ecology

Nearly everything that we do in the world impacts other people, things, and businesses. When it comes to buying a product like Kratom that is grown in one part of the world and then marketed in another, that impact can take on another level.

Goods that are traded worldwide are often subject to fair trade practices. These practices, used commonly in the chocolate, coffee, and clothing industries, can help ensure life and environment sustaining practices take over as the industry’s norm.

Has this happened in the Kratom industry? Are fair trade practices a regular part of the industry, or are there still improvements to be made?

Today, we’ll talk in more detail about fair trade as it applies to the Kratom industry. It’s time to find out if the products you support help make a positive difference in the world!

Why Does Fair Trade Matter?

Fair trade products are becoming a more and more common sight when shopping. Why is it that so many people have taken to the idea of supporting the fair trade movement in a huge variety of businesses?

As knowledge becomes more pervasive worldwide, people are becoming more aware of the unethical practices used in many industries. Even though it is expected for some level of difference to exist in wages worldwide, seeing the farmers growing our coffee or cocoa beans making low wages that they cannot survive on is not good.

Fair trade practices seek to ensure that the marginalized people working in various industries are being treated properly. From solidifying their workplaces’ safety and hygiene to providing some type of economic stability through their wages, the goal is to create sustainable working conditions.

Environmental and economic stability is essential in today’s world. Fair trade practices help ensure that workers and businesses worldwide are supporting both of these things.

Fair Trade Labeling: Not All Is As It Seems

When shopping for fair trade products, it may seem to be as simple as checking for a label and then moving on with your purchase.

Unfortunately, things are not always as simple as they seem. Fair trade labeling is a common practice, but not all labels are created equally! Companies that want to be involved with the positive marketing of fair trade labels find ways to get involved that aren’t as supportive of the movement as it may seem at first glance.

Fair trade labels come in many varieties, and the organization that oversees these labels is actually split into distinct classifications. The classifications are given out by different non-profit and membership organizations, and each specific label has different guarantees.

For example, some labels are given only if the business meets a strict set of fair trade and ethical business practices. Other labels are given out if a certain number of ingredients fits those practices, even if the other ingredients do not.

The best way to be sure that you are buying fair trade products that genuinely make a difference is to research the products and the company. Find out if they care about ethical production and business standards, and then make your decision about whether to shop there or not.

Companies that are truly dedicated to the communities where their products come from will be ready to show you just what they are doing to make a difference!

Labeling In The Kratom Industry

The Kratom industry does not have any specific fair trade classifications or non-profit organizations working to ensure fair trade practices are followed at this time, though we are excited to say this is changing. And, regardless of that, Kratom companies can still apply the principles of fair trade practices to their supply chain.

Kratom companies rely on a healthy production cycle to be able to keep doing business for years to come. By making sure that their suppliers and harvesters are working in good conditions and in a way that is sustainable for the Kratom forests, Kratom companies can ensure that their business will have a steady supply chain.

The supply for a single Kratom manufacturer often comes from dozens of harvesters, if not more, so getting strict accreditation of fair trade principles from each harvester can be very difficult.

Still, many of these harvesters are solo workers that are being paid fairly to work in an industry that is much more sustainable than other common farming industries in their home regions.

The Future Of Fair Trade In Kratom’s Future

Compared to other industries that have flourishing fair trade labeling and organizations, Kratom is a very young industry. While it has been used worldwide for a long time, the consistent import and sale of kratom have only been going on for a few decades.

As the Kratom industry grows more and the practices around Kratom sales in the United States become regulated, we can expect to see more organizations incorporating Kratom fair trade principles into their labeling guidelines. Bulk products like tea and coffee are often included in these organizations, so it makes sense that Kratom teas will be added at some time as well.

Until then, continue to seek out Kratom companies that do their best to be transparent about their supply chain and the safety checks that they have in place to ensure that you are receiving a safe, ethical supply of Kratom in every shipment.

Phytoextractum & Our Supply Chain

Here at Phytoextractum, we are committed to making sure that our customers can get their supply of safe, high-quality Kratom products from our store.

To make this happen, we are connected with our suppliers and supply chain at many points in the process. We ensure that our products are being handled properly, and that means that we also have to check up on the standards used at these facilities and for harvesters. You can be sure that the Kratom for sale here at Phytoextractum doesn’t come from a factory farm with no commitment to sustainability.

From start to finish, we want to play a part in bringing a fair, ethically-created product to those that rely on it. We hope that we can continue to do just that and encourage others in our position to do the same! Let us know if there is anything else that you’d like to see us do as we continue to grow with you and with the industry. \

On our blog here at Phytoextractum, we talk a lot about where kratom comes from and how it is being sold in America. While these are important topics, there are a few other areas that we haven’t covered yet.

