Purpose: To provide guidelines for ensuring that agarwood and other high-value plant products are sourced responsibly, aligning with CITES, national regulations, ESG principles, and market expectations.
A. Definition
- Ethical sourcing: Procurement practices that ensure products are obtained legally, sustainably, and with respect for human rights, community welfare, and environmental protection.
- Supports market credibility, investor confidence, and regulatory compliance.
B. Key Principles
- Legality:
- Compliance with CITES, national laws, and permits
- Sustainability:
- Harvesting and production practices that do not harm wild populations or ecosystems
- Social Responsibility:
- Respect for indigenous and local community rights
- Fair labor practices and benefit-sharing
- Transparency and Traceability:
- Full documentation of origin, chain-of-custody, and permits
- Use of digital tools like QR codes, batch IDs, blockchain, and audit trails
- Accountability:
- Monitoring, reporting, and continuous improvement of sourcing practices
C. Implementation Strategies
- Establish internal compliance programs integrating ethical sourcing standards
- Conduct supplier due diligence and vetting for legal and ESG compliance
- Engage in community consultations and benefit-sharing agreements
- Implement traceability systems from farm to market
- Regularly audit and review sourcing practices to ensure adherence to standards
Learning Outputs
- Understanding of ethical sourcing principles for high-value plant products
- Ability to implement sourcing practices that comply with legal and sustainability requirements
- Knowledge of integrating ethical standards with traceability, ICP, and community engagement
- Skills to monitor, report, and continuously improve sourcing practices for market credibility and ESG alignment