Sectors

African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology

Elizabeth Dlamini, herbalist and skincare adviser to a whole of local women, has skin that glows. She beams as she explains why. “Here in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland we proud of our plants that we use in our traditional beauty regimes. Our grandmothers taught us how to prepare cosmetics from the oil of the Marula nut”. Now, Ubuntu Natural is bringing Swaziland’s best-kept beauty secret to the international cosmetics market.

Sharing the benefits arising from the use of biodiversity in cosmetics

Relying on the natural ingredients it sources in Brazil for its cosmetic product manufacturing and R&D, Natura has engaged in strong partnerships with local communities, who are not only compensated for the supply of raw ingredients, but also rewarded for their knowledge through benefit sharing.

Responsible sourcing of argan Oil

L’Oréal is a world leading cosmetics company created in 1909 in Paris, France. It employs 67,500 people in 130 countries and operates 42 factories and 63 warehouses around the world. In 2008, the company invested approximately $763 million Canadian in Research and Development. The company’s prestigious brand portfolio of over 25 brands encompasses all aspects of beauty. L’Oréal Canada was founded in 1958 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L’Oréal Group. The company employs 1,200 people and in addition to its headquarters in Montreal, it operates a logistics center, a training center and an industrial facility which manufactures professional hair care products.

Ethical and Environmental Certification Institute

http://www.icea.info

ICEA is an inspection and certification body in the field of sustainable development that evaluates corporate respect for the environment, workers' dignity, and collective rights. ICEA's activities support a fair and socially sustainable development that extend from agriculture to other organic and ecological sectors.
 

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

http://www.planttreaty.org

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is crucial in the fight against hunger and poverty and essential for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 1 and 7. This website disseminates information on the ITPGRFA and its Multilateral System for Access and Benefit Sharing. It is meant to be a platform to distribute documents for the meetings of the Governing Body and its related committees and subcommittees and other information.

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)

http://bio.org/ip/international

BIO is the world's largest biotechnology organization, providing advocacy, business development and communications services for more than 1,150 members worldwide. BIO engages in the discussions on a possible patent law harmonization treaty within WIPO, the WTO TRIPS process, as well is actively engaged in the deliberations of the Intergovernmental Committee on Folklore, Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources of the World Intellectual Property Organization and in various forums within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Uganda BioTrade

http://www.ugandaexportsonline.com/biotrade/

The Uganda BioTrade Programme was designed to facilitate and promote trade in biological goods and services.  Increased trade positively affects employment creation, the sustainable use of Uganda’s natural resources, and contributes to poverty alleviation.

National Biotrade Project in Bolivia

http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Webflyer.asp?docID...

Bolivia´s National Biotrade Programme, to be applied for five years, has the following overall objectives:

1. To stimulate production of, and trade in, biodiversity goods and services following criteria of ecological, social, and economic sustainability
2. To strengthen value chains and related local economies, thus creating links with domestic and international markets.

It contains the following five components:

• Development of standards for promoting the sustainable management of biodiversity
• Development of skills for sustainable production
• Facilitating access to markets, certification, and financing
• Developing value chains
• and fostering access to information and training in biotrade for the various national stakeholders