TAGUA NUT

The tagua nut grows on Phytelepha trees in South America and is used as a sustainable and ethical alternative to ivory. When carved, the tagua wood has a smooth texture and an off-white color. Tagua nut can then be dyed with natural and non-toxic pigments. Tagua is typically used to make buttons, jewelry, ornaments, and sculptures.

RESOURCES
The Phytelepha, a native plant of South America, grows year-round in tropical regions. A 20-foot tree will produce clusters of football-sized pods, each containing roughly 20 compartments, each containing up to 6 tagua nuts. When the but is left to sun dry, the interior white cellulose pulp turns to ‘vegetable ivory’. There is no harm done to the tree during the harvesting of the Tagua nuts.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Tagua use and production are helping to discourage elephant poaching. In one year, one Tagua palm can produce as much “ivory” as an average female African elephant does in their lifetime. Tagua also encourages forest protection as well as sustainable farming, as the trees are never cut down.

HUMAN HEALTH
Tagua does not have any impact on human health. Non-toxic pigments are used when dyeing the nut to desired colors and do not pose any health threats to artisans or potential consumers.

SOCIAL EQUITY
Tagua supports over 90 families in the village of Sosote, Ecuador, where they have formed a cooperative to share ideas, information, and successes from carving tagua. In Socote, the excess leaves of the therphytelepha tree are very durable and are used to weave roofs, while the raw nut can be eaten, and the shavings from carving the dried wood are used as animal feed. The Tagua initiative, launched in 1990 by the group Conservation International, encourages sustainable development of Tagua and helps connect producers to large clothing companies.