How we gather the ingredients. Our Commitment:
We are committed to bringing our customers the highest quality active botanical formulations on earth. To achieve this we go trough a rigorous process of research, testing, and the development of very personal relationships with land keepers taking place over time that is measured in years. :
Our ingredients originate from native plants growing in remote regions of Italy and beyond. Harvested by family farmers, these plants sustain local communities and ecosystems. Cared for in small eco-friendly lots where pesticides or chemical fertilizers are never used (ergo organic), these plants ensure the highest quality yield, making it an exemplary situation for everybody involved in the process. From the single family farmer who gets the fair market price for their ingredients, to the manufacturer that benefits staying socially involved and environmentally responsible, to the end user that enjoys a quality product with no comparison. Everybody supports each other here. :
Here is an example on how we gather our ingredients and remain socially involved at the same time. The Lavender Essential Oil used in the Zona formulations is true wild Lavandula Angustifolia, a very special type. Because of the particular kind but also the location where it is grown at elevations over 5000 ft in the Italian Alps, this plant yields the best Lavender essential oil in the world. Ingredients such as these make the Zona products very special but also make for a better environment. :
Lavender fields were once common in these regions and lavender still grows wild in some places because native to these areas. Even the Ancient Romans harvested lavender here. They used it so often for bathing that the Latin word lavare (to bathe, to wash) derives from lavender or lavandula. :
Now lavender fields are very rare here because many people in the past had given up this practice for other more lucrative crops such as flowers. These practices required a lot more labor and water, up to a thousand times more. It also made use of pesticides and fertilizers which created a burden for the environment. The cultivation of flowers only boomed about 20-30 years in this area and lost to northern Europe’s competition. As a result many family-owned businesses had to close which resulted in even more damage for the land since much of it laid barren. Just a handful of families kept the tradition of growing Lavender. :
It is one of many Zona’s scopes and Vision to continue supporting these few families and encourage the cultivation of Lavender and other native plants in other areas helping with the indigenous and sustainable lifestyle but also preserving tradition, culture, knowledge and history. :
This is a model of sustainability that we like to continue to expand as we move into the future, enjoying the relationships that we built over time and sharing the sense of satisfaction that one achieves in being passionate about the world we live in. Zona is about giving the best while sustaining what’s supporting us. :
Pietro Manca
