I'm sure you've seen the label, Certified Ethical Origin around my website, and listed on all of my Palo Santo products. You may be wondering, what does this actually mean?
Is this similar to organic? Fair trade? Is it Gluten free?
(well maybe not that last one 😉 lol)
I wanted to lift the veil on what Certified Ethical Origin means, and show you some of the amazing techniques and impact this wonderful plant has, straight from the source.
First off,
NEVER cut living trees to produce Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) products. Ever. Period.
Nature is a sacred resource and the conscious and ethical harvesting of these plants is essential to their longevity and their ability to positively impact everyone that comes across them.
When done mindfully, the gathering of fallen Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) wood is a sustainable practice. When a tree grows old and dies of natural causes, it eventually falls to the forest floor. The tree then resides there for a number of years, untouched, allowing the rich oils within to refine with time, creating the pleasant aromas we experience with this precious wood! When trees are cut down while they're alive, they miss this entire process, and you don't get the amazing oils you look for, and you harm the plant and its environment.
By following this strict guideline, our collection practices support the conservation of existing dry forestlands. The Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) trade has helped to bring a much greater degree of awareness to these dry forestlands and their continued preservation efforts.
Working directly at the source in South America, conducting independent third-party audits of all native communities within the supply chain to ensure ethical sourcing & humane labor practices.
Working alongside hundreds of Ecuadorian & Peruvian families who act as the gatekeepers of the Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) dry forest, they help to bring these precious natural products from their native production partners to the rest of the world.
Additionally, official certifications, (both government and privately issued) are only one piece to a truly holistic Palo Santo supply chain. This is a continued commitment to work within the guidance of MAGAP (Ecuador) & SERFOR (Peru).
Regenerative Palo Santo Harvest Models
When it comes to the niche world of Bursera graveolens, going above and beyond for beloved Palo Santo is what they're all about. They plant new trees annually & have been planting them since the beginning. My source has planted over 50,000 Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) seedlings, from both seed & cuttings over the past decade alone! While the sowing of seeds is only a brief season of year, they spend the rest of their time working to protect living Palo Santo trees, by the tens of thousands, in order to help conserve the biodiversity of the dry forest & to prevent harm caused from illegal poachers & human-influenced environmental degradation.
It is important to actively play a role in ensuring the conservation of our earth's natural habitats for future generations through our mindful actions as a socially responsible, positive-impact business.
So, there you have it! A combination of Fair Trade, environmentally conscious, and forward thinking defines the term, "Certified Ethical Origin".
I hope you enjoy your Palo Santo products even more, knowing the impact they have on our planet and this natural resource.