FW WEEK: Take a look at the wild side!
Dear FairWild Family,
FairWild Week is a special time dedicated to highlighting the significance of sustainable wild harvesting and recognizing the efforts of those who participate in FairWild practices.
So, What is FairWild Week?
The FairWild week is an annual, global campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable wild harvesting and celebrate those who adhere to best practices - our FairWild participants!
What are the campaign goals?
1) To educate the public about the power of the wild and to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable wild harvesting from an environmental, social and consumer point of view;
2) To create awards about FairWild certification, improving your audience response and engagement to and with your achievement;
3)To collaborate with like-minded FairWild participants and opinion leaders - Together, you can reach a larger audience and create a greater impact;
4) To encourage clients and consumers to demand sustainable wild harvesting!
Why is it important to demand and celebrate sustainable wild harvesting?
For Nature: There are 300-400k plant species around the world, and from this, around 30k have well-documented medicine or aromatic uses - 60- 90% of medicinal and aromatic plants in trade are wild collected.
Only 7% of medicinal and romantic plant species have been assessed against criteria, 1 in 5 of those are treated with extinction in the wild. The increasing and widespread demand for wild plant ingredients is placing a major strain on individual species, ecosystems and harvesting communities worldwide (Wildcheck Report, 2022).
By following the FairWild Standard, you are promoting positive relationships between nature and people, preserving unique cultures and the sustainable use of unique landscapes, while ensuring dignity and a fair income for the people who rely on them.
For People: A lot of wild collectors are marginalized - often children or elderly, and mostly women. Typically they have few other opportunities to earn income. In many cases, they come from ethnic minorities or Indigenous Peoples and Local Community groups. Often, the art of wild harvest is linked to traditional knowledge of what parts can be collected, when, how much, and how often. The cost of the herbs in a long supply chain is often quite cheap at the source.
If people can make a dignified livelihood from the wild collection, they will not leave the rural areas or do activities that negatively impact the environment and key ancient knowledge about plants will be preserved.
For Businesses: When we buy a product we will consume, we want it to work and be healthy. We want proof that the claims on the packaging are accurate regarding benefits, components and sustainability statements without space for greenwashing or dubious information. We want the best quality from the plants used, sustainable conservation of landscapes, respect for everyone involved in the supply chain, and feel empowered as consumers.
By following a standard like FairWild, you are ensuring the quality, source and transparency of the products you are trading. Plus, you are giving the power back to the consumer to choose products aligned with their values.
To join FairWild Week, simply follow the mantra: Create, Share, Repeat!
We provide a toolkit for everyone to use on their social media platforms or reshare FairWild posts on LinkedIn or Instagram. By spreading the message about the power of the wild and the importance of sustainable wild harvesting, we can collectively make a difference.
Together, let us harness the power of the wild to protect our natural heritage, support communities, and preserve the knowledge and resources for generations to come.