Save Earth's Skin

Proudly campaigning to save soil, the Skin of the Earth

Soil is the skin of our Earth – a rich, crucial, living breathing eco-system. A teaspoon of soil contains billions of microorganisms that help make the soil fertile, enhancing plant health and enabling soil

to store carbon and water.

Healthy soil is an essential part of our planet’s diversity and plays a crucial role in our physical health and mental wellbeing. But the quality of our soil is in rapid decline, exacerbated by unsustainable farming practices, and in the UK alone, soil is being destroyed 10x faster than it is being created. Every minute, around 30 football pitches of fertile soils are being destroyed. To help tackle this crisis, Weleda has joined forces with Arizona Muse and her soil regeneration charity DIRT (www.dirt.charity) to educate people about the importance of soil and how, by choosing soil-friendly beauty products with ingredients grown using regenerative farming practices, they can help to protect it.

Now in its third year, Weleda’s Save Earth’s Skin campaign highlights the importance of healthy soil for the future of our planet and urges people to care for it as they would their own skin. Our 2024 campaign models and environmental activists Arizona Muse, Lily Cole and Noella Coursaris Musunka, together with microbiome specialist Pauline Cox, Weleda UK Managing Director Jayn Sterland, and Weleda UK biodynamic gardener Jennifer Ruge, to explore how the beauty industry contributes to the problem, but also can make a positive impact to help save our soil.

CLICK HERE to read the full Marie Claire article

This year, Weleda UK will donate 5% of all product sales during the month of April to honour Earth Day (Monday 22 April) directly to the non-profit organisation DIRT charity, founded by environmental activist and model, Arizona Muse, to fund soil-health projects around the world when you shop via Superdrug, Weleda Wellbeing Advisors, our TikTok shop and our website.

Did you know?

Soil, just like our skin, has a microbiome.

One teaspoon of soil can hold more organisms than there are people on the planet.

50% of CO₂ is bound in our soils. They are the largest CO₂ reservoirs after the oceans.

The equivalent of 30 football pitches of soil is lost every minute to degradation.

It can take up to 2,000 years for ten centimetres of soil to emerge naturally.

"According to forecasts, 90% of soils will be affected by progressive soil erosion by 2050 if we do not take immediate action."

It starts with us! Let us give back to our Earth

How can we help at home?

In the same way we protect our skin, we can protect the Earth’s skin. Get involved with these simple tips:

Tip 1: Look for third party certifications

To make sure a product is delivering against what it's claiming, look for certifications and third party standards that have independent testing measures. With Weleda, you can feel confident that the products are made in a way that respects the Earth.

Tip 2: Be mindful about what you eat and drink

Buying organic and biodynamic food and drink means the farming abstains from the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic mineral fertilisers. This in turn benefits the soil, plants and animal habitats.

Tip 3: Plant flowers in your garden

Plant myriad flowers and allow wild plants to grow in your garden; by not trimming your lawn too short, you provide habitats for small organisms. Grow crops in bare patches to prevent erosion.

Tip 4: Choose peat-free compost

Whether you have your own garden, a balcony, indoor plants, or support an urban garden project, compost feeds the soil and keeps it healthy and vital. Ensure the compost you're using is peat-free.

What other resources are there?

To help consumers steer a more confident path through the murky sea of ‘greenwash’, baffling jargon and confusing claims, the Sustainable Beauty Coalition has created the Planet Positive Beauty Guide - providing easy-to-digest information to help us all make greener beauty choices.

Download the Planet Positive Beauty Guide today for dozens of practical ways to Save Earth’s Skin.

By supporting Weleda, together, we take action for soil health.

Hear from Dr. Sc. Agr. Astrid Sprenger, Head of Weleda’s biggest medicinal plant garden in Germany:

Help us spread the word

We can all make a difference! Discover tips to improve soil health by following the hashtag #SaveEarthsSkin on social media. Marie Claire and Arizona Muse are helping us deliver our message too.