The Tagua seed is a product of the tropical rainforest, it is a renewable product, gathering the hard seeds does not deprive the growth of a new tree, it is the hard seeds that can no longer germinate. The seed grows from Panama to Peru along the Western Coast of South America, the locals of the area make a living harvesting the seed. The seeds we use come from Ecuador, yes that is on the equator a beautiful country home to the Galapagos Islands. After carving and sanding it is buffed to a shine. To make it different colors we boil it in pigments. 

Ivory from  a tree  not  an animal