Since 2004, Laboratoires Expanscience has been committed to a CSR approach and has been B Corp-certified for two years. For over ten years, the company has deployed a “responsible plant sourcing” policy based on the ISO 26000 standard, criteria established by UEBT (of which Expanscience has been a member since 2011) and in compliance with international agreements (such as the Nagoya Protocol and CITES).
To go a step further, Expanscience wanted to obtain the Fair for Life label for its organic maca supply chain in Peru. This involves: a partnership agreement for a minimum period of three years; a long-term commitment to the implementation of a fair-purchasing contract; a guarantee of transparency and traceability; greater independence for producers.
Awarded by Ecocert, the independent Fair for Life label certifies that Laboratoires Expanscience has implemented the following points in its maca supply chain:
- A fair purchase price above the market price,
- Decent and safe working conditions throughout the supply chain,
- Creation of a development fund for projects decided by and designed for producers,
- Agricultural practices that respect the environment.
This label is the result of an extensive audit of the entire supply chain, from Laboratoires Expanscience (head office, R&D Center and production side) to Deshidratados Tropicales (the Expanscience entity in Peru dedicated to the transformation of raw plant materials, including maca), as well as all French or international partners collaborating with the company along this supply chain.
“Our special relationship with our suppliers enables us to obtain full traceability, ensure our purchases and guarantee total transparency for our Skinhairgium Bio and Macaline active ingredients for the worldwide cosmetics industry. It’s a win-win approach that has now been recognised by the Fair for Life label. Our goal is to continue the labelling process for supply chains other than maca,” said Armelle Le Peniec, director, Cosmetic Active Ingredients, Laboratoires Expanscience.