For many women in West Africa, shea is not merely a plant – it is their haircare, their skincare, their income and their livelihood. In recent years, the demand for shea butter in particular has grown exponentially as consumers have come to realize the versatile uses of this powerhouse ingredient. Sustainably sourced, shea is not merely beneficial as the end product; the shea tree is a “key pro-poor carbon-fixing engine in West Africa,” according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
The Uses of Shea Butter
Shea butter is commonly used in skincare and haircare. You can probably find this ingredient in your shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, balms and even lip products. Rich in fatty acids and vitamins A and E, shea butter has intense moisturizing properties – providing lasting hydration and nourishment. Additionally, it can aid in skin repair and protection due to its anti-inflammatory properties (Watson, 2018).
The Environmental Impact
Shea butter’s significance goes beyond skin benefits; it has tremendous environmental benefits which are much needed in the face of climate change. Shea forests are essentially carbon sinks that live for 200 to 300 years. The current shea value chain captures 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Every tonne of shea kernels produced has a negative carbon footprint of 1.04 tonnes of CO2. Additionally, shea is harvested in a sustainable way – the hand harvesting technique does not damage the tree or surrounding ecosystems (Bockel et al, 2020)
The Role of Women in Shea Butter Farming and Creation
Shea production is predominantly led by women. All the shea in the world goes through the hands of 16 million rural women farmers before being processed, with their livelihoods and those of their families and communities depending on shea trees and shea parklands. The shea industry generates $200 million USD every year for rural women farmers (Nerea Turreira-García, 2025).
Shea production financially empowers women as it provides them with employment and income. This enables them to meet their needs and the needs of their children. The income from shea is spent on food and clothing, school fees, medical fees amongst other necessities, and some of it is reinvested into the farms or saved. Women in the shea industry have reported higher levels of savings. This allows them to have income diversification, food security, asset accumulation and more. This increased financial leverage has led to women having more decision-making power in their households (Naughton et al, 2017).
This powerhouse ingredient is not only beneficial to the planet, but empowers women and improves their livelihoods.
Beyond Beauty: Connecting Africa’s Women to Global Green Markets
The story of shea butter perfectly illustrates how traditional African practices are now at the forefront of the global green economy. As international consumers increasingly prioritize sustainable and ethically sourced products, West African women find themselves uniquely positioned as custodians of both environmental sustainability and authentic natural ingredients. Their centuries-old knowledge of shea cultivation and processing has transformed from local practice into a gateway to international markets that value carbon-negative production, biodiversity conservation, and fair trade principles. Through shea butter, these women are not just participating in global commerce – they are leading it toward a more sustainable future, proving that the path to environmental responsibility runs directly through the empowerment of rural African communities. In this way, every jar of shea butter represents far more than a beauty product; it embodies a direct connection between conscious consumers worldwide and the women whose traditional wisdom is helping heal both skin and planet.
References
Bockel, Louis, et al. Shea Value Chain as Key Pro-Poor Carbon-Fixing Engine in West Africa. Food & Agriculture Org., 7 Feb. 2020.
Naughton, Colleen C., et al. “Household Food Security, Economic Empowerment, and the Social Capital of Women’s Shea Butter Production in Mali.” Food Security, vol. 9, no. 4, 24 July 2017, pp. 773–784, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-017-0706-y.
Nerea Turreira-García. “West African Shea Processors in a Changing Global Market: Effects of Market Integration on Traditional Knowledge Resilience.” Economic Botany, 24 June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-025-09646-0. Accessed 31 July 2025.
Watson, Kathryn. “Shea Butter for Your Face: Benefits and Uses.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 4 Apr. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/shea-butter-for-face.
Author: Wassila Ibrahim
Research Fellow
