Guy Vincent, CEO Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils Pty Ltd
Tell us a little about your company.
Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils (DSO) is a 50% Indigenous owned company making Australian sandalwood oil for sale into the global perfumery, cosmetics, and aromatherapy industries. Started in 2017 DSO, sources wild harvested wood from first nations lands and sustainable plantation wood. DSO is the first Australian company to win the prestigious United Nations Equator Prize.
You have a unique ownership model. How did it come about and how do you think it could drive greater positive impact for biodiversity?
DSO is a result of two separate groups coming together with a shared vision to reinvigorate the sandalwood oil industry, set up supply chains for oils where Indigenous people are actively involved and where aspects related to socio-economic and environmental sustainability are considered. Indigenous people - connected to traditional landowners - and non-indigenous people - from the plantation industry - are equally involved in the board. Traditional, indigenous owners have the knowledge to drive actions to protect and maintain the biodiverse arid lands in and around where sandalwood grows. Among the actions, biodiverse remnant vegetation areas proximal to the plantations are maintained and seed banks are built for reforestation. Other actions concern improvement of soils being degraded because of deforestation and unsustainable farming practices. Deep rooted sandalwood trees and their deeper rooted acacia species host trees, fix nitrogen in the soil and increases top soil depth regenerating the land.
Working with plantations and wild collected sandalwood, how do you get alignment on sustainability issues across the value chain? You might be taking certain actions, but how can you ensure other suppliers are as well?
The three pillars of sustainability, social, economic, and environmental are all championed by DSO. Further to a minimum annual payment of $200,000.00 into a not-for-profit Indigenous foundation, DSO pays premium prices for Indigenous wild wood to support independent sustainability activities such as waterhole protection, invasive species removal, threatened species protection and fire management. Traditional owners live and breathe sustainability for future generations so providing meaningful income to stay ‘on country’ is a powerful way to look after the land. Using our ever-growing brand profile and purchasing strength DSO strongly encourages collaborative dialogue with suppliers and external parties such as government department, forestry companies, environmental groups and academics assisting to raise sustainability awareness and actions across the industry supply chain. DSO facilitates two-way learning between traditional stewards and plantation workers for skill building, awareness and mutual benefit.
You recently joined UEBT as a member. What made you choose to engage with UEBT and what are some of the highlights of what you are hoping to achieve in the coming years with UEBT support?
Australia does not strictly enforce the Nagoya protocol – and international agreement that recognises the rights of countries and communities to regulate how biodiversity is used for research and development and to promote a more fair and equitable sharing of resulting benefits. UEBT are performing an important function by setting a standard and encouraging continuous improvement in ethics and biodiversity. By becoming a UEBT member DSO hopes to broadcast our company’s ethical and sustainable credentials, highlight the importance of traditional stewardship in sustainability, and learn how to improve our activities for the even better responsible business results.
Sandalwood is a special ingredient in fragrances, and we have seen it has become less resilient and even become a threatened species over time in other sourcing regions. What do you want fragrance houses to know and to do right now to support the long-term vision you and your colleagues have for Sandalwood and for the communities that depend on it?
Australian sandalwood or dutjahn in Martu or Wongi languages is a sacred tree that has been used, traded, and revered for thousands of years. We want fragrance houses to recognize its cultural significance, and intellectual property rights to a special genetic resource when evaluating oil quality and supply. We want support to reverse the injustices of a colonial system that denies fair and equitable access and benefit sharing, counter ingrained privilege, and assistance in creating a self-determined future that facilitates the continuation of one of the oldest surviving cultures on the planet. We want fragrance companies to make choices now that affect the future, to carefully consider small decisions that have big impacts and use their strength for the betterment of others and the environment.
Guy Vincent, Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils (DSO) CEO