The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) and The International Natural and Organic Cosmetic Association (NATRUE), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help raise awareness of the importance of naturally sourced cosmetics products and the ethical trade in natural ingredients derived from biodiversity.
This collaboration will enhance the work of UEBT and NATRUE towards responsible supply chain management, transparency to consumers, and advancing international targets to halt biodiversity loss set by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
With consumer demand for natural and organic cosmetics ever growing, companies are increasingly
looking to use ingredients from natural resources. “If done in an ethical and sustainable way, sourcing
from nature can really add value to biodiversity at a local level and help motivate its protection,” said
executive director of UEBT, Rik Kutsch Lojenga.
“UEBT stands for sourcing with respect',” said Julie Tyrell, director general of NATRUE. “Its members
commit to sourcing natural ingredients in a way that conserves biodiversity and respects traditional
knowledge while sharing benefits with those who harvest the ingredients and make them available.
These are values close to the heart of the natural and organic cosmetics sector. The more our sector
grows, the more important this becomes. It is a great chance to promote biodiversity and we decided
to work together to make it happen.”
The MOU between UEBT and NATRUE, both created in 2007, will allow the two organisations to
further collaborate, share insights and explore common opportunities and challenges. The membership base of the organisations is complementary, with NATRUE’s strong roots in Europe and increasingly the US, and UEBT’s strength in Latin America and Africa.
