Certifying ingredients from biodiversity

UEBT's certification of ingredients from biodiversity works to assure that an ingredient is sourced with respect for people and biodiversity. The certification applies to a specific ingredient. Certification is granted once independent audits verify compliance with the UEBT standard in the regions where ingredients from biodiversity are sourced. Traceability through to the area of collection or cultivation is always required. Audits are conducted by third party auditors, but internal control systems can be deployed at different stages of the supply chain.

While UEBT certification requires practices that respect biodiversity and reduce biodiversity loss, such as restrictions on forest clearing, protection of endangered species and pollinators, and reducing agrochemicals, it is important to understand that UEBT certification is not the same as organic certification.  However, many ingredients in UEBT member companies’ products are both UEBT certified and certified organic, and the two systems are complementary. 

UEBT certification is also different from the ‘cruelty-free’ mark, and animal testing is outside the scope of the UEBT standard.  Companies that work with UEBT make separate commitments on this issue.   

Innovative solutions

UEBT offers innovative approaches to credible verification. For example, certification is possible against internal company standards that UEBT has recognised as reflecting the UEBT standard. Moreover, organisations at different stages of the supply chain can be certificate holders (e.g. final product brands, international or local processing companies, farms, cooperatives).

What is assessed?

Under UEBT ingredient certification, auditors assess the local entity (e.g. company, cooperative or farm) that is responsible for verifying that sourcing practices comply with the UEBT standard, as well as the physical areas and people in the sourcing areas (e.g. forests, agricultural lands, harvesters, farmers, farmworkers, or smallholders).

The basis for UEBT certification is the UEBT standard. It covers important social, environmental and economic issues related to the sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity.

Claims and labels

The claims that are permitted differ depending on the type of certification:

• Farms and cooperatives as well as international and local processing companies that hold UEBT ingredient certification may use the UEBT certification label for ingredients on their certified ingredient’s packaging when selling to customers.

• Companies that also hold UEBT certification for their ethical sourcing system may use the UEBT certification label for ingredients on final products as long as there is a mention of the certified ingredient.

• UEBT member companies that purchase UEBT certified ingredients or that hold a UEBT certificate for an ingredient can make text claims of ‘UEBT certified ethically sourced’ about the ingredient or can use the UEBT certification label for the ingredient off-pack. Companies that are not UEBT members can make text claims only.

• Learn more about making UEBT claims or download the UEBT Claims and Labelling Policy.

Membership Requirements  

All organisations seeking UEBT (or UEBT/Rainforest Alliance) certification must become UEBT members, with membership adjusted to different types of organisations.

• For organisations seeking certification that are directly responsible for cultivation or wild collection practices (these organisations are called ‘Organisations at Source’ in the UEBT system and are generally located in sourcing areas), an integrated approach to UEBT membership may apply. In this integrated approach, the membership assessment, which is a check of the company’s compliance with UEBT minimum requirements and their commitment to ethical sourcing, is conducted as part of, and at the same time as, the certification audit.  Learn more about the requirements. There is a membership fee, but no application fee in this approach.

• For farms and producer associations such as cooperatives, membership is optional if the organisation’s annual turnover is less than 2 million Euros. If these farms or associations opt for UEBT membership, the integrated membership process applies, but there is no membership fee.

• For organisations seeking certification that are not directly responsible for cultivation or wild collection practices (e.g. manufacturers or brands buying from traders or not working in the sourcing area), the standard membership process applies. Learn more about the membership process and requirements.

Get started

Write to us at certification@uebt.org to learn more and get started.

Download a factsheet on UEBT ingredient certification.

Costs

Learn more here.

Get guidance

Have you already applied for certification? Visit our Get Certified pages.

UEBT and Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme

UEBT and the Rainforest Alliance have developed a joint Herbs & Spices Programme. This builds on the positive track record of the UEBT/UTZ cooperation in herbal tea and the decades-long experience of the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ in sustainable agriculture certification.

The new programme applies to all ingredients for herbal and fruit infusions (including rooibos) as well as to all other herbs & spices, including vanilla, cinnamon, chili, or pepper.