Castor beans are usually harvested about six months after sowing, when the pods turn brown and open, which is a sign that the seeds are ripe. As the castor bean seeds are extremely poisonous, the ripe pods are collected using mechanical harvesters to avoid skin contact and inhalation of the dust particles. After harvesting, the pods have to be dried to make it easier to extract the seeds. Under the pressure of a hydraulic press, the oil is extracted from the now hulled castor seeds purely mechanically before it is then refined. The refined castor oil undergoes a final filtration process in which natural suspended matter and the toxic protein ricin are completely removed.

Our refined castor oil meets the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia and is continuously checked for the highest quality by a special test plan. Through diversified supply chains, which include various seed sources as well as oil mill and refinery locations, we ensure a reliable supply, even in the event of regional incidents such as extreme weather events.