Why is sustainable beekeeping so important?

Protecting pollinators, protecting the planet

Sustainable beekeeping helps keep bee populations thriving – and that’s essential for the planet and our food supply. Bees play a vital role in pollination, supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. By protecting them, we’re helping nature flourish and securing a more sustainable future for us all.

Sustainable beekeeping saves bees

Responsible beekeepers prioritise the health and wellbeing of their bees and keep them well fed, especially over the winter months. They also protect their queen bees to ensure a harmonious hive.

Bees eat honey over winter, so overharvesting honey takes away their food source.

If their food source is gone, the bees starve – and die. Commercial beekeepers replace bees every year for this reason. To ethical beekeepers, this is simply unacceptable.

Antipodes only works with sustainable beekeepers

We take pride in sourcing mānuka honey for Aura Gold Mānuka Honey Radiance Mask from our founder’s next-door neighbours, Sam and Vanessa of Grafter’s Honey.

Their boutique bee farm is committed to sustainable beekeeping practices, treasuring the health and well-being of their honeybees.

Sam and Vanessa use organic methods, avoid harmful chemicals, and ensure their bees have access to diverse and nutritious forage from their very own property.

By maintaining small hives, Sam and Vanessa can closely monitor and support each hive, ensuring their bees thrive and their environment remains balanced.

Sustainable beekeeping is expensive – but worth it

A lot of hard work, kiwi ingenuity, and care for millions of bees goes into every pot of Grafter’s Honey. Sam and Vanessa work tirelessly to support over 650 hives in the Wellington region. It’s tough work to care for so many other bees. It’s incredibly expensive to do it right – but the results are worth it. Not only are Grafter’s bees healthy and happy, but they produce the most premium, potent export grade mānuka honey.

“We've grown to adore our bees. These little workers are endlessly fascinating, and our appreciation for them has only deepened. We want to help others connect with the natural goodness that bees provide.”

Sam Grafter’s Honey

Mānuka honey must undergo strict laboratory testing. To claim ‘mānuka honey’ status, testing must show MGO levels above 80. The latest batch used in Aura Gold Mānuka Honey Radiance Mask has been independently tested to show an MGO rating of 383!

By sourcing our mānuka honey from ethical beekeepers, Antipodes supports a healthy ecosystem whole delivering a far superior honey – one that we are proud to use in our skincare.