Co-Impact Sourcing: The Essence of Sustainable Sourcing

Article at a Glance

Although it is difficult to objectively measure the human effect on the health of our environment, there is no debate that industry has taken its toll on our planet. Anthropogenic activities such as deforestation and use of pesticides influence the survivability rate of different life forms (1). Furthermore, many essential oils are extracted from plant species that are native to developing nations, where there is significant risk for enterprise to result in negative social impacts. This makes sustainable essential oil sourcing critical, and it is exactly why Cō-Impact Sourcing® exists.

What Is Sustainable Sourcing?

Sustainable sourcing considers ethical and environmental factors when sourcing materials. In essence, a company utilizing sustainable sourcing seeks to acquire the necessary resources to develop their products in a way that does not cause harm, but actually promotes the long-term well-being of our planet and its people. Sustainable sourcing has two key components.

• Ethical – supporting small-scale, community-based sources. This means using community and family-owned farms that promote the health and prosperity of the local community. Also, supporting businesses in developing areas, to help them develop financial self-sustainability.
• Environmental – focusing supply chain on methods that promote biological perseveration. This means utilizing resources that may otherwise be wasted, using harvesting and extraction methods that minimize carbon footprint, and not harvesting endangered species.

With sustainable sourcing practices, it is possible to have a positive impact on farmers, harvesters, and distillers in economically distressed areas while promoting environmental health, all while producing the best products possible.

How Does doTERRA Support Sustainable Sourcing?

For doTERRA, sustainable sourcing takes the form of Co-Impact Sourcing. The Co-Impact Sourcing model is sustainable sourcing at its finest, allowing doTERRA to have a positive influence on the communities it collaborates with while also promoting a healthy environment.

Vetiver from Haiti

The relationship between vetiver grass and its environment is complicated. While it is a hardy grass that can be beneficial in controlling erosion, it often has negative impacts when specifically planted for its valuable essential oil. When it is planted in hilly areas, harvested in large patches, or harvested at the wrong time, vetiver planting and harvesting can result in significant loss of topsoil (2). doTERRA works with five vetiver cooperatives to ensure that proper planting and harvesting practices are followed to produce maximum essential oil yield and long-term viability of the local topsoil. Furthermore, work with the cooperatives guarantees local farmers and harvesters fair and stable prices for their yields, discouraging poor practices and early harvesting.

Douglas Fir from New Zealand

Native to the Pacific Northwest, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) trees have a variety of uses, but can become invasive if planted in the wrong environment. Introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century as
a source of timber, Douglas fir trees have quickly become invasive. Due to their rapid growth, easy proliferation of their cones and seeds, and the interaction of their roots with the below ground bionetwork, the spread of Douglas fir is a significant threat to the native ecosystem (3). While there have been many government programs aimed at slowing the spread, doTERRA developed a mutually beneficial means to protect the New Zealand environment. aōTERRA, doTERRA’s New Zealand entity, works with locals to sustainably control invasion by collecting and processing needles of Douglas fir saplings (and new growth on existing trees) for the extraction of their essential oil. This creates a valuable commodity from what was previously waste and supports the regeneration of the native biodiversity.

Frankincense from Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

Due to its high value and natural growth in some of the world’s most underdeveloped areas, Frankincense is one of the essential oils most at risk for environmentally and ethically destructive harvesting practices. Research has shown that recent overharvesting of various Frankincense trees for oleoresin has had negative impacts on the local environment. Additionally, it has led to the exploitation of the native peoples (4). In Ethiopia, Oman, and Somaliland, doTERRA has worked with their partners to develop a harvesting best practices manual to support the sustainability of the different Boswellia species trees and provide financial opportunity to the local community.

The Big Picture of Co-Impact Sourcing

doTERRA is in a unique position to not only produce the highest quality essential oils, but also to make a positive difference in communities and native environments all over the world. Focusing on ethically and environmentally beneficial sourcing methods, doTERRA’s Co-Impact Sourcing model ensures that we will have essential oil sources for the foreseeable future while acting as stewards of good for our planet