sustainability

The Importance of Sustainable Kratom Sourcing & Production

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The U.S. Kratom industry is booming like never before, fueled by increasing consumer interest and quality-focused production processes. According to one estimate, the U.S. Kratom industry is a massive $1 billion powerhouse that attracts imports from several South-East Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, and so on. 

Kratom is extracted from Mitragyna speciosa, a wild plant belonging to the coffee family. As demand for Kratom surges, farmers in tropical Asia are turning to this “cash crop” for export-oriented opportunities. As the overseas demand for Kratom grows, it fuels deforestation, soil degradation, freshwater wastage, wild animal habitat loss, community dislocations, and countless other problems in this region. Entire ecologies are being endangered by unregulated farming. Not only the local population and communities are threatened, but the entire planet feels the effects of the ecological damage wreaked by unhinged Kratom supply chain practices. 

Sustainable farming is the need of the hour. Sustainable farming is not only essential to preserve the planet and all its inhabitants but also to protect the industry against potential prohibitions that may arise to combat its impact. 

How Sustainable Kratom Farming Protects Biodiversity

There are multiple dimensions to sustainable farming, each offering unique solutions to specific challenges arising from unfettered farming and deforestation. Here are the most common solutions employed by the sustainable farming industry:

  • Agroforestry

Large-scale Kratom farming often entails clearing out huge swathes of forests for cultivation. This destroys local ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity. It also contributes to soil erosion and climate change.

By integrating other trees into Kratom farms, soil erosion can be arrested, while allowing wildlife to thrive. In particular, indigenous plants and animal species are safeguarded and preserved, without being entirely driven away to an ever-smaller tract of land.

  • Organic Farming

Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides are known to wreak havoc on the delicate ecological balance. The residues often contaminate soil and inflict irreparable damage. Organic farming practices protect soil health while encouraging local biodiversity.

How Sustainable Kratom Processing Conserves Resources

The vast majority of Kratom farms in South-East Asian countries rely on outdated, decades-old agricultural methods to process the Kratom harvest. These methods are highly resource intensive and threaten the availability of resources to other food crops; not to mention their contribution to resource depletion. Innovative and eco-friendly processing methods can help address these problems in the following ways:

  • Energy-efficient Drying

Traditional Kratom drying processes are energy-intensive and produce huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Using solar drying and heat recovery systems can slash down energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during Kratom processing.

  • Waste Reduction and Recycling

Kratom processing generates huge quantities of organic waste. However, there are convenient, cheap, and even lucrative waste reduction and recycling options available. For instance, leftover plant material can be repurposed as compost or animal feed.

  • Water Conservation

Kratom processing can utilize large quantities of water and put undue pressure on local freshwater resources. Innovative solutions like rainwater catchment, drip irrigation, low-energy spray irrigation, and so on, can conserve tremendous quantities of freshwater.

How Green Packaging & Can Help Protect The Environment

While Kratom production is largely concentrated in a handful of closely-knit countries in South-East Asia, it is consumed worldwide. Packaging, shipping, and last-mile delivery of Kratom to users worldwide consume enormous amounts of fossil fuel, generate vast quantities of non-recyclable packaging waste, and contribute heavily to greenhouse emissions. Fortunately, several emerging solutions are already addressing these supply chain issues:

  • Eco-friendly Transportation

Electric and hybrid vehicles for transporting processed Kratom can drastically reduce greenhouse emissions, especially when the energy source is clean, such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. Advanced algorithms are also being utilized to optimize shipping routes to reduce fuel consumption and thereby reduce greenhouse emissions.

  • Carbon Offsetting

Some aspects of logistics, such as container shipping, have a long way to go before it becomes energy-efficient. However, businesses can invest in carbon offset projects to bring down their carbon footprint.

  • Minimal and Biodegradable Packaging

An overwhelming majority of the plastic is never recycled. Some estimates put recycled plastics at just 10% of the plastic waste. Environmentally-conscious businesses are battling plastic pollution by using biodegradable packaging materials like paper, cardboard, and plant-based materials. Where it’s impossible to use biodegradable packaging, some businesses use minimal packaging to minimize their plastic waste.

How Ethical Business Practices Are Making The Kratom Industry More Sustainable

Sustainable business practices not only focus on ecological footprint but also on local communities. Ethical business practices address the social responsibility of businesses that utilize the resources and hard work of the communities involved in their supply chain. Here are some ways the Kratom industry can engage in ethical business practices:

  • Fair Wages and Humane Working Conditions

Overseas sourcing often gets mired in controversies involving child labor, slave labor, inhumane working conditions, and so on. By enforcing international labor standards throughout the supply chain and insisting suppliers or producers adhere to them, Kratom businesses can ensure that local communities are paid fair, competitive wages, and are not exploited.

  • Support to Local Communities

The local populace, such as small-scale farmers, do not have the resources necessary to market and attract foreign Kratom importers. Therefore, they cannot capitalize on the economic opportunities available to large-scale producers. By sourcing from such small players, Kratom businesses can contribute to their economic prosperity.

Additionally, Kratom businesses can also invest in local community development projects, like healthcare, schools, and transportation. This can inspire loyalty and guarantee a reliable supply of Kratom too.

  • Education and Training

Kratom businesses can educate the local producers on sustainable farming practices and give them access to learning resources to help them learn about innovative farming techniques. The transition will not only help save the environment but also contribute to the social and economic development of local communities.

Bottomline

In conclusion, at Phytoextractum, we believe that sustainable and responsible Kratom practices are of paramount importance. Our commitment is more than just a catchphrase; it’s a core pillar of our mission. We understand the environmental and social implications of Kratom production, which is why we source exclusively from farmers committed to fair trade practices, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable farming techniques. This means each product you purchase from us not only supports your well-being but also contributes towards the betterment of the communities involved in its production and the conservation of the environment. We are proud to be part of the solution, contributing to a sustainable future for both the Kratom industry and our planet.

All About The Environmental Impact of Kratom

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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!