Organic coconut oil
How is it made?
The coconut flesh (the white part) is washed and grated and then one of two extraction methods is used to obtain the oil:
- Wet milling: the fresh coconut is mixed with water to make coconut milk. The oils are then extracted either by centrifuging (spinning it very fast) or by fermenting (allowing it to sit until the oils separate).
- Cold pressing: the coconut is dried and then pressed using a mechanical method
The coconut oil I use is then treated with steam to remove the coconut odours and flavours.
Is it sustainable?
Coconut oil has some pros and cons when it comes to sustainability:
Pros:
- Coconut plantations are efficient as they can be part of a zero waste model. Nearly all parts of the coconut palm can be used: the flesh for oil and food, the water for drinks, the husk for coir fiber, and the shell for charcoal/fuel.
- Coconut palms are water efficient and need little or no irrigation.
- Coconut palms can thrive as part of an agroforestry system (a farming system that incorporates several crops in a forest type ecosystem).
Cons:
- Coconut palms are associated with a very high level of biodiversity loss due to high levels of land use change on the islands and coastal areas in which they are planted.
- Coconut is only produced is tropical regions making the emissions from transportation to Europe very high
How to tip the balance?
When selecting coconut oil, the best we can do is to select coconut oil which is rainforest alliance, organic and fairtrade certified. This ensures we are (as much as possible) supporting a sustainable coconut oil production.
My organic coconut oil comes from Alnatura.
Is it good for the skin?
Coconut oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and it is a fantastic moisturiser as it helps the skin to reduce water loss. It helps with wound healing and collagen production (collagen is what gives your skin its elasticity). However coconut oil is comedogenic, meaning that it can clog pores so it should only be used moderately on the face, particularly if you have acne-prone or oily skin.
Which products contain coconut oil?
At Kayan Naturkosmetik you will find coconut oil in:
This image was produced using AI.
