THE UPDATE
from
DOWN UNDER
Keep up-to-date with our latest news, tips, product updates, special offers, and more.
MAY 2021
G’day mate,
Thanks for stopping by. In this month’s edition we cover the high growth of Essential Oils in the global fragrance market and our actions at our farm and operations to address the associated challenges. Learn more about these actions through our Global Webinar Series.
Speaking of our Webinars, our first in-house was a success with a huge turnout. The recording is now available for viewing via the link below. You can stay updated on upcoming webinars through this newsletter and our Global Webinar Series page.
Big news for our Australian Eucalyptus Oil supply is that we now have large volume Certified Organic Eucalyptus Oil available from July. If this is of interest, request a product sample via the form below.
Also, this month we report on the published efficacy of Eucalyptus and Lemon Scented Tea Tree as a 100% effective pediculicide in a single application.
Thanks for reading and do reach out to us with any questions.
Sincerely,
Phil Prather
IN THE NEWS
Essential Oils dominating global fragrance market
Researchers reported in Molecules Chemistry Journal on the continued high growth of Essential Oils in the global fragrance market.
The report states that “the global essential oils market size was found to exceed USD 7.51 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at greater than 9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2019 and 2026.”
The growing demand for Essential Oils is attributed to a ‘’back to nature” trend that favors natural botanicals over synthetics, which many consumers consider hazardous to their health.
The complex volatile compounds of Essential Oils makes them sought after as fragrances, yet they have many other applications in cosmetics. The researchers noted that the numerous health benefits associated with Essential Oils will drive the growth of the market in the coming years.
While synthetic copies of natural fragrances may be developed, they rarely possess the complexity and therapeutic properties of plant-based oils and could potentially be unsafe for human application, warned the researchers.
It was highlighted that many expensive perfumes contain pure Essential Oils for their complexity in aroma. The researchers noted that this lucrative market and growing demand for Essential Oils in general, does lead to an increased incidence of adulteration. Adulteration of Essential Oils will have a functional effect and, more importantly, poses many safety concerns.
Our Global Webinar Series tackles these issues with expert representatives from Industry, Academia and Agriculture. We delve into topics pertinent to formulators, buyers, QC, and marketers of formulated products containing botanical ingredients. Our Global Webinar Series targets awareness and education on Native Australian Botanicals and maintaining a sustainable global Essential Oil Industry.
WEBINAR
Webinar Recoding: Global Tea Tree Oil Market
Down Under hosted our first - and extremely well attended - in-house webinar last month as part of our new Global Webinar Series on Traceable and Sustainable Australian Botanicals. Last month’s webinar focused on the Australian Tea Tree Oil. The Australian Tea Tree industry is making considerable investments to increase the safe and effective use of Tea Tree Oil – already one of the top 5 natural ingredients used globally.
Insightful commentary was provided by Tony Larkman, CEO of the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association, ATTIA, on the historical pricing and harvest volumes of Australian Tea Tree Oil, including current and forecast projections. He reported on the interim result of a global project to understand the prevalence of adulteration, and provided guidance on how to identify pure Tea Tree Oil using both GC-FID and Chiral testing. Click HERE to download a copy of the ATTIA White Paper, How ISO4730:2017 Helps Identify Fraudulent Tea Tree Oil.
Our Australian Tea Tree Oil webinar also covered global market volumes, regulatory limitations, and current market development initiatives being driven by the Australian Tea Tree Industry, including US-EPA and European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) submissions. Scientific research for Tea Tree Oil’s therapeutic properties were highlighted, including its anti-viral function and especially on COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) efficacy.
To access the webinar recording please click the button below.
FARM UPDATES
Our Electric Mower Powered by 100% Renewables
One of our environmental sustainability goals is to transition our farm equipment to using 100% renewable energy.
This goal is driving our team to find ways to eliminate the use of diesel and petrol on the farm, reduce our GHG emissions footprint, and even make life easier for our staff to maintain our farm and equipment.
The implementation of our new electric Zero Radius Mower continues us down our path towards that goal.
In this video you can see Erin using our new Electric Zero Radius Mower.
TRACEABILITY
Australian Eucalyptus – Organic certification achieved!
We are thrilled to report that our organic in conversion Australian Eucalyptus Oil has achieved organic status! The harvest and distillation of this organic crop commences in June with good volumes of certified organic Eucalyptus Oil available from early July.
