Alland & Robert signs pledge for sustainable acacia harvesting for people and the planet

31 Jan 2023 --- Natural ingredient manufacturer Alland & Robert signs the We Use Wild pledge, created by NGO TRAFFIC, a specialist in wild plant trade. The company aims to address sustainability through a risk-based approach in bringing solutions to environmental and societal issues associated with wild-harvested gum acacia and increase awareness of wild ingredients.

Gum acacia is mainly sourced from the Senegalia senegal tree in the African Sahel with a wide range of applications in the food, beverage, pet food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. It is mainly used to improve texture and taste, add fiber and to help decrease sugar content. The US Food and Drug Administration recently classified it as a dietary fiber.

The We Use Wild pledge is a voluntary, self-led initiative created by the NGO TRAFFIC, a specialist in wild plant trade. 

“The global impact that we hope to have is to shape the gum acacia industry as a sustainable, fair, and transparent industry,” Violaine Fauvarque, Alland & Robert’s communication & sustainability manager, tells NutritionInsight. 

Caitlin Schindler, plants trade program manager at TRAFFIC, also tells NutritionInsight, “In three to five years, we would like to see the majority of gum acacia processors and traders commit to the pledge and address these risks in their supply chains.” 

Addressing sustainability risks
Gum acacia is facing various sustainability risks. These include biological threats, such as climate change, overharvesting and livestock grazing. Schindler further details that it also threatens social risks such as working conditions and vulnerability to child and forced labor. 

According to Schindler, overcoming these risks would ultimately result in better-paid harvesters with protected rights. It would also ensure that the gum is harvested sustainably while contributing to fighting desertification and climate change. 

Alland & Robert details that it has also joined other initiatives to create and maintain ethical and sustainable practices in the industry through a membership with SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) and Ecovadis – a platform evaluating corporate social responsibility.

Wild ingredients 
The pledge was created to encourage responsible sourcing through a structured and risk-based approach. Companies are joining the commitment guarantee to understand the wild-harvested plants used and to develop a plan to improve the selected plants’ biological and social sustainability.

For the We Use Wild pledge, Alland & Robert has created a five-year action plan with measurable indicators. The company focuses on environmental and social objectives to develop its knowledge, create awareness and “avoid, reduce and compensate for impacts.“

TRAFFIC also asks signees to raise awareness of wild-harvested ingredients through the WildCheck platform and social media. 

Schindler explains that uniting diverse organizations using wild plant ingredients in one pledge and asking them to use the hashtag #weusewild to join communications “will help raise awareness of wild ingredients and encourage more businesses to move toward responsible sourcing.”

By Jolanda van Hal