As the beauty industry faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impact, one pressing question emerges: can producing coconut oil truly help conserve wildlife and support local communities?
Picture an island where the rainforest flourishes, providing sanctuary for endangered species and vibrant ecosystems. On the Indonesian island of Simeulue, over 500 smallholder farmers are proving that sustainable coconut oil production is not only possible but essential.
In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica welcomes Jane Dunlop, co-founder and CEO of āluān. Jane shares her journey to leading a conservation-driven business that produces high-quality, traceable coconut oil.
Don’t miss out on this eye-opening conversation about sustainable beauty and environmental conservation. Tune in to learn how āluān is setting a new standard for the industry, and why this model could be the future of ethical ingredient sourcing.
“We focus on protecting the places on our planet that are still worth protecting and where there’s still these incredible natural resources.” — Jane Dunlop
In this episode with Jane Dunlop, you will hear:
- The story behind āluān: Jane shares how her experiences in Aceh and the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami led to the founding of āluān, combining conservation with community empowerment.
- Coconut oil production: Learn how āluān works with 500 smallholder farmers to produce high-quality, traceable coconut oil, and the challenges and successes in scaling their production.
- Sustainability and conservation efforts: Discover the integrated approach āluān takes to protect forests, endangered species, and local livelihoods through regenerative agriculture and conservation programs.
- Replanting trees: Jane discusses the ambitious plans for replanting coconut trees and expanding their model to include other products and regions.
Key takeouts include:
- Innovative business model: āluān’s unique approach intertwines business success with environmental stewardship, proving that profitability and sustainability can go hand in hand.
- Community engagement: By involving local farmers and providing higher prices for their coconuts, āluān incentivises sustainable practices and prevents land conversion to palm oil plantations.
- Traceability and transparency: Implementing a fully traceable supply chain from farm to finished product sets āluān apart, ensuring customers know exactly where their coconut oil comes from.
- Conservation impact: The work of āluān’s foundation, from protecting sea turtle nesting sites to promoting biodiversity, demonstrates the profound positive impact that well-funded, community-driven conservation projects can have.
Meet our guest: Jane Dunlop
Jane Dunlop is the CEO of āluān, a company with a mission to conserve at-risk ecosystems and threatened species. Their approach focuses on supplying the beauty and personal care industry with the highest quality traceable coconut oil from Simeulue Island, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Jane’s journey began in the 2000s when she moved to Sumatra, witnessing firsthand the threats of poaching, deforestation, and unsustainable palm oil practices.
With a background in law and geography, Jane co-founded āluān to integrate social, environmental, and economic needs through direct connections and community-based initiatives.
Find out more about Jane Dunlop and āluān:
- Website: āluān
- Instagram: @aluan.coconut, @ecosystemimpactfoundation, @jane_dunlop
- LinkedIn: āluān
Related episodes:
- Episode 213: Exploring regenerative beauty with Lush
- Episode 216: Traceability- ingredients origin
- Episode 231: Exploring biodiversity challenges in the beauty industry
Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.
