It can be easy to overlook the importance of bees, but the insect plays a massive role in keeping our food supply flowing, plant life flourishing, and ecosystem in balance. We took a look at how to support bee conservation efforts through education and conscious purchases from brands that have taken steps to protect the honeybee.
The honeybee was introduced to North America hundreds of years ago from its natural home in Europe and Western Asia, and plays an integral role in keeping our planet running. A crucial part of pollination for both farmer grown and wild crops, bees are essential to the growth of plants and ecosystems, maintaining balance by collecting pollen on their tiny furry bodies as they drink nectar flower by flower. To allow them to disappear would be a huge detriment to science, food systems and our understanding of the interconnectedness of life. They’re responsible for our food supply, too — if you like broccoli, carrots, or pumpkin, you have bees to thank.
While not everyone can start beekeeping in their backyard, there are ways to educate ourselves and help in bee conservation—one of our favorite documentaries, “More than Honey” by Markus Imhoof explores why bees worldwide are facing extinction. Many brands have also created products and partnerships that highlight and contribute to the wellbeing and conservation of these buzzy little creatures. Here are some more favorites.
1Beesou Bitter Honey Apertif
Why We Love It
Purchasing this bitter honey apertif directly supports Bees for Development, a non-profit organization that seeks to promote sustainable beekeeping to build resilient livelihoods and assist marginalized communities around the world.
Key Ingredients
Notes of Cinchona Bark, Chinotto, Bitter Orange, Pink Grapefruit, and Raw Honey.
Free From
Artificial flavorings and colorings.
2Beesponsible Local Raw New York Honey
Why We Love It
This premium raw honey is filled with natural pollen and enzymes, and is sourced from local beekeepers that are committed to tending bees responsibly.
Key Ingredients
U.S. Grade A Strained, True Source Certified, Kosher for Passover.
3Droga Dark Chocolate Caramels
Why We Love It
For every bag of Money on Honey sold, Droga makes a donation to support the health and vitality of the honey bee population. Droga has partnered with Project Apis m, Seeds for Bees, and The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund to help save the bees.
Key Ingredients
Roasted Peanuts, Cane Sugar, Honey, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt.
Free From
Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade USA with 23% Fair Trade Certified Ingredients. Non-GMO, Gluten free.
4Guerlain Advanced Youth Watery Oil
Why We Love It
The Advanced Youth Watery Oil is the fruit of more than 10 years of research dedicated to honey and its repairing powers. Highly effective, it allows the skin to repair itself 9 times faster. Skin is visibly plumped-up, smoother and more radiant.
Key Ingredients
The Dynamic BlackBee Repair technology combines the most powerful bee products, selected by Guerlain Research: the exceptional Black Bee honey from Ouessant Island (Brittany, France), enriched with three other kinds of honey from Corsica, Ikaria, and Åland, and an exclusive royal jelly.
Free From
Sulfates, Parabens.
5Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask
Why We Love It
A black clay mask infused with innovative botanicals that rebalance skin moisture levels and reduce the appearance of pores without causing dryness. Kaolin clay helps absorb oil and pure honey nourishes the skin while fragrant rosemary acts as a natural purifying agent. Crafted in Switzerland with the highest quality pure botanicals.
Key Ingredients
Kaolin, Honey, Rosemary, Mushroom Extract, Jasmine/Narcissus/Mimosa Flower Waxes, Sweet Orange Peel, Burdock Root.
Free From
94% Natural including a rosewater base.
6Neal’s Yard Bee Lovely Bath and Shower Gel
Why We Love It
You support the bees every time you choose the Bee Lovely collection, as 3% of sales from the Bee Lovely range goes to charities that help protect the bees. The main charity that Neal’s Yard supports through sales of the Bee Lovely range is Bees for Development, which has introduced bee colonies into cashew orchards in Ghana to boost harvests after low yields were found to be a result of poor pollination.
This body cleanser is also gentle enough for the whole family, aged 3 years and over.
Key Ingredients
Fair trade organic honey and Italian and Mexican oranges.
Free From
Organic, Safe for Ages 3 and up.
7Savannah Bee Company Original Honey Almond Beeswax Hand Cream
Why We Love It
This best-selling Savannah Bee product naturally replenishes lost moisture and creates a barrier between skin and everything else out there looking to damage it. It contains all four hive ingredients — beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and honey — a powerful combination that nourishes and protects skin.
Key Ingredients
Shea Butter, Blueberry Extract, Pecan and Peach Kernel Oils for vitamins A, E, and B and essential fatty acids.
Free From
Gluten, Paraben, Phthalates, Cruelty-Free.
8Wild Tonic Jun Kombucha
Why We Love It
Ranging in flavors from Raspberry Goji Rose to Chai Pear and even a 5.6% ABV version,
Wild Tonic’s kombucha is uniquely fermented with honey and contains both prebiotics and probiotics, which can help contribute to a healthy gut microbiome. Wild Tonic is committed to helping keep the bee population healthy, taking great care responsibly sourcing their honey.
Key Ingredients
Jun Kombucha (Filtered Water, Honey, Organic Tea, Organic Raw Jun Culture), Organic Golden Cane Sugar, Organic Blueberry Juice, Organic Basil*
*varies based on flavor
9Me & The Bees Lemonade
Why We Love It
For every bottle of lemonade sold, Me & The Bees donates a percentage of profits to Healthy HIve Foundation to help save the bees through education, research, protection and social entrepreneurship.
Key Ingredients
100% lemon juice, honey and flaxseed.
Free From
Additives and preservatives.
10Food52 Adopt A Beehive Gift Box
Why We Love It
This set supports small-scale family farmers in Puglia who are using sustainable and organic methods. All of their farms use permaculture techniques, with bees that help pollinate their olives trees and other crops.
Key Ingredients
Two 17.6-ounce jars of seasonal honey sourced directly from Pugliese farmers.
11Project Honey Bees Adopt a Bee Bracelet
Why We Love It
Proceeds of each purchase will fund university-based pollinator research, create bee-friendly habitats, support the shrinking bee population, and more! Project Honey Bees is proudly partnered with the world’s #1 agricultural school, UC Davis, in their mutual goal of saving the bees.
12Pelacase Honey (Bee Edition) Eco-Friendly iPhone 11 Case
Why We Love It
Pela cases are the world’s first truly sustainable phone case. They are durable enough to protect your phone from drops and scratches and are also compostable. As part of our mission to create a waste-free future, Pela is a proud member of 1% for the Planet so they can support organizations that are working hard to better the planet.
Key Ingredients
100% compostable flax.
13Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask
Why We Love It
For every jar of its Honey Potion mask sold, beauty brand Farmacy will donate $1 to City Growers, a New York City nonprofit that aims to educate kids about food and farming. That includes teaching them about honeybees, which pollinate about one-third of the world’s crops. Farmacy is also helping raise awareness of the decline of bees with its “Bee a Honey Savior” campaign.
Key Ingredients
Proprietary Honey Blend, Propolis Jelly, Royal Jelly, Essential B Vitamins, Glycerin.
Free From
Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, Mineral Oil, Formaldehyde Donors, Phthalates, Cruelty-free.
