Sesame bars

Traceback your Product

and explore your

impact on people

& the environment

Creating a

FAIR ECONOMY

15%

out of total energy usage will be decreased based on SEKEM Vision Goals 2021 priorities in the field of Renewable Energy

Creating a

FAIR SOCIETY

100%

of SEKEM view of human health that integrates body, soul, and spirit, and wants to disseminate this vision in Egypt.

Life Long Learning &

WELLBEING

24%

of the workforce in all SEKEM is women as a part of supporting gender equality and supporting more potential women

Protecting the

ENVIRONMENT

100%

of SEKEM companies and farms share a set of rules for sustainable water use.

Farming

This sesame originated in Egypt, in locations along the Nile delta like Fayoum, Minia, Aswan, and more. It grows on Demeter and organic certified farms, following the holistic principles of Economy of Love.

The farms are treated as a whole organism in which each element of the farm contribute to its well-being. Plant waste and animal manure are treated into compost that boosts the regenerative ability of the soil and humus formation.

Following biodynamic principles, the farms use biodynamic spray and compost preparations on the crop which boosts the quality and regenerative capacity of the soil

The sesame is cultivated according to the dates of the cosmic calendar, which puts it in total harmony with the land and the cosmic forces

Meet The Farmers

get to the source of production

Tarek

Farmer in Giza, Egypt

Tarek Waheed is one of the pioneers in converting to biodynamic agriculture. He started back in 1997 by certifying his farm Demeter and is staying ahead of the game by certifying his farm EoL. Tarek embodies EoL concepts with his literacy initiative now reaching 25 women participants.

Gomaa

Farmer in Fayoum, Egypt

Gomaa Hassan has his own Demeter-certified biodynamic farmland in Fayoum, where he grows Sesame along with other crops. He’s been working in biodynamic agriculture for 24 years. Which is why he believes in the importance of growing biodynamic, as it protects his family’s health and his land’s ability to regenerate itself, allowing him to generate double the production

Mahmoud

Farmer in Fayoum, Egypt

Mahmoud Rabea has two Demeter-certified farms in the area of Fayoum. He’s been growing biodynamic sesame along with other crops since 2003. Mahmoud believes that an Economy of Love is what builds trust between him and the customer with transparency.

Processing

The sesame comes directly from the farm and arrives at Lotus company. Lotus does sample tests to ensure the organic and Demeter production of the sesame. Once it passes the test the sesame is then taken to be purified, sieved, and cleaned into raw sesame ready for further processing in iSiS factory.

Lotus insures the optimum use of resources by sorting out the sesame into three categories; 1st is the sesame product, 2nd is being turned into sesame oil and the 3rd is being transformed into compost, making sure that nothing goes to waste.

Lotus plays its part in the circular economy model by repurposing 90% of its waste into compost.

Lotus offsets its carbon emission by buying carbon credits from local sources that guarantee the support of small farmers.

Packaging

The Anise arrives at the iSiS Organic Food company and is directly processed further. The 20Kg bags are emptied into a machine that is automatically distributing the raw material into small tea bags. A worker is then making sure those tea bags are nicely put in a paper carton box.

Since its foundation, the iSiS factory has implemented the Core Program which enables all factory employees to engage in courses of art, acting, music, geography, and many more to promote happiness at work.

Factory workers work in safe conditions and receive health consultancies to promote well-being in the workplace.

EoL certifies the entire value chain: production and farms, processing factories and companies, and distribution.

Packaging Material

The Anise may be responsibly grown and processed, but its packaging material and the companies from which they are sourced also have a huge impact on the product’s lifetime impact, and cannot be neglected.

The boxes are made of paper which is produced in a factory in Cairo that promotes worker safety and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

The paper tag and filter fibers are FSC certified sourced from German companies that are constantly researching sustainable packaging alternatives, and sustainable production practices.

Some packages require plastic wrap to meet customer’s requirements. but the company is committed to finding more eco-friendly alternatives.

Distribution

The Anise packages are now ready to be distributed directly to your home, local shops, or overseas.

The first choice is always sea freight to reduce emissions, however air fright is needed sometimes.

Distribution process is under the supervision of Isis to ensure the selection of the shipping cars to be cleaned and qualified for the process.

Drivers receive health consultancies from SEKEM medical center located near the factory to make sure that they monitor their health to reduce any work strains.

Meet The Employees

have a look, who processed, packaged and distributed your product

Marwa

Quality Manager in iSiS

Marwa has been working in the tea department of iSiS factory for more than 8 years. Together with her husband and two children, she lives on the SEKEM farm.

Ahmed

Factory Engineer at SEKEM

Ahmed has been working in SEKEM for four years, and lives right next to the SEKEM farm with his family.

Ahmed

Factory Engineer in Lotus

Hassan is in charge of the cleaning and packing machine in the processing facility of Lotus. He has been working in Lotus for 17 years and enjoys that work is combined with cultural programs.

Abd El Magid

Distributor in SEKEM

Abd El Magid has been an employee in SEKEM for over 15 years. He is responsible for distributing the finished products to stores all over Cairo.

What is the True Price?

Are there hidden costs that the price doesn't reflect?

True Price Comparision

Sustainably & ethically produced products add value to society. However, when comparing prices, we don’t take into account the long-term impact of the product. For example, since this Anise is sequestering Co2e it is actually saving up to 0.35USD per kilo! This means that it is cheaper than products that emit Co2e, but so often the price tag doesn’t reflect that.

We encourage you to compare products based on their true price; the price that reflects the hidden costs that we and future generations eventually pay for.

This Anise saves up to 0.35 USD/Kilo, by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere

Indirect Costs include:

WATER

REPROCESSING COST

Society is paying taxes to clean water sources from agriculture’s chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, as well as the irresponsible disposal of wastewater from factories, in order to make it usable/drinkable water.