L'OCCITANE's Commitment to Empowering Women
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L'OCCITANE's history and devotion to becoming cultivator of change reads like a poem; one where infinite passion, ground breaking ideas and a desire to make lasting change came together to create positive change and shape a better future for people and the planet. A commitment to Empowering Women lies at the very heart of the brand, driven by a simple wish to empower women and girls to dream big, and help to provide them with resources to turn their visions into reality, both for our employees and for those we have the pleasure of meeting through our work. We are proud to support a variety of causes, providing women and girls with resources and opportunities so they can thrive and achieve their goals.
Since 1981, there have been a host of schemes in place at L'OCCITANE to further our commitment to Empowering Women, which are continuously evolving with the dreams of those who are integral to the spirit of L'OCCITANE; suppliers, shea butter producers, those that work in our factories, our boutiques across the globe, hear office staff and those that come into contact with the charities we support locally too. The commitment to Empowering Women began in Burkina Faso in 1981, where L'OCCITANE's founder, Oliver Baussan, heard of the extraordinary benefits go shea butter, colloquially known as "women's gold". As he learned of the shea tree, its nuts harvested exclusively by women and the unmatched properties of shea butter.
Empowering Women Locally with Women's Aid
Over the past five years, L’OCCITANE has partnered with Women's Aid Federation of England and Women's Aid in Ireland to empower women and support victims of domestic violence.
In England, we are currently backing the Experts by Experience (EbE) Project, a network of domestic abuse survivors who use their lived experiences to drive change and enhance the response to abuse for others. The EbE group plays a crucial role in Women’s Aid’s advocacy efforts, serving as consultants for policy improvements that aim to support future survivors. Through this holistic approach, the group participates in confidence-building workshops designed to empower them to use their voices for change, and in wellbeing sessions to receive emotional and therapeutic support.
In 2023, we also funded The Survivors’ Forum in England for an entire year. This safe, anonymous online platform provides a space for women affected by domestic abuse to share their experiences and support each other. Focused on female empowerment, the forum amplifies survivors' voices and is moderated by trained Women’s Aid staff to ensure safety and provide the best guidance.
In Ireland, for the past two years, we have partially funded the distribution of emergency support for women experiencing domestic abuse, covering urgent needs such as CCTV installation, bills, and groceries.
Through these initiatives, we’ve made significant progress, having donated over £208,000 (€232,000) in recent years.
This is just one part of our broader mission to empower women. For example, in Burkina Faso, our partnership with local communities has helped support over 30,000 women through programs focused on economic independence, education, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, through the L’OCCITANE Foundation, we have raised over €2 million to support women's projects around the world, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally.
“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with L’OCCITANE, whose unwavering commitment to empowering women and girls is truly inspiring. This year, their generous support is helping us champion our Experts by Experience Project — a vital network of domestic abuse survivors who use their lived experiences to drive real, lasting change. By backing this work, L’OCCITANE is helping us amplify survivors’ voices so that their insights shape policy and practice, creating a safer future for women and children across the country. Their dedication to cultivating change and empowering women to thrive shines through everything they do for Women’s Aid — and their support is genuinely life-changing.” Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive at Women’s Aid Federation of England
“The incredible donation by L'OCCITANE which will help provide a vital range of practical wrap-around supports for women who are experiencing domestic abuse and violence. Demand for Women’s Aid’s services has never been higher, so this significant partnership will ensure we can reach more women with our vital, life-changing services. Thank you so much to L’OCCITANE and their wonderful customers.” Sarah Benson, CEO Women’s Aid in Ireland
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"My mission in life is to empower women and girls to unlock their full potential and it is so important to me that the organisations I work with are also committed to this journey of female empowerment. As an Ambassador for Women’s Aid Federation of England, L’OCCITANE’s on-going partnership resonates heavily with me. It was great to hear that over their four year partnership, L’OCCITANE has donated over £113,000 to help fund a variety of life-saving programmes to support survivors of domestic violence, and empower women from all backgrounds to access valuable support and services" Michelle Griffith Robinson, Ambassador Women’s Aid Federation of England
Empowering Women
At L'OCCITANE, we believe in gender equality and empowering women to achieve their goals. Through our work in Burkina Faso, we've enabled the women who make our shea butter to gain more independence. Our Foundation has helped them to have access to microcredits, literacy programmes and education for their children. Every year, we sell fund-raising products to promote women's leadership. These may seem like little steps, but they can make a big difference.
Our Commitments
We believe beauty goes beyond what the eye can see. From seed to skin, we are holistic in our approach. At L'OCCITANE en Provence, we've always been Cultivators of Change. This mindset is nothing new. We do our best to create positive change for the world, and we always try to inspire everyone around us to do the same.
L’OCCITANE has been working with Women’s Aid Federation of England and Women’s Aid in Ireland since 2021. *Estimated amounts donated based on currency exchange of £1 = €1.111/€1 = £0.90. Women’s Aid Federation of England registered charity number in England: 1054154. Women’s Aid in Ireland charity registered number: 20012045.