Sustainable Herbs Program launches free sustainability toolkit

Photo © Shutterstock.com/Maren Winter

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the American Botanical Council’s (ABC; Austin, TX) Sustainable Herbs Program (SHP) has published “The SHP Sustainability & Regenerative Practices Toolkit.” The toolkit is an online collection of practical resources and best practices for the herb and botanical industry that can be used by businesses of any size to become more socially and environmentally responsible.

The 14-section, 52-page SHP Toolkit was written by SHP Director Ann Armbrecht, PhD, with input and assistance from experts from the 17-member SHP Advisory Group and the American Botanical Council (ABC), the nonprofit science organization that manages and funds SHP.

“Our own health and wellness are inextricably connected with the health and wellness of the human and ecological systems in which we live and on which we depend,” said Armbrecht, in a press release. “Many of us as individuals and as companies are asking how we want to emerge from the current pandemic crisis. How can we put in place systems that recognize and build on our interdependence and practices that support biodiversity, social equity, and healthy soils? This toolkit provides resources to begin or continue this journey.”

The SHP Toolkit includes:

• Videos highlighting stories from the field and case studies to learn about various topics through meaningful examples of best practices.
• Discussion questions to reflect on those examples and how they apply to the unique challenges of each company.
• Action steps in each section to deepen the learning experience.

In addition to the toolkit, periodic webinars will be organized in a question and answer format with experts in the field. “The SHP Toolkit is a significant contribution to the movement toward sustainable and regenerative practices in the global herb and medicinal plant industry,” said Mark Blumenthal, ABC founder and executive director, in a press release. “While many people in herb companies, and elsewhere, are interested in becoming more sustainable, they are often unsure where and how to begin. This toolkit provides them with more than enough resources to do so.”