We see it as our responsibility to develop fair, sustainable and long-lasting relationships with the local communities involved in sourcing and processing shea.

This June, we donated 100 stoves to women groups in Burkina Faso in collaboration with Nafa Naana, a local social enterprise that produces the artisanal stoves locally. Nafa Naana will also train these women on how to use the stoves.

Overall, the initiative is meant to have a positive impact on the environment. The artisanal stoves will improve fuel efficiency as result of the improved insulation, heat transfer and airflow. The potential fuel savings of these stoves are expected to be more than 40% for tasks such as water boiling and cooking compared to the more traditional three-stone-fire method. They also use around 40% less wood. The stoves will be used to parboil the shea nuts and can also be used for cooking. An important benefit for the women is that they will spend less time on cooking and collecting wood.