Our regenerative beauty approach isn't simply about not doing further harm. It's about radical improvement. We believe brands have the power and responsibility to be a solution for our impact. That success begins with a dynamic and holistic approach to improving the planet.
We love our land. We protect it. We preserve it. We nurture it, so it can flourish indefinitely.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE LAND
At Furtuna Skin, the future of beauty is regenerative. We seek to teach people that regenerative business practices have the potential to result in the absolute highest quality ingredients, the highest performing products, and most fulfilling life experiences.
For us, that began with preserving the biodiversity that is the rich heritage of Italy and our families which we do through innovative sustainable farming and sourcing practices. As we continue to grow, that means that we never stop evolving and find ways to make conscious and sustainable efforts across all areas of our business.
Join us as we continue to grow stronger, together.
LA FURTUNA FARM
In the unspoiled countryside of Sicily sits La Furtuna Farm, a lush, sustainable, biodiverse land that has grown to over 350 hectares (865 acres). Here, it’s not just about organic certifications, labels, or awards (which we’ve earned in spades); it’s about going above and beyond for the people of Italy to ensure the land and its plant life will continue to thrive for generations to come.
The Farm now boasts over 12,000 olive trees, including a cultivar unique to our farm, as well as ancient trees that are 600 to 1,500 years old.
Through our farm, we have brought economic vitality to an area in need of sustained employment. Our workers are a family, their community has grown stronger, and together we are creating a better world.
In the unspoiled countryside of Sicily sits La Furtuna Farm, a lush, sustainable, biodiverse land that has grown to over 865 acres. Here, it’s not just about organic certifications, labels, or awards (which we’ve earned in spades); it’s about going above and beyond for the people of Italy to ensure the land and its plant life will continue to thrive for generations to come.
The Farm now boasts over 12,000 olive trees, including a cultivar unique to our farm, as well as ancient trees that are 600 to 1,500 years old.
Through our farm, we have brought economic vitality to an area in need of sustained employment. Our workers are a family, their community has grown stronger, and together we are creating a better world.
REGENERATIVE FARMING
Our future depends on regenerative practices that go beyond sustainability to actively heal the land we love. We’ve developed an organic, ecologically sensitive farm; a farm that compounds soil, sun, pure spring water, and ancient seeds with the skill, knowledge and love of local farmers to produce the highest quality ingredients imaginable. Every aspect plays a part in our larger goals, to preserve our planet so it can flourish, indefinitely.
HOW REGENERATIVE FARMING WORKS
- Reverses Climate Change
- Sequesters Carbon
- Nurtures Biodiversity
- Feeds The World
- Improves Wellness & Nutrition
- Preserves Traditional Knowledge
- Revitalizes Local Economies
- Restores Grasslands & Yields
- Creates More Potent Ingredients & Higher-Performing Products
Some of our sustainable methods include solar energy, crop diversity, and a natural fertilization system based on bacteria, not chemicals. A lot of work on the farm is done by hand, from foraging to planting which strengthens the plants, and the workforce.
USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC
This means nothing artificial is used in or on our botanicals, creating very low environmental impact. No synthetic pesticides, and no genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). This makes for a healthier land and a healthier you. It's also better for our employees, as they're not exposed to any harsh chemicals.
PLANT COMMUNITIES
Through bio-research, we know plants work as a team, forming synergies and friendships, sharing strategies to protect and strengthen each other. We honor nature’s ecosystem and optimize the potency of nutrients they produce by allowing them to grow wild and harvesting them collectively.
CROP DIVERSIFICATION
We recognize the importance of crop diversification and demand for sustainable farming that respect the natural ecosystem and protects plant biodiversity. Climate change is a major factor of biodiversity loss, we make sure to follow key guidelines for crop diversity to mitigate the effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
SOLAR ENERGY
We proudly implemented a new Solar Energy System - the photovoltaic park 18KW at the end of 2020. This new system will help us to yield a substantial amount of energy to run our medium-sized olive oil mill on the La Furtuna Farm.
