Nuherbs (California), suppliers of sustainably sourced Chinese herbs, is marking its 40th year as an importer of Chinese herbal formulas and premium Chinese herbs. With an eye to the future, the company is funding work in herbal harvest sustainability programs in China to ensure future supplies and a healthier ecosystem.

“Nuherbs has a passion to share traditional Chinese medicine with the world, which fuels our commitment to sustainable sourcing practices,” said Wilson Lau, vice president of Nuherbs. “As we enter our 40th year, we’re redoubling our work to protect these herbs for future generations, so I’m proud to announce that we’re expanding our support of the FairWild initiative for sustainable wild product sourcing, especially for work in China.”

“Sustainable collection practices of wild botanicals impact entire ecosystems, far beyond an herb itself,” said Bryony Morgan, FairWild Foundation executive officer. “For example, the sourcing areas of Schisandra chinensis overlap with the habitats of Amur (Siberian) tigers. Sustainable harvesting of wild plants can provide an incentive to maintain the habitats for the benefits of other species and whole ecosystems. Following the equitable benefit-sharing and social sustainability requirements of FairWild provides assurance that people involved in harvesting of wild plants benefit fairly. Taking a broader view, areas rich in wildlife and plant life harbor a wealth of critically important goods and services that millions of people rely on every day. Put in the most simple terms, it’s all connected.”

The donation will be made to the American Herbal Products Association Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (the AHPA-ERB Foundation), a 501(c)(3) foundation for the purpose of promoting education and research on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs. The AHPA-ERB Foundation will grant the funds to FairWild Foundation, a Swiss-registered non-profit organization that maintains the FairWild Standard and promotes its uptake worldwide, with a current focus on introducing the FairWild certification system in China.

Nuherbs will sponsor the American Herbal Products Association’s member reception on Oct. 17, 2019 at SupplySide West in Las Vegas, NV.