
More than 50 companies have committed to the "Sharm El Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People" in support of the global biodiversity framework, which is expected to be adopted in October 2021 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15).
Related: L'Occitane en Provence Commits to Protecting Biodiversity
Large luxury brands and smaller specialty companies are included in the list that was shared along with the text of the commitment that has been submitted to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
The list includes Natura & Co (parent company of The Body Shop, Natura Cosmetics and Avon), Weleda, Liz Earle, LVMH research division, Parfums Christian Dior, Parfums Givenchy, Kenzo Parfums, Fresh and Guerlain. The commitment also includes fragrance and flavor companies Firmenich and Symrise, and the botanicals company Martin Bauer Group.
The shared commitment is centered on sourcing ingredients from biodiversity in a way that respects people and nature.
Each company is reportedly committing to assess their ingredient sourcing practices; set targets to promote positive impact for people and biodiversity; monitor and communicate on progress; and continuously improve these actions over time.
Leading to the launch of CBD COP15, these companies showed that they are committed to change nature loss by slowing down or halting biodiversity loss and restoring nature through smart nature-based solutions.
The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) gathered these business sector’s voices over the last several weeks and submitted the joint commitment. Commitments made to the Action Agenda for Nature and People represent UEBT’s contribution to the convention on biological diversity’s process to develop a reportedly “post-2020 global biodiversity framework” that will be adopted at the COP15 and will guide action on biodiversity for the next decade.
The commitment follows from The Economist Intelligence Unit’s reportlast month that stated that over the last five years, internet searches by the public for sustainable goods had increased more than 70%, including during the pandemic. The research studied 54 countries and internet searches across 27 languages.
The report also noted that the natural beauty and pharmaceuticals sectors had clearly responded to this trend, citing the 45% growth in the number of companies working with UEBT on ethical sourcing over that same period.
Previously: Genomatica: U.S. Consumers Embrace Sustainability Despite COVID-19
According to the UEBT, the companies listed below in coordination with the UEBT have committed to cultivating, collecting or procuring ingredients from biodiversity with respect for all people and biodiversity.
- AGAR: African Agency for Arid Resources Limited
- Agrifaso
- Argenmilla SAICAyG
- B'Ayoba
- Blue Sky Botanics
- Brasil Ceras
- Candela Peru
- Capua 1880
- CODIF Technologie Naturelle
- Cosmo International Fragrances
- Duc Phu
- Ecoflora
- Firmenich
- Forestal Casino, part of Sociedad Agricola
- Forestwise
- Fresh
- Guerlain
- Indfrag Biosciences Ltd
- Jan Spider
- Jayanti Herbs and Spice
- Kaza Natural Oils
- Laboratoires Expanscience
- Latitudes
- Liz Earle
- LLS Dis Ticaret
- LMR Naturals by IFF
- LVMH Recherche Parfums & Cosmétique
- Martin Bauer GmbH & Co. KG
- Mexialoe Laboratorios S.A.
- Native
- Natura
- Neikim S.A.
- Nelixia
- Novel Development Tanzania Ltd.
- Parfums Christian Dior
- Parfums Givenchy
- Parfums Kenzo
- Prod’Hyg
- Provital S.A.
- Q'omer BioActive Ingredients
- Refem Millers Ltd.
- Robertet SA
- Sederma
- Serdex, an affiliate of SEPPIC Group
- Silab S.A.
- Southern Cross Botanicals
- Symrise AG
- Thai Commodities Company Limited
- The Rosehip Company Pty Ltd
- Traphaco SaPa
- Vinasamex
- Weleda AG
- Worlée NaturProdukte GmbH
- Yves Rocher
“We are at a critical and decisive point in history where all of society needs to reconnect to nature and contribute towards a shared vision: to live in harmony with nature by 2050,” said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. “Every actor from society, government and the productive and financial sectors has a vital part to play in realizing this vision for the health of our planet and our future. We are delighted to profile the transformative commitment from the business sector on the Sharm El Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People platform and to witness the momentum building in the business sector, to assess impacts and dependencies on biodiversity, set targets to improve and align actions in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.”
“Consumers are increasingly demanding that businesses demonstrate a genuine commitment to ethical sourcing,” added Rik Kutsch Lojenga, executive director at UEBT. “We at UEBT are so pleased to see more than 50 companies stand up for nature with this shared commitment. In the coming years, we will be supporting these businesses in reaching their time-bound targets on the ground in farms and wild plant collection sites all over the world.”
Featured: Cosmetic Victories Finalist Profile: Biodiversified Phyto-fermentation