Our balms are vegetarian and do contain beeswax produced by bees. We only use certified organic beeswax which means the bees are looked after under strict animal welfare regulations as laid out by the Soil Association. Here’s a link to their farming standards. Page 183 onwards shows the regulations for bee keeping. Beekeepers also have to adhere to all the other organic farming/livestock standards.
Did you know, some beekeepers will clip one of the wings of the queen bee so she can’t fly very far? They do this is to stop the colony from swarming and leaving the hive. A swarm will stay close to the hive with the queen. Certified organic beekeepers are not allowed to do this. Organic beekeepers are also not allowed to destroy bees in the combs to harvest bee products, or extract honey from combs that contain brood. It makes me so sad to think that non-organic beekeepers would likely do this.
Bee numbers are falling across the globe. A new report has concluded that a widespread crash in pollinators across the UK is due to farming intensification and use of pesticides as well as climate impacts.
If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.”
Organic farmers are limited in the fertilisers and pesticides they can use, only being allowed to use those that limit the danger to wildlife. Organic bees are only allowed to be kept on organic and wild agriculture with a 3km radius. Every year, farmers and beekeepers will have a physical inspection from the Soil Association to ensure the strict standards are met.
I understand the concern people have around using bees. I’ve been vegetarian for over 30 years and went vegan for over a year in 2006. I’ve chosen to use beeswax because I think it’s important that bees are protected… since humanity seems to value what we can use, I see this as an opportunity to help protect and promote bees… but like you I believe they must be cared for correctly. That’s why I’ve chosen to certify Mumanu Balms as organic with the Soil Association.
