The perfume ingredient boosting biodiversity in Brazil
It can sweeten your tea and even power your car; sugarcane is a versatile plant that’s turned into a variety of useful everyday items. We source our organic ethanol, made from fermented sugarcane, from a producer powered by renewable energy and pioneering new farming methods to boost biodiversity in Brazil.
A perennial grass cultivated for its sweet juice, a dozen countries around the world dedicate 25 percent or more of all agricultural land to the production of sugarcane. This natural ingredient is a pretty big deal, but the environmental impact of traditional sugarcane farming methods can be far from sweet.
An essential but tricky ingredient
Fueling deforestation in sensitive ecosystems, Brazil’s Atlantic Forest has been reduced to seven percent of its original size due to sugarcane and other farming. A thirsty crop, it takes a whopping nine gallons of water to produce just one teaspoon of refined cane sugar. But it’s not all bad news; many carbon-conscious farmers are rethinking how they can grow this valuable crop.
When fermented, sugarcane transforms into ethanol, a type of alcohol. Aside from going on to become hangover-inducing tipples, it’s also commonly used in perfumery. Why? Because ethanol helps a blend of essential oils and perfume ingredients merge, enhancing the longevity of the final fragrance. It is not an alcohol you can consume, just so you know. For tax reasons, it is made unsuitable for human consumption, and this is why it is labeled ‘denatured alcohol.’
Anya Dale from the Lush buying team says: “Ethanol is a crucial ingredient in Lush perfumes, so we ensure it meets the highest standards. Lush perfumers see fragrance as an art form, a way to express themselves, tell powerful stories, and evoke emotional responses. Using subpar ethanol isn’t an option.”
Shaking up the sugarcane
Some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet have been cleared for sugarcane farming, leading to habitat loss, soil degradation, and pollution, so finding a supplier who suits the Lush buying team’s strict ethical buying policy was important. That’s when the team came across a supplier shaking up the sugarcane industry for the better.
Anya says: “Our supplier of organic denatured alcohol is committed to positive change, increasing biodiversity in their sugarcane fields, implementing waste-free circular production, and caring for their impact on a wider community. They strive to benefit both people and the planet.”
Transparent in their practices, this Fair For Life organic supplier from Brazil doesn't use pesticides and has a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional sugarcane farming. Moreover, they’ve invested in pioneering technology to steer farmers away from damaging slash methods.
Working towards becoming zero waste, sugarcane bagasse (the dry, pulpy, fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane) is harvested from juice extraction and used to power the process. Whatever they don’t use goes straight into the grid, creating enough electricity for 600,000 inhabitants.
A happy habitat
The most exciting part? They’re helping to bring back some of the animals in the area that are on the brink of extinction. Recovering the land and replanting around 2.6 million trees, the ground only requires tillage every seven years or more, and the sugarcane harvest happens only once a year. This gives native animals a chance to use the plantations as an effective habitat without disruption.
Keeping the soil healthy is a priority, and growing other crops and letting grass spread freely boosts soil fertility and resilience and attracts insects and other animals. The improved soil quality has even led to the emergence of two new waterways in the area. Prioritizing the animals in the region, forest corridors have also been built to allow wildlife to move safely through the area.
Ethanol that gives back
A great example of humans and animals living alongside one another, after decades of organic farming and sustainable methods, unusual animals were spotted in the fields. Partnering with a local researcher to carry out a biodiversity assessment, the survey showed over 340 different species of higher vertebrates were present in the sugarcane plantation, 49 of which were endangered to some degree. Animals such as pumas, aplomado falcons, and black jacobins were spotted—an exciting result for the sugarcane plantation.
Livia Froes is part of the Lush buying team as the Latin America HUB Coordinator and has witnessed the positive change this supplier made. She says: “I’ve been following their work for over a decade now, and they’ve gone through a great and innovative journey. Their work based on sustainable practices and environmental preservation is a breaking point for outdated practices in the industry, and I hope it can be an example for other companies.”
Livia adds, “It’s such a joy to be able to support Lush to work with a supplier that is supporting the regeneration of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most devastated biomes in South America and where I’ve lived my whole life.”
These revolutionary sustainable methods have resulted in a sugarcane plantation that’s 23 times more biodiverse than conventional sugarcane fields in the region—a promising start for the industry.
Called ‘Organic Alcohol Denat.’ on our labels, this ingredient can be found across our perfume range. Find more inspiring supplier stories in this collection of products that have a great impact.
This article was last updated in October 2024
Homepage -