Modern-day capitalism is the main enemy of sustainability. The economic neoliberalism we currently experience is savage and planet-destroying. It's probably considered the last step of capitalism, and it only thinks about the profits of large multinationals. This is one of the reasons we founded Såper in 2012: to help achieve a more sustainable world by producing natural and organic cosmetics .
Our birth was not a fad, but rather a profound philosophy of life that we acquired from a young age.
We decided to start with Såper, so we could maintain our coherent respect for nature , and at the same time contribute with our work, a brand of authentic ecological cosmetics , with deep environmental values, guiding all our decisions.
In short, a way of fulfilling ourselves in life.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS AND COVID-19
The current pandemic is caused by the human impact on ecosystems, which has generated an environmental crisis, which is not new. We have been experiencing this crisis for years, and one of the results is the Coronavirus-Covid-19 pandemic. Let's see why:
The use of land for crops or industry causes deforestation, affecting the transition zones between wild animals and humans. When these areas disappear, it's easier for these diseases to spread to humans. According to the UN , a new infectious disease emerges in humans every four months.
Biodiversity maintains ecosystems and thus reduces the chances of contracting infectious diseases of animal origin.
Effects of Neoliberalism
We live with a system that has failed at every level.
- Economically, all countries must increase their GDP each year, which means ever-increasing consumption of natural resources.
- Environmentally: The consumption of non-renewable resources is destroying many goods, minerals, forests, animals, etc., and their transportation around the world generates emissions that affect climate change.
- Socially, inequality and poverty: the current system doesn't offer equal opportunities to all citizens. The family or geographic area where you were born has a decisive influence on your chances of personal fulfillment, both in the north and the south.
- Health: Pandemics like the current one, but also dozens of diseases that ravage countries in the South every year.
We believe in a new economic system based on deep environmentalism . 
Let's take a closer look at the environmental deterioration that the current capitalist system is producing.
What are the environmental effects of neoliberalism?
Human activities, as they are currently carried out within this voracious capitalist system, generate several problems:
- Climate change: Global warming, due to greenhouse gas emissions, causes changes in temperature and humidity in many areas, affecting the survival of microbes and potentially facilitating their persistence and transmission.
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Droughts: There is a major shortage of water worldwide, and it is getting worse every year.
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Deforestation. Created by logging and burning forests to:
- Extensive agriculture: large plantations such as soybeans and palm oil, managed by unscrupulous multinationals.
- Industrial Livestock Farming: Too much water and large areas of land are needed to grow the grain that will feed the livestock.
- Globalization and Mobility: The transportation of people and goods between countries consumes a large amount of energy, emitting greenhouse gases that affect the climate and our quality of life due to pollution. Oranges from California, South Africa, or Turkey? Yogurts from Germany? Natural cosmetics from France, Korea, or Germany? Electronics, clothing, and thousands of other products from China? It doesn't make sense when we have similar, higher-quality products in Spain. This long-distance transportation is one of the main factors of carbon dioxide (CO₂) pollution worldwide, as well as gases that pollute the atmosphere, worsening air quality.
Atmospheric, chemical and nuclear pollution causes most of the diseases that humanity suffers from, including cancer, due to substances that are endocrine disruptors .
What are we doing at Saper to improve sustainability?
- We use local, natural, and organic ingredients: our natural cosmetics, as you know, are vegan and organic, so they use only plant-based ingredients, natural ingredients that are also organic, which promotes biodiversity. No pesticides are used to obtain organic ingredients, thus avoiding environmental pollution and improving the lives of animal species. Furthermore, whenever possible, we source raw materials from Spanish suppliers to avoid transporting them.
- Water Saving: Since water is a scarce resource, at Saper we don't use water in our emulsions; we've replaced it with organic aloe vera juice.
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We avoid plastics: we don't use plastic packaging. Our packaging is made of violet glass , which has the highest recycling rate in the world and helps us preserve our product, ensuring its properties last much longer.
- We don't use packaging, thus saving raw materials: we don't use boxes for any of our products, thus avoiding unnecessary packaging. The INCI and all legal information are included on each label. We also promote the use of recycled materials, as all our shipments are made in cardboard boxes, and we protect the glass with 3D paper, both recycled, avoiding plastic bubble wrap.
- We support the national economy and create jobs: as a Spanish company, we pay all our taxes in Spain.
What can you do to improve sustainability?
The solution to many of today's problems is simple: consume organic products from Spanish companies, produced in your area, community, or country. This simple fact has two positive aspects:
- You will avoid the consequences we have seen, such as pollution, inequality, consumption of non-renewable resources, some diseases, environmental damage, etc.
- You'll help improve the national economy , since companies like ours, which manufacture and sell natural cosmetics in Spain, contribute to employment and support the public coffers with our taxes. Only in this way can quality public services be maintained.
If you don't yet use natural cosmetics, including organic ones, but you share our philosophy, you can take care of yourself and the planet by helping to reduce pollution and biodiversity loss, thereby contributing your part to society as a whole. To do this, you can choose your allies by visiting our natural cosmetics store .
