This comes after the Union for Ethical BioTrade announced its internationally recognised standard, with more Amazon communities to be certified in the course of the year.
Thanks to this certification, ingredients such as andiroba and maracujá oil, cupuaçu butter, and acai pulp are able to make it to national and international markets from deep in the Amazon forest, as it assures the conservation of biodiversity in the sourcing area and that provider communities are supported through equitable prices and local projects for sustainable development.
“We are pleased that Natura and Symrise Amazon are leading the way among UEBT members in adopting this new UEBT certification for natural ingredients,” says Rik Kutsch Lojenga, UEBT Executive Director.
Biodiversity importance
Natura has long positioned itself to consumers around Brazilian biodiversity; an example being its Ekos line, which is based on Amazon ingredients that respect biodiversity and local communities.
UEBT’s Biodiversity Barometer shows that 44% of Brazilian consumers associate Natura Cosmetics with respect for biodiversity.
“We are proud to have gained the UEBT certification for 14 Amazon supplier communities, which further reinforces our commitment to ethical sourcing from this important ecosystem,” says Marcelo Alonso Director of Sustainability at Natura.
Ingredient supplier Symrise has also been busy in this area, opening a new production plant in Belém, Pará, in the Amazon region in 2015.
“The UEBT certification is an important step in our strategy to bring the richness of Amazon ingredients to consumers around the world. It shows our commitment to ethical sourcing of biodiversity, as stipulated in the Biodiversity Agenda that Symrise adopted last year,” says Eder Ramos, global president of cosmetic ingredients Symrise division.
As part of the UEBT process, ingredients are certified after an independent audit of the company and the practices in supplier communities.
Moreover, an ABS assessment is conducted to assure that companies have a good understanding of the regulation on Access and Benefit Sharing, which may apply to these products.