Our Partnership
We ’ re always evolving in our mission to protect and honour the Earth . Though we aren ’ t perfect yet , it ’ s our goal to continue changing in ways that benefit the planet . We ’ re not just worried about the pursuit of purity — we ’ re concerned about our world and what we ’ ll leave for our children . As we partner together to live more conscious , purposeful lives that protect the world around us , we can have peace of mind that our children and their children will enjoy this beautiful planet for many years to come .
More Than Essential Oils
Part of being a sustainable essential oil company is taking great care when harvesting plants . Over-harvesting is a serious problem in our industry and fragile ecosystems can be disrupted by irresponsible sourcing practices . Our commitment to the planet includes being stewards of these precious natural resources . If we can ’ t source an oil sustainably , we don ’ t source it at all .
Here are just a few ways that we ’ re helping the planet in areas where we source essential oils :
In 2021 we planted more than 135,000 native trees in Hawaii , where our Hawaiian Sandalwood essential oil is sourced . This planting , along with the more than 100,000 native trees planted in 2020 , is among some of the largest reforestation efforts ever in the history of Hawaii .
Arborvitae essential oil is sourced by extracting it from the sawdust of a sustainable forestry programme in British Columbia . Once the essential oil is extracted , the sawdust is returned and used by paper mills to produce pulp .
Black spruce trees are mainly harvested for the timber , pulp and paper industries . When a tree is harvested , the trunk is quickly stripped of its branches and needles . Once the timber has been harvested and hauled away , a dōTERRA key partner goes in to gather all the branches and needles left behind . These leftover materials are then steam-distilled for powerful and beautiful Black Spruce essential oil .
An added environmental impact bonus is that after the black spruce remnants have been distilled , the branches and needles are taken to a local powerplant , where they ’ re burned to produce energy . From this process they also produce steam , which then powers the distillation process again . This creates a closed-loop system for maximum environmental sustainability and responsibility .
dōTERRA understands the need for sustainable and responsible sourcing of Boswellia species resins for Frankincense essential oil . Along with key partners , we work closely with harvesting communities and resin-sorting warehouses for continuously improved traceability and transparency of these supply chains .
dōTERRA developed some of the first Boswellia species nurseries in harvesting areas , which will critically help ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the Boswellia species .
In New Zealand dōTERRA collects and processes the byproduct needles and branches from sustainable plantation harvests in the Queenstown area , as well as young preconing Douglas Fir trees to prevent uncontrolled spread , producing the world ’ s finest Douglas Fir essential oil . The production of essential oil from young “ wilding ” trees in preconing stages , as well as the plantations being harvested , helps prevent further spread of new trees , while also providing a sustainable outlet for these invasive trees to be removed . The removal of these “ wilding ” trees supports the ecosystem through the regeneration of native species .