycled cooking oil.
A collaborative effort between Indochine Natural and theStepping Stone Centre has enabled this dishwashing product to be launched at the International New York Gift Fair in January 2010 in collaboration with Indochine Natural’s North America distributor, Far East Handicrafts.
“We are working with our partner Far East Handicrafts in the USA to have this product produced by the Stepping Stone Centre become available in Fair Trade stores in North America” Dr. Thair said.
With their Fair Trade cosmetic products now available on retail shelves in North America, this Penang based company is now preparing for a European launch of its products. But Dr. Thair remains adamant, whatever expansion occurs, their soap bars will always be natural and handmade, and maintain the Fair Trade cosmetic identity.
Information available at: www.indochinenatural.com
For further information please contact Dr Mike Thair on Office Phone/Fax: +60 4 890 9577 or
+60 16 6579572.
Email: office@indochinenatural.com
For more information about Fair Trade Cosmetics please visit www.indochinenatural.com