Sustainable Sourcing

 

Most Ayurvedic herbs are wild-harvested without regard for long-term effects on the species or the environment. Many widely used plants are threatened and in danger of being unavailable either through extinction or protective legislation. Banyan Botanicals is working to reverse this trend by supporting sustainable projects that use ecologically friendly methods of farming and harvesting.

Our Partner Farms

• Prevent over-harvesting through cultivation in natural forest settings
• Harvest with respect for the life of the plant
• Use sustainable techniques like root dividing, pruning, and seed planting

Our Projects

Guggulu Cultivation Project

In an effort to preserve the guggulu species and to help ensure its future in the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia, Banyan’s partners have worked with a farming cooperative in rural Rajasthan, India to establish a sustainable and reliable source of guggulu. The planted organic guggulu trees are carefully maintained and only tapped when they are fully mature, and the harvest is carried out in a responsible way that allows the trees to continue to live and thrive.

We are proud to support this farming project, which is one of the first and only organic, cultivated sources of guggulu in the world! We believe that protecting the long-term availability of the ancient Ayurvedic herbs, like guggulu, is well worth the investment required to source them responsibly.

Speaking from the guggulu farm, Banyan co-founder, Kevin Casey, sheds light on the sustainability issues surrounding this potent and medicinal tree resin, while illustrating a few of its health benefits:

 

FairWild Certification Project

The FairWild initiative is essentially what it sounds like: it ensures the protection of wild plant species and their habitats, while also fairly supporting the livelihoods of those involved in the harvesting process. Banyan Botanicals offers FairWild certified Triphala tablets using FairWild certified haritaki.

We at Banyan are both excited and passionate about the FairWild certification project, and we are committed to supporting our partners and the communities involved in collecting and caring for these wild plant species. When you purchase Banyan’s FairWild products, you’re also supporting this positive initiative. To learn more about the FairWild standard, watch the video below or visit their website.