|
DAILY NEWS ONLINE |
|
|
|
OTHER EDITIONS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER LINKS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
Guyayapi makes cosmetics from local plants for European markets
|
|
|
Shelley Abeyagoonesekera, purchase and logistics manager Guyayapi Lanka Ltd said, local kithul and ginger are some of the main raw materials they use to produce cosmetics, which has a huge market in France and Europe.
The company based in France has obtained an international license to manufacture these products. "All the manufacturing processes are monitored by Guayapi tropical. They are free of pesticides and chemical fertilizer, as well as completely environmentally friendly and respectful of the local inhabitants," he said.
He said that their main aim is to make use of plants, which are basically not made use by humans, such as wild ginger, a tree grown in the wild. "A French cosmetic research engineer who was in Sri Lanka has found that the ginger root (yam) has the best substances to manufacture cosmetics," he said.
The company is now purchasing wild ginger yam from villages and extracts its juice and export to France to manufacture cosmetic related products. Before the company was set up ginger yam was discarded and today they are purchasing from the villager at Rs. 20 per kilo". The Ginger juice is then transformed into cosmetics, lotions and tonic and sold in Europe for prices ranging from Euro 19 upwards. "There is a growing trend among Europeans to purchase products close to nature and this is an ideal product for them," he said.
|
|
In addition Kitul sap, a natural sweetening substance with a slightly caramelised taste is also exported in bottle form. This is very popular in Europe and is being used as an alternative to jam. Dynachocos, energising chocolate candy and Guayagum, a chewing gum with Guarana and Acerola with fresh natural lime taste too is catching up in the European market. Honey and jams made out of Jackfruit and Guava from Sri Lanka are two of their other products.
The main aim of the company was to select plants for their original qualities and purity respecting the local ecological balance and is committed to promote traditional methods and to increase environmental sustainability in Sri Lanka.
In addition they also use herbs and natural products from Amazonia in their production process in France. He said that they are now looking at marketing some of their cosmetics in Sri Lanka.
"Today we have increased our export product portfolio and the items include Organic Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Kithul Treacle, Organic Coffee, Organic Cashew Nut, Nutmeg, Cumin, Organic Cinnamon, Coffee Bean, Recycled Papers, Flavoured Tea, Flavoured Ginger, Coconut Shell, Batik Wood Carvings," he said.
University students in France too are very keen on these products and many researchers are staying in the hotel to obtain first hand information on the process.
Guayapi Lanka also promotes eco tourism and has a 14-room hotel, Eco Lanka Villa, alongside their factory in the nature reserve, Analog Forest. Part of the income from the hotel project is dedicated to the village's cultural and social organisation for development.
More details could be obtained from their website at, www.ecolanka.com
|
|
