We aim to be socially and ecologically responsible in everything we do, not only because we believe it’s right, but also because it forms the foundations of good business.  The Organic Herb Trading Company was built on these principles nearly 30 years ago and we continue to uphold them today.

 

Each of the certification systems mentioned here provides an independent guarantee of what we already know: that our suppliers work hard to maintain healthy soils and ecosystems, co-operate with wildlife, and provide fair working conditions, all the while delivering a high quality product.

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

Organic agriculture is a holistic system, respecting the connection between healthy soils and healthy crops, as well as their broader relationship with people and the environment.  Its aim is to develop nutrient-rich soils without the use of artificial chemical fertilisers, rotating and interweaving crops to bring out the best from the land.  Organic farming encourages wildlife so that crops grow within a balanced ecosystem, rather than resorting to pesticides.  Genetically modified organisms are not permitted within organic systems.

 

Our organic products are all certified according to the rigorous standards of the Soil Association.  Many are also certified under the National Organic Program (NOP) of the US Department for Agriculture. In addition, we supply a few products which are not eligible for organic certification, for example frankincense and spirulina.

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Fairtrade

 

    

 

Fairtrade certification guarantees that the small-scale farmers who grow our herbs and spices receive a fair reward for their work.  These are some of the most marginalised people in trade supply chains, and Fairtrade terms provide them with a stable price for their product, plus a premium to be invested in business or community development.  The system also ensures that there is no child labour and no discrimination on the farms, and promotes transparency, democracy and the empowerment of farmers.

 

Organic Herb Trading was the first company to import organic Fairtrade cocoa to the UK, and the first to import Fairtrade organic spices.  Several of our suppliers are certified by FLO-CERT and as such we can offer a range of Fairtrade products including vanilla, cloves, ginger, hibiscus, spearmint, rooibos, turmeric, nutmeg and peppercorns. Please contact our sales team for further information.

 

 

FairWild

 

 

Wild growing plants form part of our tradition and history, and can be an important source of income for people who do not own their own land.  Increasing demand for wild plants poses a potential risk to the natural populations of certain species, and thus to the livelihoods of the collectors.

 

The FairWild standards have been developed to address these challenges, promoting the sustainable management and collection of wild plants.  The standards also address fair trade practices, emphasising long term trading relationships and safe working conditions, and incorporating the concepts of a fair price and additional community premium.

 

We are currently assisting one of our major suppliers in achieving FairWild certification and welcome enquiries about their products.

 

 

Union for Ethical BioTrade

 

 

 

In 1992, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, 150 heads of state signed a Convention on Biological Diversity, agreeing to goals on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

 

The Union for Ethical BioTrade has developed a set of principles and criteria which reflect the Convention.  As a founding member, we at the Organic Herb Trading Company have committed to its principles, which seek to protect the rich diversity of species available to us and respect the traditional knowledge of those who grow them. 

 

Through offering ethical trading terms to our suppliers, we provide a means of income-generation, which encourages the preservation of biodiversity, where the alternative might be the destruction of natural ecosystems.

 

We have established a work plan detailing how we intend to improve our trading practices over the coming three years, continuing to progress in terms of awareness, understanding and co-operation.  Through this we will ensure we share the benefits of biodiversity, use it sustainably and promote its conservation.

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Soil Association

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