Sustainable Herbs Project Blog — News and Updates

The Sustainable Herbs Initiative Learning Journey in Oregon explores how to create circles of healing in the herbal products industry.

Collaboration and heart were two themes at the 2024 Climate Day at Expo West.

In this recent NutraPreneur podcast episode, Cultivating Ethical Roots: A Conversation with Ann Armbrecht from the Sustainable Herbs Program, Ann Armbrecht describes the journey that led to the establishment of the Sustainable Herbs Program.

In September 2023, the Sustainable Herbs Program hosted a Learning Journey for herbal industry leaders to Appalachia. We hoped to inspire change by listening to the voices we don’t always listen to: the people at the edges of the system, the places, and the plants. Beyond analytics and industry interests, we wanted to open our hearts an...

Most of the founders of early herb companies will have to sell in the next 5-10 years. How and to whom these founders sell will determine the future of this segment of the natural products industry. Will plants and the values of herbalism still be part of the conversation? What are some key things to think about as these companies navigat...

What can we do now to invest in the institutions -- social, economic, ecological, and cultural -- that will get us through these crises now and in the future? How can we re-imagine these institutions so that they allow human and natural communities to thrive over the long term?

What can we learn from a summer of raging wild fires, soaring heat waves, and devastating flooding to rebuild more resilient communities? Join us for this free Sustainable Herbs Program webinar on August 17, 2023.

Fair certifications are slowly gaining more momentum in the herb industry. Yet it can be difficult to know what difference those labels actually make, especially amidst accusations (often correct) that fair trade is still not translating into a living income for many workers. Read more about the ways fair trade makes a difference and what...

Herb companies know that transparent supply chains lead to higher quality herbs. They know that long term relationships matter. And that climate change, biodiversity loss, and labor shortages threaten the long term supply of the raw material on which the botanical industry depends. What is needed for more companies to take action on the ...

In Part 2, SHP Director Ann Armbrecht speaks with producers from India, Guatemala, Namibia, Nepal, and Zimbabwe. It isn’t often that producers from different regions of the world can speak with each other about their experiences and we are thrilled to be joined by Elisa Aragon, Gero Diekmann, Khilendra Gurung, Shamiso Mungwashu, and Nih...

Highlights from a Sustainable Herbs Program webinar on how certifications are innovating to meet changing circumstances in the botanical industry.

In the Sustainable Herbs Program Webinar, “The Importance of Data in the Botanical Industry,” Josef Brinckmann and Wolfgang Kathe discuss the findings in their recent article, "A New Global Estimation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Species in Commercial Cultivation and Their Conservation Status." Below are some highlights and key poi...

Reflections by Sustainable Herbs Program Director, Ann Armbrecht, PhD documenting the medicinal plant trade in Nepal.

What is the medicine of place? Read the introduction to Ann Armbrecht's award winning book, The Business of Botanicals, following medicinal plants from seed to shelf to find out.

Key takeaways from AHPA’s 10th Botanical Congress panel, "Climate Change is Real: Case Studies on How the Environment is Impacting Your Herb Supply.“

Key takeaways from HerbalGram article, “Climate-Conscious Consumers Prioritize Sustainable Herbal Products,” by Karen Raterman.

In this webinar, Jane Franch of Numi Organic Tea and Kayalin Akens-Irby of Planet FWD discuss the importance of getting accurate data on carbon emissions as a foundation for taking action to reduce those emissions.

What is the responsibility of botanical companies in addressing the climate impacts of their sourcing practices? Join us to speak with Numi Tea and Planet FWD to learn more.

Anne Biklé and David Montgomery’s books on soil health connect the dots between the health of the soil, the chemistry of the crops grown in that soil, and the health of our bodies. Read highlights from the SHP Webinar about their most recent book, What Your Food Ate.

A joint SHP-TRAFFIC webinar to introduce the ground-breaking new report by TRAFFIC, FAO, and IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, entitled WildCheck: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients.

Reflections by the late Steven Foster on approaching plants with his mind, with his heart, and, especially, with awe.

Women Leading Regeneration gathers women leaders from around the world for a 2-day online summit. SHP Director Ann Armbrecht speaks with the event organizers about the vision and purpose of this event.

The Social Good team at Traditional Medicinals (TM) organized a 3-month book club to discuss the themes explored in SHP Director, Ann Armbrecht’s book, The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry. Ann spoke with Hannah Scott, Impact Communications Manager at Traditional Medicinals Fo...

A conversation with Sebastian Pole, co-founder of Pukka Herbs, and founder of Herbal Reality, a new online forum of herbal education based in the United Kingdom.

AUSTIN, Texas (April 21, 2020) — During the week observing the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the nonprofit Sustainable Herbs Program (SHP) announces the publication of The SHP Sustainability & Regenerative Practices Toolkit.

Can the recent cancellation of Expo West be an opportunity for the natural products industry to show the ways it is committed not just to the wellness of consumers and their company’s bottom line but to the wellness of the earth on which we all depend?

David Hircock, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Global Communications, Estée Lauder Companies, writes about three major UN and International Awards given to longterm partners of Estée Lauder Companies for their work in sustainability and human rights.

Highlights from the opening celebration of the Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation at the 25th Anniversary of United Plant Savers.

An overview of NSF's six-week online Sustainability Bootcamp that provides tools and resources to leading sustainability initiatives in the natural products industry.