I think most of us recognise this logo! Below is a brief layout of the work the UEBT do and how they grew to be what they are today.
UEBT is a non-profit association that promotes sourcing with respect. We work to regenerate nature and secure a better future for people through ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity. We aim to contribute to a world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.
We set good practices for how companies and their suppliers source specialty ingredients for the food, cosmetics and natural pharmaceutical sectors.
We are internationally recognised for our work advancing business contributions to sustainable development goals.
What is sourcing with respect?
The good practices we set act as a guidepost for how companies and their suppliers should harvest, collect or grow ingredients from biodiversity in a way that is respectful of the local environment and the people who call it home. We call this "sourcing with respect." Companies, communities, civil society and other stakeholders are involved in developing these practices, collectively known as the UEBT standard.
Working with UEBT is a powerful way for businesses to demonstrate impact to consumers, governments and other supply chain actors, and UEBT certification allows all of us to choose brands, products and ingredients that are contributing to a world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.
Our vision
A world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.
The history of UEBT:
1992
Countries adopt the Convention on Biological Diversity to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity, and to ensure fair and equitable benefit sharing
1996
To support CBD objectives, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launches the BioTrade Initiative.
2007
UEBT is born, following an UNCTAD initiative to promote business engagement in the ethical sourcing of biodiversity.
2008
UEBT moves to independent offices and begins a formal partnership with the CBD Secretariat.
2015
UEBT certification begins for natural ingredients and the joint UEBT/UTZ herbal tea certification program.
2018
UEBT ethical sourcing system certification begins, with Weleda and Natura Cosmetics as launching partners.
The new initiative:
UEBT and Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme
Herbs & spices are used in a variety of foods, beverages, and flavourings and provide important income to farmers around the world.
UEBT and the Rainforest Alliance have developed a joint Herbs & Spices Programme. All ingredients certified under this new programme will be able to carry the Rainforest Alliance certification seal.
With this partnership, we build on the positive track record of the UEBT/UTZ cooperation in herbal tea, the decades-long experience of the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ in sustainable agriculture certification, and UEBT’s expert knowledge of ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity, including those ingredients collected from the wild.
Programme scope and requirements
The new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme brings together the current UEBT/UTZ Herbal Tea Program along with the UTZ and Rainforest Alliance certification programs for herbs, spices, rooibos, and vanilla. The new programme applies to:
all ingredients for herbal and fruit infusions, including rooibos
other herbs & spices, including vanilla, chili, or pepper
The certification for farm certificate holders in the programme is based primarily on the UEBT standard. This standard was designed for ingredients that are cultivated or collected from the wild.
The UEBT standard is complemented by selected requirements from the new Rainforest Alliance 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard. Together, these make up the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements. For practical purposes, these requirements are described in a Field Checklist and a Certification Checklist, based on the Certification Protocol (to be published in March 2021).
Timeframe
For farm certificate holders getting audited against UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices requirements
January 2021: The Field Checklist that compiles the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements for farms has been published.
From January 2021: Farm certificate holders should begin to contact UEBT at herbsandspices@uebt.org to plan for their transition and/or future audits against the new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices requirements.
March 2021: Publication of the Certification Protocol that compiles certification and auditing rules of the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme.
From July 2021: Farm audits can begin against the new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements.
From January 2022: Auditing against the new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements becomes mandatory for all farms that are in the scope of the Herbs & Spices Programme (read section above to see who this applies to).
That looks like fantastic news to me, I like the labelling and certification that they use! I do already look for these logos!
The blog song for today is: " Vienna" by Ultravox (Those sideburns were something else!)
TTFN
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