STRAIGHT FROM THE STILL
If you are looking for pure Eucalyptus Oil, you can’t go past our Australian Organic Eucalyptus Oil. It is certified organic by ACO to USDA NOP and BioCE standards. This oil is 100% pure - never rectified nor fractionated, naturally containing therapeutic 1,8 Cineole (Eucalyptol) at >90%. Read our Application White Papers which include Respiratory Health, Oral Health and Home Care.
Grower Story
The unique story of our Australian Eucalyptus Oil dates back to the 1990’s when a group of forward-thinking wheat farmers in Western Australia identified a sustainable environmental solution to save the ecology of their farmland. The farmers were experiencing salinity issues in the soil of their wheat their crops. They found a solution in planting a native, local Eucalyptus species (Eucalyptus kochii) trees in an intercropping method amongst the rows of wheat. The deep roots of the E. kochii pushed the water table down, rebuffing a prior trend of rising salinity in the soil. Coincidentally, they founded a new Eucalyptus Oil industry in Australia.
Sustainability
These Eucalyptus plantings from the 1990’s are now providing Down Under with a substantial and sustainable supply of Australian Eucalyptus Oil. The soil and local ecosystem are further benefiting from these Eucalyptus trees thanks to the harvesting method utilized known as coppicing. A coppiced harvesting technique means that more trees stay in the ground and reshoot from their lignotuber root structure. Coppicing involves cutting down the tree to just above its root collar, preserving the roots which then shoot new, fresh growth and starting the production cycle over again without soil disturbance and retaining all that sequestered carbon in the soil and root structure. You can read and watch how coppicing works HERE.
If you are interested in talking to us about our Australian Eucalyptus Oil or in receiving a sample, please contact us via the link below.
EMPLOYEE PROFILE
Meet Mira, heading up the Finance Department as our Financial Controller.
1. What is your role at Down Under Enterprises? In my role as Financial Controller, I work across all finance related matters in the company. This includes developing financial strategy, including risk minimization plans, opportunity forecasting, financial reporting and analysis.
2. What did you do before joining the team at Down Under? I have worked in the Marketing Industry and prior to this role I was in the Manufacturing/Import/Export Industry.
3. What led you to want to work in the natural products industry? I really like the ethos of the company, particularly the traceability and sustainability practices across the supply chain. I’m a fan of natural products - we grow our own veggies at home. We grow tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, beans, potatoes, and more. We’ll try to grow whatever we can, and especially if it’s in season.
4. What do you love most about what you do? We have a great team, and everyone gets along really well. We even socialize outside of work. I like the conservation projects that we undertake on our team days. My favorite so far has been planting trees for Koalas at our farm. I’m really happy to be part of a growing company where I can contribute in such a big way to these types of initiatives.
5. What is your favorite way to spend the weekend ? I like walking along the beach in our local area. I enjoy dancing (line dancing, disco, rock) and watching films – everything from sci-fi to period movies, and romantic comedies.
SUSTAINABILITY
NEW Sustainability Video
It has been a landmark year for our Sustainability initiatives, culminating in an EcoVadis Platinum Sustainability rating. 
We invite you to watch our new Sustainability video where we share our vision on sustainability, highlighting the people and the projects that helped get us where we are today.
To learn more about these initiatives or to request a copy of our EcoVadis Scorecard, visit our Sustainability page.
SCIENTIFIC PAPER
Lemon Scented Tea Tree + Eucalyptus for Head Lice Treatment
Head Lice infestation is one of the most common parasitic infestations in humans globally, with children in the age group 3-14 years being most affected. The cost of head louse infestation in the USA has been estimated to be $1 billion annually by the CDC.
Concern over headlice resistance to synthetic treatments and public concern over the safety of neurotoxic pediculicides prompted investigations into natural alternatives. A solution containing Eucalyptus Oil (EO) and Lemon Scented Tea Tree Oil (LP; Leptospermum petersonii) was investigated as an alternative to pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (P/PB mousse) with the results published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology.
Two trials were conducted:
Trial 1
The first trial was conducted as a multicenter, randomized, assessor-blind, parallel-group trial in children that met the enrolment criteria. EO/LP solution applied thrice with 7-day intervals and P/PB mousse applied twice with a 7-day interval were compared for safety and efficacy in head lice treatment.
The results of trial 1 found EO/LP solution to be more than twice as effective in curing head lice infestation as P/PB mousse in per-protocol participants (Trial 1; 83% vs 36%, P < 0.0001).
Trial 2
A second trial was conducted as a single-blind, open trial to assess the efficacy of EO/LP solution following a single application.
Trial 2 results demonstrated the EO/LP solution to be 100% effective as a pediculicide following a single application. Additional in vitro testing found that exposure of lice and eggs to the EO/LP solution resulted in 100% mortality.
