About Us

Argan: the family tradition

“I was born and raised in Morocco, the only place in the world where the argan tree grows. My parent’s village is located in the heart of the Argan valley in the Atlas mountain. Argan oil has always been part of my family’s traditions. Ever since I can remember, we have used Argan Oil as part of our daily life.” says ARGATLAS co-founder.

Argan products are based on the unique Argan nuts, found exclusively in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. Traditionally, picking these nuts is the way that many Berber women make their income. Every summer, they harvest their argan fruits and use them as a means of payment. Week after week, woman was cracking open the nuts, then selling them at the local market. Thus, argan tree has been a versatile part of Berber village life and its economy for a long time. They had a very uncomfortable life due, in part, to frequent droughts.

We have taken this tradition forward into the twenty-first century by carrying on the family business, and upholding our commitment to the people of this region and to the environment. We source all our kernels from women’s cooperative associated with fair trade principals, to ensure the growers and co-op owners get a fair amount of money in return for their hard work. Our partnership with them was created with a common goal: to share the richness and beauty secrets of Moroccan natural cosmetic oils with the rest of the world, whilst supporting the local Berber population and helping to promote and maintain the preservation of the Argan trees.

Local women used to spend most of their life crushing argan nuts to ensure the future of their family. Now, to meet the needs of the rapidly growing overseas market for Argan oil, our skills, modern equipment, and mastery of our manufacturing processes allow us to provide you with oils according to the highest international standards, while still preserving this long tradition.

Eco-friendly Policy

At ARGATLAS, we source all our Argan kernels from women’s cooperatives, in order to help the social and economic development of rural Moroccan women. There are three key elements of our eco-friendly policy:

  • Social Responsibility

Sustainability and protection of Argan trees, the prickly pear and forest ecosystem as a whole are of great importance to ARGATLAS. In addition, we also support projects that aim to improve the standard of education in the region, slow down the rural exodus, and stop the spread of the desert into this beautiful area.

  • Economic Responsibility

It is important for our company to make an effort to protect the income of the many women and their families who depend on the Argan forests for their livelihood. We preserve the craft’s tradition of “crusher women”, which allows them a means of independence. Currently, we have over 10 women whose job is to open the nuts, and a team of over 13 people working to improve the quality of our Argan oil, thereby ensuring that our customers receive the best possible product.

  • Environmental Responsibility

Our company is serious about its commitment to the environment. We follow a balanced approach towards sustainable development, based on the protection of our heritage, the Argan forests, and valuing its produce. We combine this with our effort to improve the living conditions of local inhabitants. We strongly believe that even small efforts can help make our world a greener, better place to live.