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Membership Platform

 

Through a vibrant membership platform for committed companies, UEBT promotes responsible sourcing policies and practices. Companies benefit from working with an international non profit with deep field expertise, and access UEBT expertise efficiently.

Benefits include:

  • enhanced company systems for sourcing with respect

  • risks managed together with suppliers

  • approaches for biodiversity regeneration and conservation

  • clear steps to advance responsible sourcing in botanicals supply chains

UEBT’s platform facilitates:

  • sharing of experiences

  • collective action in supply chains and landscapes

  • opportunities to join or develop sectoral projects and working groups

Steps to membership

UEBT membership requires companies to make five commitments and to meet six minimum requirements (from the UEBT standard) at the company level (not in suppliers or supply chains). UEBT checks these and the company develops a three-year workplan with UEBT support:

The five commitments are to:

  1. Review sourcing policies and practices: UEBT members commit to sourcing with respect for people and biodiversity. They review their corporate policies and sourcing practices.

  2. Set targets for continuous improvement: UEBT members set targets and take measures towards gradually improving their sourcing systems and practices in line with the UEBT standard.

  3. Manage risks for people and biodiversity: UEBT members commit to due diligence on cultivation and wild collection practices in ingredients from biodiversity.     

  4. Promote positive impact for people and biodiversity in the sourcing areas of strategic ingredients from biodiversity: UEBT members commit to improving cultivation and wild collection practices in botanicals supply chains.

  5. Monitoring, reporting and communication: UEBT members annually report on progress. In addition, UEBT checks progress and discusses further possible improvements, providing options for supply chain assessments (verification and certification) if desired.

The six minimum requirements are:

  • Six minimum requirements from the UEBT standard are checked at the level of the company when it applies for UEBT membership - these are not checked at the level of suppliers or in supply chains.

    • no deforestation or conversion of intact ecosystems

    • compliance with CITES and other regulations related to rare, threatened or endangered species

    • no sourcing from protected areas where such activities are not allowed

    • no evidence of ongoing or unresolved human rights infringement

    • minimum age for employment is 15 years or higher if defined by national law

    • wages of workers are paid at least in line with official minimum wage regulations or collective bargaining agreements.

  • UEBT also checks critical requirements relating to company operations and facilities, including traceability and environmental quality systems.

  • UEBT membership is focused on gradual improvement. It is not the same as UEBT’s verification or certification programme. However, UEBT members are asked to verify (at the field level) some of their prioritised botanicals supply chains over time.

 Contact us to get started at membership@uebt.org