Why this matters to us

Looking after the environment isn't a side project for us - it's built into how we source, farm and operate. Most of our raw ingredients are harvested by hand, whether that's in our own herb garden, on the fields of our Demeter-certified farm at the foot of the Swabian Jura, or through partners around the world. We feel that responsibility runs in two directions: to the land that's shaped our history and to the one we're leaving behind for the future.

Organic and locally grown

Genuine, strictly certified organic farming does real work for the environment - it protects waterways, builds healthier soil and supports biodiversity. Organically farmed fields skip synthetic fertilisers and tend to hold more carbon-rich humus, which means they store more CO₂ and typically need 30–50% less energy to farm. Over 90% of our plant-based raw materials are grown this way and a good number meet the even stricter Demeter standard.

Going organic isn't the whole story, though - where an ingredient comes from matters too. Around 70% of our fresh plants are sourced regionally, which is good for both raw material quality and the environment, given the shorter distances involved. Where a plant doesn't grow in our climate, we follow a simple rule: 'as close as possible, as far as necessary'. Our organic almonds are a good example - rather than sourcing from California, which grows roughly 80% of the world's almonds, we source ours from the much closer fields of Spain.

Making room for biodiversity

Nature runs on interlocking cycles that hold together as a stable system but only if people play their part responsibly. Beyond the biodynamic methods used in our herb garden, we actively support biodiversity across our whole company site. A few examples: ancient, almost-forgotten apple tree varieties planted outside our logistics building and meadow areas mowed just twice a year, giving grasses, herbs and flowers time to properly establish and giving local wildlife somewhere to feed and nest. Ponds, a mix of tree species, dead wood and stone piles all create habitat for toads, dragonflies and a range of bird species.

If you're ever visiting, our biodiversity path is worth the walk - a relaxed, informative route with information stations explaining the different ways we support biodiversity on-site.

Packaging: considered inside and out

Because our cosmetics contain no artificial preservatives, getting the packaging right matters even more - it's what keeps the product genuinely good for as long as it should be. We test carefully to work out which packaging offers the best protection for each specific product, since protecting the product is itself a form of protecting resources.

There's no single best material - tubes, bottles, jars, glass, plastic, aluminium - each comes with its own trade-offs. So for every product, we weigh the same four things: how well it protects the product, how much material it uses, how recyclable it is, and how much recycled content it contains.

Working toward genuine climate neutrality

Our Eckwälden head office has been working toward being climate neutral since 2020. Around 92% of WALA's total energy use currently comes from renewable sources, which avoids an estimated 1,800 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. On its own, that renewable energy use gets us to roughly 75% genuine climate neutrality at the head office - meaning three-quarters of our operational emissions are avoided outright, without relying on offsets. The remaining emissions we can't yet avoid, including things like business travel, are offset through the non-profit organisation atmosfair, currently supporting a biomass plant in India.

We're not treating climate neutrality at Eckwälden as the finish line. The bigger goal is reducing CO₂ emissions across our entire value chain, as close to zero as we can get, as quickly as we reasonably can.

Everything we do has an impact on the planet

- 600 tonnes of nature-based ingredients used each year, in place of synthetic alternatives
- Over 90% of our plant-based raw materials come from organic farming
- 100% recycled aluminium (PIR) used in eligible packaging