By: John Maseri, Commercial
Director
Caribbean Eco
Soaps is
a privately-owned
soap base and glycerine manufacturer based in Las Americas Free Trade
Zone
complex located in Santa Marta, Colombia. It is the first, and only, Colombian manufacturer of
soap
base “noodles” produced from organic and/or sustainable (RSPO-IP) palm
oil. Both
plants at Caribbean Eco Soaps are constructed with Mazzoni LB
technology.
The palm oil
is produced from independent smallholders
associated in five co-ops and three associations located in the
Magdalena region
of Colombia. All smallholders fully own their land and are organized
into
cooperatives to guarantee a fair income; they are RSPO-certified, and
some of
them are even organic certified. More than 400 associates account for 2,000
community members.
The palm oil
is extracted and processed as RSPO-SCC
and fully segregated sites located just a short distance from the soap
plant. This
structure is 100% vertically integrated and traceable. We
offer Identity Preserved (IP) soap base, or any other downgrade
available: Segregation & Mass Balance.
The
supply chain
is fully traceable; smallholders harvest the palm fruit bunches and
deliver them
to a centralized collection facility owned and operated by DAABON. There
is a
full traceability system in place. Crude palm oil is then extracted from
the
fruit bunches at the extraction plant and then refined at the refinery.
The
refined oil goes through a saponification process at soap plant. The
finished
products: organic opaque, natural
RSPO opaque, and natural opaque soap bases are then
packed in 900kg polyethylene big bags or in 25kg polyethylene sacks
which are then
stored at our warehouse to be shipped worldwide.
Agricultural
sustainability
is a crucial factor in farming efficient and rational water usage
program, soil
preservation practices, areas of biodiversity enhancement and shelter,
nutrient
cycling using compost, integrated pest control management with native
biological benefits are all taken into consideration.
Additionally, we strive to create and
increase value providing competitive returns, meeting customers’ needs,
generating prosperity and contributing to overall economic development.
Thanks
to the
COVID-19 pandemic, sales increased in 2021 at a national and
international
level and our U.K. partner, Soapworks, tripled sales.
Organic
/ RSPO-SG / Natural Glycerin USP:
We
obtain the organic
and/or RSPO-SG glycerin through the saponification process of the
organic soap
base and/or RSPO-SG soap bases. All of the organic and/or RSPO-SG
glycerin is
exported to Europe and the United States of America.The natural glycerin
is
obtained by refining the crude glycerol which is a by-product of
Daabon’s Bio
Diesel plant.
We
are proud to share
that our domestic sales currently exceed over 1,000MT per month. Due to
our
high quality and service our distinguished list of customers includes
Colgate-Palmolive,
Johnson & Johnson, AVON, etc.
Spot crude and refined glycerin pricing offered
out of Brazil increased in late 2021, but sellers continue to have
difficulty
finding space on vessels, and exports have slowed. Spot prices are
moving
higher quickly. Brazilian sellers say that there will be less glycerin
supply
available in November and December since the government lowered the
blend rate
from B13 to B10 for the last biodiesel auction of the year.
Shipping delays and lack of available
space out of Brazilian ports remain a major issue and has slowed
business. Some
sellers who normally sell into export markets are preferring to sell
volume
into the domestic market. Colombian
glycerin producers have profited from the lack of imported glycerin,
boosting
sales up to record-high volumes.
CUSTOM-MADE
SOAP BARS:
Sales
of toilet
soap bars began in May 2021, and as a result of the pandemic the company
has had
the opportunity to serve potential supermarkets chains such as Jeronimo
Martins
(ARA) and Olimpica S.A. Lastly, we produce and supply our own brand,
Carimar,
which is distributed in two presentations: four-pack and individual 125g
bars.