One area that we’ve been thinking a lot about recently is the environmental impact of kratom. The shift from excess plastic to more eco-friendly options has been a huge shift in modern-day American culture, but we know that there is a lot more work to be done in the realms of sustainability and monitoring the environmental impacts of business.

We started thinking: is kratom sustainable? Does it have a net neutral impact on the environment, or is it causing damages to the areas where it is farmed? These questions aren’t easily answered, but they are important.

Take some time today to learn about sustainability, kratom, and how those two worlds are currently intersecting! We are interested in what effect kratom is having on this aspect of the world and are excited to share our findings with you!

Risky Industries In The Region

Palm oil plantations and the timber industry are huge threats to rainforests and ecosystems where kratom grows naturally. Both of these industries tend to deforest huge areas of the rainforests to get more material or more space for their own production purposes, and that can cause huge problems.

The palm industry, in particular, is known for being incredibly rehabilitating to the ecosystem. It’s even been shown to be one of the causes of increased climate change problems in recent years.

Still, both of these industries are the lifeblood of some regions in Southeast Asia. Due to the limited work options, many farmers and laborers rely on these industries to keep their families afloat. There are few options, so they take part in a system that is slowly killing the world around them.

A Better Option: Kratom

As the kratom industry has come back to life in the past decade, many farmers and laborers have returned to this traditional farming practice. The industry gives them another option outside of the palm oil industry and the timber industry. And for many farmers, that is a huge relief.

That’s not to say that every single palm oil plantation is going to close in favor of kratom farming, but there is a considerable effect that has been had by giving these people another profitable option.

Important Sustainable Points for Kratom

In addition to being a great alternative to more harmful options in native kratom regions, there are many ways that the kratom industry can continue to be a positive force in the world of sustainability.

For the most part, kratom farms are doing things the right way, but there is always the risk that will change in the future as kratom becomes more and more popular. Hopefully, that will never become a huge concern. The key points that kratom farms need to stick to include the following.

Continue The Traditions

Traditionally, kratom has been harvested in very sustainable and environmentally friendly ways. Kratom farming was harvested in small villages throughout the forests, and this is a better alternative than cutting down forests in order to grow kratom trees.

The traditional farming method used for kratom is very different from most industrial agriculture practices, and sticking to the existing traditions is much kinder to the planet.

Avoiding Centralized Cultivation

As mentioned, kratom farms were typically spread through the forests of the countries where kratom is naturally found.

Centralized cultivation of kratom would require wide-spread cutting of the forests and rainforests in these regions; this is something that often happens in other primary industries in the region.

Kratom does not, and does not need to, rely on that type of huge plantation. Kratom farming can be successful by harvesting and cultivating wild trees as well as setting up small farms in the backyards of people and laborers in each village. Having just a few trees in each year is enough to harvest kratom while also continuing the biodiversity of the region.

Stick To Sustainability

As demand continues to grow for kratom around the world, there is a risk of sustainable practices being abandoned in favor of “faster” production. It’s important that the future generations of kratom farmers continue to follow in the footsteps of sustainable kratom farmers by:

Only harvesting leaves that are ready and needed
Leaving the trees with enough leaves to be healthy between harvests
Avoiding harsh chemicals and pesticides
Not allowing any chemical processing required to get into local groundwater
Avoiding any damage to the local ecosystem

Sticking to both wild and backyard farming is a great way to avoid the dangers that can happen with these issues.

Long-Term Growth Is Best

Another important facet of the kratom industry is that more mature kratom trees are actually better options for a high-quality extract and leaf. Trees need to mature for at least three years before they are harvested, and the best leaves often come from trees that are more than 20 years old.

The longer that kratom trees are allowed to thrive, the better the final product will be. This means that there is a lot of value in helping the forests to thrive, and that can be a great thing for these kratom-adjacent ecosystems.

Additionally, it is possible that kratom trees grow best when they are underneath a larger forest canopy. This is why wild harvesting of wild-grown kratom trees is so popular, and it is likely that that practice will continue. This practice encourages forest growth and sustainability, and that is amazing.

We Care About The Future

Here at Phytoextractum, we are always thinking about our sourcing and supply line. We want to make sure that we are only sourcing the highest-quality kratom, and we do a variety of testing to ensure that this remains true.

As we move forward in the industry, we also want to be sure that we pay attention to sustainability and how the farmers that we work with are affecting the environment around them. Hopefully, other kratom vendors will continue to do the same!

PHYTOEXTRACTUM

The Kratom Industry & Fair Trade Practices: What We Are Doing