EFFORTLESS IRRIGATION
Blessed by its proximity to nearby Monte Barraù, all of our olive trees are naturally irrigated by the mountain’s pure water spring. This water is not only nutrient-rich, but also it is some of the cleanest water in the world.
WILD FORAGING
Harvesting is done by hand with great attention paid to preserving the plant itself and the plants of the community. During a harvest, plants are not damaged and roots are not eradicated, so that these botanicals can continue to live naturally at their highest potency.
ZERO WASTE POLICIES
We utilize every part of our plants so that no nutritious active part of the olive goes to waste. From the olive tree alone, we use the oil to make our ultra-nourishing base, the leaves to make antioxidant-rich olive leaf water, the pits to make a naturally exfoliating powder.
SOIL PRESERVATION
The land and the surrounding hundred miles is 100% free of pesticides. We reuse the processing waste from the mill as a fertilizer. Our ground olives are used as a soil conditioner and is a a key part of the agronomic utilization of vegetation water and pomace. The land has not been touched for more than 400 years, so the plants that grow are exceptionally rich in nutrition.
CONSERVATION
Our work enables us to preserve Sicily’s rich biodiversity. A loss in the biodiversity of an ecosystem has widespread consequences that reach well beyond that habitat. Protecting this diversity is a part of our foundation.
MONTI SICANI BIOLOGICAL PRESERVE
Seventy percent of La Furtuna Farm falls within the Monti Sicani Biological Preserve, a strictly protected haven for rare, threatened, and valuable species. It is a resting and breeding place for many different plants, birds, and other wildlife. Under the Natura 2000 Network, this expansive bio preserve is designed to protect Sicily’s biological history, ensuring the survival of its uniquely diverse flora and fauna. It conserves the genetic diversity of over 500 flora and 50 wild medicinal herbs that flourish in our fields.
AWARD-WINNING BOTANIST & HERBARIUM
Under the watchful eye of Master Botanist and Agronomist, Dr. Pasquale “Mimmo” Marino, La Furtuna Farm has established an herbarium on the Estate to conserve genetic diversity of local wild species and ancient heirloom varietals. In 2014, Dr. Pasquele, began to document color, form, and DNA heritage. In the herbarium, plant specimens are carefully dried, mounted on sheets, and categorized for scientific study. Heirloom seeds are saved and archived to pass on to future generations. Vulnerable species such as the rare Helichrysum rupestre are maintained to preserve Sicily’s genetic diversity. Through other conservation techniques, previously endangered plant species such as the Biancolilla Centinara olive tree (“ancient white lilac”) have been revitalized and can be found nowhere else on Earth outside of La Furtuna Farm.
Most recently, Dr. Pasquale has been working on The Widespread Botanical Garden project, which was presented in 2017 at the 112th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society in Rome.
EXCAVATIONS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS
After discovering a Bronze Age village on the property, we’ve undertaken thorough archaeological research in partnership with experts from several universities across Europe.
La Furtuna Farm sits on thousands of years of history, shaped by a fusion of cultures, from Phoenicians and Greeks to Spaniards and Romans. World-renowned archeologists from Sicily and Rome have led excavations on the farm, unearthing the oldest human remains known to Sicily as well as artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age (2000 BC), if not earlier. Several structures were also found on the property that closely resemble ancient Iberian architecture.
We’re planning additional digs in the hopes of discovering even older remains so that we can study and preserve Sicily’s ancient history. From these hidden treasures, we look to reconstruct the pieces of the region’s past and understand more about where ancient Sicilians originated.
CERTIFICATIONS
We believe it’s our job to provide you with third-party verification to show that we’ve taken the steps needed to our nontoxic and eco-friendly practices. This list will continue to grow with us.
