Ethical Sourcing System certification
Certifying ethical sourcing systems
UEBT's certification of a company's ethical sourcing system validates that a company sources ingredients from biodiversity through a system that respects people and nature. Inspections are conducted by independent auditors, who verify the implementation of policies and procedures.
What is assessed?
The certification process inspects the following:
Company, brand or product line specific ethical sourcing commitments
Due diligence systems covering suppliers, supply chains, and access and benefit sharing (ABS)
Risk assessment in natural ingredient portfolios
Ethical sourcing verification system for prioritized supply chains
Traceability systems for natural ingredients
Communications and marketing policies
What issues are covered?
The certification covers important social, environmental and economic issues found inside the UEBT standard. The standard is holistic, focusing on topics such as regenerating biodiversity, reducing agrochemicals, improving soil, respecting workers, supporting local development and much more.
Claims
UEBT member companies with a certified ethical sourcing system are permitted to use the UEBT certification mark on products and packaging according to the UEBT Claims and Labelling Policy. When ethical sourcing system certification is held in conjunction with UEBT ingredient certification, the label can also be used on the front of a product that contains the certified ingredient (additional requirements apply). Learn more about making UEBT claims.
Upon achieving ethical sourcing system certification, a company can say that its sourcing and innovation practices align with the Ethical BioTrade Standard (the UEBT standard).
Get started
Write to us at certification@uebt.org to learn more and get started.
When you see the UEBT certification label it means that the company has a system in place to help ensure ingredients are sourced with respect for people and biodiversity.
The label has three parts: an image of a feline referring to animals, an image of a leaf referring to plants, and an image of hands referring to people and to the need for humans to care for biodiversity.
The entire mark forms a circle, indicating a world in which all people and biodiversity thrive.
The label can be used in a company’s own brand colors. Companies that obtain ethical sourcing system certification may use the UEBT certification label on products and packaging.