Our Work with United Plant Savers

The ability to share information through the internet as well as innovative research in the field of natural medicine and health products has led to a greater demand for skin care that is composed of organic ingredients. Educated consumers no longer want products that go in or on their bodies to include sulfates, dyes, manufactured fragrances, or other destructive components.

Along with this increased interest in organic and botanical based skin care, which is a positive development, has come the need for more intense cultivation of the plants that make such products possible. As a result, increased usage of herbal products across the globe, as well as habitat destruction due to harvesting of the herbs or unrelated man-made development, is causing a shortage of some important plant resources.

This problematic side effect is an issue that must be addressed, both for the sustainability of many plant species and so that consumers can continue to receive these beneficial products. One important organization that is working to protect the plant life that is essential to natural skin care products is United Plant Savers.

15 years ago United Plant Savers adopted the mission to protect at-risk native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitats. United Plant Savers offers outreach in the form of research, education, and protection efforts that all serve the purpose of providing an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants.

United Plant Savers works to educate consumers in a variety of different ways. One of the most important contributions that UpS has made is an extensive analysis of wild medicinal plants and their current use. The research has resulted in a list of plants that are considered to be most at-risk and a secondary list that contains plants which should be watched for possible problems. These lists were created using empirical reports and scientific studies, and this work continues today.

UpS has developed an At-Risk Assessment Tool, available on their website, through which people can enter detailed information about a particular herb species and have the plant assessed for its current risk of extinction. This ongoing research ensures that people who want to join in the effort to protect medicinal herbs are given the most current information.

In addition to the work that UpS does to monitor the various wild plants and record their level of security in the environment, the organization also engages in extensive outreach through several venues. UpS provides grants to communities that are committed to caring for the land on which wild plants are growing and to educating others about the importance of this preservation. They have land consultants who will visit residential or commercial property and help the owners restore the natural ecosystem that previously existed or transform the land into a new approach towards sustaining wildlife. Another way that UpS influences communities is through the workshops they offer across the country to teach people about how to plant with the future in mind. And, for those who are already making contributions towards the efforts of stewardship, UpS presents an annual Medicinal Plant Conservation Award.

One of the missions of Alchemilla is to promote education among our clients concerning the plants that we use in our line of organic and natural skin care products. Following the example set by United Plant Savers, we take seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of the earth. We truly value the herbs and other plant life that we believe offer the best way to care for your skin. Our customers should be able to buy our products not only with an appreciation for the positive effects on their appearance, but also with an understanding of why protecting the herbs we use is so important to our future.

Alchemilla has partnered to support the work of United Plant Savers in a couple of ways. First, we are proud corporate members of the organization. This means that we not only provide financial support to United Plant Savers, which is important, but that we are active participants in the programs and publicity efforts of the group. We also pledge to donate one dollar from every purchase of our Skin Care Trial Kit to the work of United Plant Savers. This provides a way for our new clients to sample our products before determining if our approach towards skin care works for them while supporting a wonderful cause.

When examining the ingredients that Alchemilla Ultra-Pure Skincare uses in the development of its organic products, clients may notice that we do incorporate a few plants that are listed as at-risk species. Please know that we do not use these plants in any way that is detrimental to their survival. The Echinacea that is used in our formulations is grown by us on our own farm in Oregon. We are also beginning cultivation of the Eyebright plant on our land. We discontinued our use of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), which is at-risk, and switched to Siberian ginseng species (Eleutherococcus senticosus), which has very similar activity to the former but is from a different plant family and more sustainable. We do not harvest any at-risk or to-watch species from the wild nor do we ask suppliers to do so. Any new herbs that we decide to use and that are currently considered to be endangered to any degree will be grown by Alchemilla on our farm.

As a company that places high importance on an organic and natural approach to health and beauty, we at Alchemilla are encouraged by the ever-growing market for products created from the amazing plant life that surrounds us. Every day, more people are learning about the medicinal and clinical benefits of herbs. With this wonderful awareness and popularity comes the danger that demand will outpace the cultivation of many species. In the rush to grow and consume plants, no matter how honorable the intention, we run the danger of losing these plants altogether. We are grateful for the efforts of United Plant Savers to educate the public about the fragile ecosystem that we all share. The work of United Plant Savers remind all of us to take proactive steps to protect the plants whose medicinal benefits we have only begun to understand.