Pg. 28-33 5-minute read
The global trade in essential oils is worth tens of billions of dollars per year and continues to
grow rapidly. Once restricted to a closed world of arcane perfumery or niche alternative medicine, essential oils and aromatherapy are now firmly in the mainstream. Essential oil companies have billion-dollar turnovers, publications like the New Yorker write articles entitled, "How essential oils became the cure for our age of anxiety" (Monroe, 2017), and it is increasingly common for average people to integrate medicinal and aromatic plants into their everyday health routines.
However, this burgeoning demand is not without consequences. As more and more people discover the benefits of aromatic medicine, our love for essential oils is placing ever greater strain upon the plants that produce them. If we want to continue to use these unique gifts of nature, then it is incumbent upon us as an industry to address the challenges. We need to prioritize conservation–not by stopping the use of these oils, but by using the power of our advocacy and our buying to drive supply chains towards a more sustainable standard.
It is up to all of us – companies, consumers, and producers – to ensure that the essential oils and medicinal plants we use are sourced sustainably. Support suppliers who prioritize transparent and ethical production, providing detailed and specific information about their supply chains. Avoid vague or generic marketing claims. Push for evidence of genuine partnerships and sustainability efforts. By using our buying power, we can drive the industry towards creating supply chains that respect both the environment and the people involved, ensuring long-term benefits for everyone.
Stephen Johnson is an interdisciplinary ecologist and technical advisor working on the conservation of wild plants. He collaborates with governments, NGOs, universities, and private companies to protect vulnerable plant species and to ensure that botanical value chains promote conservation, development, and fair livelihoods. His company, FairSource Botanicals, partners directly with harvesting communities to develop and manage ethical supply chains for wild plant products, particularly frankincense and myrrh. Stephen has been
working on botanical value chains since 2016, and has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and research reports on Burseraceae in the Horn of Africa.
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