Ethical Sourcing

The Conservation Challenge

Boswellia trees are under increasing pressure. Research published in Nature Sustainability has warned that populations of Boswellia papyrifera — which produces roughly two-thirds of the world's frankincense — could decline by 50% within the next 20 years without intervention.

Overharvesting (tapping trees too frequently or too aggressively), agricultural encroachment, fire, and insufficient replanting all contribute to declining tree populations. This threatens not only the industry but the ecosystems and communities that depend on these trees.

Our Principles

• ◆
  Sustainable Harvesting

  Supporting harvesting practices that allow trees adequate recovery time between tapping cycles, ensuring long-term resin production and tree health.

• ◆
  Fair Compensation

  Advocating for fair prices paid to harvesters and producing communities, many of whom receive only a small fraction of the retail value of the products they supply.

• ◆
  Supply Chain Transparency

  Encouraging traceability from tree to bottle, so consumers and businesses can verify the origin and ethical credentials of their frankincense products.

• ◆
  Reforestation & Conservation

  Supporting initiatives to plant new Boswellia trees and protect existing stands from fire, grazing, and unsustainable land use practices.

What Buyers Can Do

Whether you're a consumer buying a single bottle or a wholesaler sourcing by the kilogram, your purchasing decisions have a direct impact on the sustainability of the frankincense supply chain.

• ◆ Ask your supplier about their sourcing practices and country of origin
• ◆ Look for GC/MS test results and certificates of analysis
• ◆ Support brands that invest in harvesting communities
• ◆ Be wary of prices that seem too low — ethical sourcing has real costs