Wilding Pines
dōTERRA Solution
New Zealand
Commitment to Environmental Responsibility
The purposes behind the dōTERRA ® Co-Impact Sourcing™ initiative are varied. From ensuring the highest quality essential oil to facilitating humanitarian efforts with communities where our oils are sourced, each“ co-impact sourced” oil presents a unique opportunity to have an impact on the world. In the case of Douglas Fir, one of the most unique benefits is the positive impact the sourcing of this oil has on New Zealand’ s environment.
“ With this Douglas Fir essential oil,” says Tim Valentiner, Director of Strategic Sourcing,“ we have been able to create with our partners a truly unique essential oil that provides tremendously positive environmental impacts for New Zealand’ s biodiverse landscape, highlighting the environmental responsibility objectives of Co-Impact Sourcing.”
Wilding Pines
Douglas Fir( Pseudotsuga menziesii) is an evergreen conifer species native to western North America that has been used primarily in the lumber industry. However, in New Zealand, Douglas Fir has been categorized by the government as an invasive species. It was planted originally for the lumber industry, and from there it bred very rapidly and uncontrollably into areas where it wasn’ t intended to grow. The trees grow 25 times faster in New Zealand than in North America, and the dense root systems push out all or many of the native species of plants, making it nearly impossible for anything else to grow. Douglas Fir trees, which are known as“ wilding conifers” in New Zealand, are also self-seeding. This means that they produce seeds that fall to the ground and replant themselves in that location. These seeds germinate then begin to sprout and grow at the start of the growing season. By the end of the season, new seeds are produced and begin the cycle over again. This, coupled with the rate of growth in New Zealand, is the cause behind the“ wilding conifer” problem with Douglas Fir.
dōTERRA Solution
To help alleviate the environmental impacts of this wilding problem, dōTERRA established an exclusive sourcing partnership with a small-scale company. This company works through government and other programs for the harvesting of these invasive Douglas Fir trees for raw materials, and then distills them into an invigorating and truly unique essential oil. Choosing to source Douglas Fir oil from New Zealand provides dōTERRA with an opportunity to participate in a project that is very socially innovative and
8 / WINTER 2017 LIVING MAGAZINE