1% FOR THE PLANET
1% of profits will be donated to support non-profit organizations working to improve the wellbeing of the people and the planet. In keeping with our belief to affect change locally and worldwide, we will be donating to organizations that directly serve the Sicilian people and Italian land as well as those with a global focus:
For the People – Slow Food Monti Sicani & Global Fund for Women
For the Planet – Center for Biological Diversity & Istituto Oikos
EWG VERIFIED™
Recognizes products that meet EWG's strictest standards for your health. This means none of EWG's chemicals of concern. This means full transparency.
ECO CERT ORGANIC CERTIFIED
To ensure an environmentally friendly cosmetic, ECOCERT evaluates the raw materials used in our formulas to ensure ingredients are derived from renewable resources, manufactured by environmentally friendly processes, and are free from GMO and synthetics. ECOCERT calculates both the natural and the organic content in our formulas; and evaluates our packaging to ensure it meets their biodegradable or recyclable criteria. ECOCERT is globally recognized as the leader in natural and organic cosmetic certification, and was the first to develop standards for natural and organic cosmetics.
USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
USDA organic products have strict production and labeling requirements. Organic products must be produced without excluded methods, (e.g., genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge). Produced using allowed substances. View the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). Overseen by a USDA National Organic Program-authorized certifying agent, following all USDA organic regulations.
LEAPING BUNNY
We are proudly Peta and Leaping Bunny verified. 100% FREE FROM: Gmo, toxins, synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, artificial colors.
PETA
We are proudly Peta and Leaping Bunny verified. 100% FREE FROM: Gmo, toxins, synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, artificial colors.
THE GOOD FACE PROJECT
Verified by The Good Face Project’s comprehensive ingredient ontology that analyzes product labels and screens every ingredient for toxicity levels.
COMMUNITY AND IMPACT
We’ve voluntarily taken steps to ensure that we give back to the people of the land we love so much. For us, this started in Italy but continues to expand to urban food insecurity, human rights, and racial injustice around the world.
DIGNIFIED, SUSTAINABLE WORK
Sicily faces challenging economic hardship as one of the poorest states with the highest unemployment rate in Italy, inspiring our founder’s devout philanthropy to create an opportunistic and sustainable organic farm to give back to Sicily’s land and people through thoughtful job creation. La Furtuna Farm has become one of the largest private employers in the area through sustainable employment for direct employees and dependable income for contracted farmers who work on the organic farm.
COMMUNITY GIVEBACK
In addition to job creation and training, we strive to give back to the community by finding more ways to directly impact the region where our land comes to life. From excess food donation to local scholarships, we will never stop supporting the Sicilian community. La Furtuna Farm has become one of the largest private employers in the area through sustainable employment for direct employees and dependable income for contracted farmers who work on the organic farm.
INSPIRING ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT
PACKAGING & CARBON OFFSETTING
Our standards are always evolving and that goes for our product offsetting efforts as well. We are always introducing new ways to make our products safe and sustainable for our bodies and for the planet.
OFFSETTING CARBON EMISSIONS
We’ve introduced a new way to offset the carbon footprint of every order. In an effort to neutralize our carbon impact, you now have the option to measure, track, and mitigate the carbon emissions of your order with the click of a button. See how your order is associated to specific offset projects and learn how this effort creates meaningful change.
UPDATED PACKAGING
You’ll start to notice that we’re making some changes to your deliveries. Now, our boxes are more earth-friendly switching to more minimal packaging when we ship you your products. We’ve made the conscious decision to switch to sustainable honeycomb paper padding instead of tissue paper or bubble wrap.
GLASS BOTTLES
We strive to serve eco-friendly packaging which is why your favorite products come in glass bottles. This packaging protects the planet and the potency of the formula.
As we grow, we’re so grateful for your support in our effort to prove that our future is rooted in protecting our planet. For us, this is just the start and we’re committed to increasing our efforts to offset our growth. Operating responsibly requires us to take the long road, to take more time, and to invest greater in better resources. We are forever committed to growing consciously and finding ways to make important change through our work. We hope to demonstrate that beauty businesses can be successful through honesty and transparency from sourcing ingredients to product performance to company policies.