UEBT is a non-profit association that promotes sourcing with respect. We work to regenerate nature and secure a better future for people through ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity. We aim to contribute to a world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.

We set good practices for how companies and their suppliers source specialty ingredients for the beauty, food, natural pharmaceuticals, flavours & fragrances, herbs and spices sectors, among others. 

UEBT is internationally recognised for our work with companies on ethical sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity.

What is sourcing with respect?

The good practices we set act as a guidepost for how companies and their suppliers should harvest, collect or grow ingredients from biodiversity in a way that is respectful of the local environment and the people who call it home. We call this "sourcing with respect."  Companies, communities, civil society and other stakeholders are involved in developing these practices, collectively known as the UEBT standard.

Working with UEBT is a powerful way for businesses to demonstrate impact to consumers, governments and other supply chain actors, and UEBT verification and certification allows all of us to choose brands, products and ingredients that are contributing to a world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.

UEBT’s focus: botanicals

Our focus is on botanicals. UEBT defines botanicals broadly, including plants and other unique raw materials derived from biodiversity. For UEBT, the term covers plant parts – such as roots, flowers, fruits – or other material or compounds from animals, fungi, or microbial organisms. These ingredients may be used as herbs and spices or in compositions and ingredients used for medicinal, flavor, fragrance, dietary, cosmetic, or other purposes. We distinguish botanicals from commodities, which also derive from biodiversity but are grown and traded in large scale, often interchangeably.

Our history