PLT’s Boswellia serrata supply is sustainable, third-party audit in India confirms

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A third-party audit of PLT Health Solutions’ (Morristown, NJ) Boswellia serrata gum resin business has confirmed that the harvesting and collection practices in India are sustainable. The audit was conducted by Botanical Liaisons LLC (Boulder, CO). During the audit, Botanical Liaisons interviewed field workers, resin consolidators, ingredient manufacturers, and government officials in order to confirm the practices employed are sustainable and do not present potential for overharvesting.

PLT’s Boswellia serrata ingredient, also commonly referred to as frankincense, is grown in India. There are other species of plant also referred to as frankincense, such as Boswellia papyrifera and Boswellia sacra, which are growth in other countries in Africa and the Middle East. These other species face the potential of overharvesting and are mostly used for essential oils and fragrances. By contrast, the India-sourced Boswellia serrata ingredient, like that from PLT, that is known for its health benefits, including for joint and muscle, respiratory, and cardiovascular health, is not in danger of overharvesting.

Much attention is paid to the sustainable growing of Boswellia serrata in India, said Trish Flaster, executive director of Botanical Liaisons, in a press release. Flaster performed the review of PLT’s business. Incentives to protect the plant in India include economic incentives, minimum-pricing restrictions, and government- and industry-supported training programs.

Seth Flowerman, president and CEO of PLT Health Solutions, said his company felt this audit was important and that it falls in line with its PLT360 transparency initiative to ensure its ingredient supply is transparent and produced sustainably and ethically. In 2021, the company also announced its People+Planet initiative to support communities like those in India harvesting Boswellia serrata.

Said Flowerman in a press release: “My family and PLT have been working with partners collecting Boswellia serrata for nearly 40 years. Every year, we are finding new and exciting health promoting uses for Boswellia serrata that have the ability to help people live happier, healthier lives, and today, extracts of Boswellia serrata form the basis of some of the leading products at PLT. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of these resources and to support the communities whose livelihoods depend on it.”