THE UPDATE
from
DOWN UNDER
Keep up-to-date with our latest news, tips, product updates, special offers, and more.
AUGUST 2021
G’day mate,
Let’s talk B.O.
While not a “normal” discussion topic, Body Odor will increasingly be on consumer minds. As the world begins a return to some sense of normalcy, our interactions with others will increase and lead to a renewed focus on personal cleaning routines. The primary bacterium causing body odor is called Staphylococcus hominis.
Manuka Oil has a strong affinity for targeting gram-positive bacteria, including S. hominis, as well as S. aureus and S. pyogenes.
MINTEL data suggests significant market opportunities exist for pure and natural Manuka Oil to be incorporated into products in the Deodorant and Soap & Bath categories.
In this month’s newsletter:
- Manuka - your hero ingredient for Deodorant and Soap & Bath
- Manuka targets gram-positive bacteria
- US Lacey Act - Secure your “safe” Sandalwood from us
- Tea Tree Oil’s by-products put to good use
- Mānuka Oil sourced from Māori Kaitiaki traditional owners
- Kaitiakitanga – Traditional Māori guardianship and conservation
- My Favorite Oil – Matt talks Mānuka (video)
Thanks for reading.
Phil Prather
FEATURED PRODUCT
Mānuka - your hero for Deodorant and Soap & Bath formulations
Manuka Oil is a relatively new botanical ingredient for the Personal Care Market. It is an essential oil, steam distilled from the leaves of the scrub tree Leptospermum scoparium, native to both New Zealand and Australia.
New MBC tests commissioned by Down Under Enterprises have demonstrated Manuka’s affinity for Staphylococcus hominis, the bacterium that causes body odor.
A review of the MINTEL Global New Products Database (GNPD) suggests significant market opportunities exist for products containing Manuka Oil within the Deodorant and Soap & Bath categories.
MINTEL reports that home isolation during COVID-19 has impacted antiperspirant/deodorant (APDO) and Soap and Bath product sales. With the economy opening back up, it’s likely this market will soon take off.
Download our White Paper for the full details.
BENEFIT 1 – Natural Deodorants are trending in Personal Care
BENEFIT 2 – Mānuka’s efficacy against gram positive bacteria
BENEFIT 3 – Guaranteed traceability from East Cape NZ
BENEFIT 4 – Supports traditional Māori Landowners
THE EVIDENCE
Mānuka Oil’s affinity for targeting gram-positive bacteria
Manuka Oil has demonstrated particularly strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus hominis in Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) tests.
These efficacy data present exciting opportunities for the development of products utilizing Manuka Oil to target specific microbes, especially in consideration of antibiotic resistance, and in the personal care industry, to meet consumer demands for more efficacious natural and sustainable ingredients.
Scientists have related Manuka Oil's efficacy to its β-Triketone components. These unique compounds occur naturally and are found in the highest abundance in Manuka Oil.
MIC and MBC test results can be found in our White Paper.
IN THE NEWS
Is your Sandalwood supply safe? Lacey Act deadline approaching.
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The Lacey Act is the United States' oldest wildlife protection statute for combatting illegal trafficking of wildlife, fish, and plants. Originally enacted in 1900 the act has undergone significant revisions over time. Since 2008 it has been unlawful to import certain plants, including plant products, without an import declaration.
- From October 1, 2021 a new phase (Phase VI) will be enforced which will require an import declaration on 27 new tariff lines, including Sandalwood Oil.
- The importer will be held liable for observing all laws in the supply chain of the product, local, as well as all foreign laws.
Down Under Enterprises (Australia) is the Exporter of Lacey Act Compliant Sandalwood from Australia and we, Down Under Enterprises (USA), are the Importer in the United States. We can confidently supply your Sandalwood requirements – eliminating your risk.
Note: Regulations may also apply to formulated products containing Sandalwood Oil imported to the US.
Speak to us about procuring Lacey Act-compliant Sandalwood Oil.
Learn More / Request a call
FARM UPDATES
Using waste products from our harvest
We finished our Tea Tree harvest at our farm Buhlambar earlier this month. The harvest was successful in terms of essential oil yield and fulfilling customer orders. However, this isn’t the only benefit from our Tea Tree harvest. We now start the process of converting our waste product from the oil distillation into composted fertilizer.
When we distill the oil from the Tea Tree leaves, we are left with what we call “spent biomass”. This waste biomass from the Tea Tree Oil production process can be composted with other local organic waste materials (e.g. grass/hay and chicken manure) to develop an all-natural fertilizer, priming the land for next year’s harvest. And it’s all 100% organic!
As you can see in our beautiful ‘golden hour’ video, the compost is being worked up. Once our friendly microbes have done their trick over many, many weeks of work, the compost will be applied as fertilizer to prime our fields for regrowth in Spring – which in Australia is in September.
There are two main types of waste products from our Essential Oils production: spent biomass (post distillation) and the wastewater produced from the condensation of steam after traveling through the biomass which produces our hydrosols!
Hydrosols have an excellent sustainability profile and carry some of the fragrance and therapeutic properties of the plant. To find out more, explore our Hydrosols in our Products section or Contact Us directly. Our hydrosol range includes Tea Tree (conventional and Certified Organic), Fragonia®, Sandalwood, Lemon Myrtle, and Lavender hydrosols.
TRACEABILITY
Manuka Oil sourced from Māori Kaitiaki
Down Under Enterprises sources Manuka Oil under a fair share partnership model with Māori Kaitiaki in the East Cape region of New Zealand, who are working the land of their ancestors. This partnership model provides shares and a fair and open return of the revenue gained from the Mānuka Oil sourced from their land.
NZ Mānuka growers are revitalizing traditional (Māori) farming practices and reclaiming the traditional way of Māori land ownership. New plantings are now being established to meet global demand for Mānuka Oil.
SUSTAINABILITY
Kaitiakitanga – Traditional Māoiri guardianship and conservation
Our Manuka Essential Oil is sourced from the East Cape of New Zealand, where descendants of the traditional Maori landowners are cultivating the land. The term used for traditional Maori land guardianship and conservation is ‘Kaitiakitanga’.
The Māori people believe in a deep connection between humans and the natural world and as such, Kaitiakitanga has a significant focus on sustainability. Central to Kaitiakitanga is that the health of the environment reflects the health/condition of its people.
Historically, the Māori divided the natural world into realms ruled by various gods. These gods, the children of Ranginui (sky) and Papatūānuku (earth), were seen as the original kaitiaki (guardians) of their realms.
The traditional sustainability practices enforced ensured that resources were managed in a way that created a balance between communities and nature.
Traditional ways of keeping the balance included:
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Setting temporary rāhui (restrictions) on certain areas, including setting aside an area, banning the harvesting of resources such as land and water
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Using the maramataka (lunar calendar) to guide planting and harvesting
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Occasional banning of recreational fishing and birding
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Using appropriate baskets for different types of food
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Harvesting only what was needed
Today there is growing interest in kaitiakitanga. Iwi (Māori society) are restoring their environment and culture and using traditional ideas in the modern world.
Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/kaitiakitanga-guardianship-and-conservation
