Business Ethics

Sustainable harvest
All our collectors are trained in sustainable harvesting before they are officially allowed to collect the plant material or grow the crops for us. We commit ourselves to sustainable harvesting as well as ethical sourcing of any natural produce or plant material. We therefore only harvest species that are abundant in rural areas and that are not on the brink of extinction. We are also in the process of becoming a member of PhytoTrade, thus guaranteeing the commitment to sustainable harvesting through signature of the Ethical Bio Trade Charter. The Charter obliges members to invest into active conservation activities and regular monitoring of biodiversity impacts of harvesting.

Organic production
All our smallholder farmers who are growing plant species for us (this is currently only moringa) are committed to organic farming. We are training them via our Field Officers in different workshop sessions and are continuously monitoring them. On top of this, Mukwati Oils is currently in the process to attain third party certification from Ecocert and verification through organic certification and through membership of UEBT (Union for Bioethical Trade).

Fair trade pricing
We are paying our collectors a price for the plant material which is 20% above usual market rates as we are deeply convinced that this is what they deserve. Although we are not fair trade certified (we do not need certification to be fair), we are paying those prices above market rate voluntarily and out of conviction that local producers should benefit as much as possible from the whole value chain.

Women´s empowerment
80% of our smallholder farmers and wild collectors are women. With the additional income from Mukwati Oils, they make a significant contribution to the household budget. They can buy food, pay for the school fees of their children, go to the doctor when they are sick or invest in a goat or any other asset which brings them additional livelihood opportunities. But not only that. They are also empowered, strengthened and uplifted in their homes as well as in the whole society.