What our mark means

The UEBT Certified label is awarded to companies that meet the criteria of the UEBT standard. 

They join a growing movement of brands committed to sourcing their natural ingredients with respect for people and biodiversity.

The label stands for our seven principles of ethical sourcing:

• Conservation of biodiversity

• Sustainable use of biodiversity

• Compliance with legislation

• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits

• Respect for rights of actors

• Clarity about land tenure

• Socio-economic sustainability

Significance of the label image

The UEBT certification mark has three parts, referring to plants (the leaf), animals (the face) and people (the hands representing how people need to care for biodiversity) and the entire image is a circle representing our one planet.

UEBT offers two types of certification. One is for brands and is certification of ethical sourcing systems and another is for suppliers or producers of natural ingredients and is certification of specific natural ingredients. The UEBT certification label is used for both types of certification, but the label may only be used on-product when a company has obtained UEBT certification for its ethical sourcing system or when it uses UEBT certified natural ingredients as part of such a system. If a company sources a UEBT certified natural ingredient but does not have ethical sourcing system certification, they may make a claim of compliance but they may not use the label. In the case of specific ingredient certification, the label is used on-product with the specific ingredient just above the label so that the certified content is clear and the claim is not misleading.

Certified companies receive and follow the UEBT claims policy and access our marketing toolkit to help them communicate in a meaningful way about their achievement. These resources also give examples of how the mark may be used.

Companies join UEBT as a member before they engage in the certification process. Visit our certification page for more details.

What ingredients are part of UEBT certification?

UEBT’s focus is on botanicals. The UEBT standard applies to botanicals that are collected, extracted or harvested and includes edible oils, nuts, fruit extracts, herbs, flowers, spices, resins and other ingredients.

Once certified, brands may use the UEBT label on or off-pack (on-pack requires ethical sourcing system certification) to underscore their commitment to ethical sourcing.  This shows their customers that they are ‘sourcing with respect.’  Since the certification is of the ethical sourcing system or for a specific certified ingredient among many, the label can only be used on the back or side of pack except when additional conditions are met. We require this to underscore the good practice in that particular supply chain, but to not distract or mislead, since front-of-package labels usually refer to the entire product. This gives UEBT certified brands a credible claim that is clear, and not over-stated.

Will consumers care?

Recent research by UEBT (Biodiversity Barometer) on consumer awareness of and interest in biodiversity has shown that the majority (79%) of consumers feel that “companies have a moral obligation” to have a positive impact on ‘people and biodiversity’ in their sourcing of natural ingredients. Yet, only 37% of consumers feel “confident that companies pay serious attention” to these issues. 70% says they have more faith in a company “whose commitment to ethical sourcing of biodiversity is verified by independent organizations.” With the recent IPBES report on staggering biodiversity loss, and rising awareness of this crisis across major news outlets, and in academia and even children’s school curriculum, this awareness about biodiversity is poised to only grow further year upon year.

Is this similar to organic or cruelty-free?

UEBT certification is not the same as organic certification but they are complementary.  The Ethical BioTrade Standard requires practices that respect biodiversity and reduce biodiversity loss, such as restrictions on forest cutting, protection of endangered species and pollinators, enriching natural ecosystems and reducing pesticides.  Many ingredients in UEBT member companies’ products are both UEBT certified and certified organic, and the two systems often work together in farms and cultivation fields. 

UEBT certification is also different from the ‘cruelty-free’ mark. Animal testing is outside the scope of the UEBT standard, which is focused on the ground where ingredients are grown and collected.  Companies that work with UEBT often make separate commitments on this issue.       

You can show customers that you support people and biodiversity by sourcing with respect. Brands that work with UEBT show they are acting ethically.

Read more about some of the UEBT members that are using our label: