New certification for ‘sourcing with respect’: Weleda signs up
UEBT is a non-profit organisation and its new label aims to be a globally recognised standard for sustainable sourcing and the use of raw materials.
The new certification and label was unveiled at the UEBT conference in Paris, 20 June 2018, and will start to appear on packs in 2019.
“UEBT certification will help consumers tell that they are buying products from a company that treats people and biodiversity with respect,” explains Weleda.
How the new label is earned
In order for a brand to be certified, UEBT says it looks at its entire sourcing system.
One part of the process is to validate that the brand has incorporated the requirements from the UEBT standard into its systems for sourcing and processing natural ingredients.
Another part of the certification requirements concerns sourcing practices: certified companies need to verify that they have implemented these throughout the supply chains for their natural ingredients.
“By meeting our internationally recognised standard, a company assures customers that, when sourcing raw materials, biodiversity is conserved and sourced sustainably, and that all partners along the supply chain are treated equitably and paid fairly,” explains Rik Kutsch Lojenga, UEBT’s Executive Director.
“We are so proud that Weleda has achieved ethical sourcing system certification by the UEBT and will be one of the first brands to place the UEBT trust mark on its products.”
The new UEBT label will first appear on Weleda products in the beginning of next year, says the beauty player.
Bas Schneiders, Head International Strategic Sourcing at Weleda, comments: “With certification we are taking the next step: creating a significant impact for the growers, collectors and producers working for us”.
Annette Piperidis, Manager of Sustainable Sourcing at Weleda, adds: “Sustainability is not a goal for us, but rather a process in which we constantly strive to optimize. For this reason, it was important to us to take our efforts to the next level and to tackle further challenges.”
Other similar sourcing-focused labels include Fair Wild, which has just been adopted by Neals Yard Remedies for some of its products.
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