Plants have always been a basic resource for human health and well-being, and more than 70,000 plant species are used around the world for health and body care purposes. Interest in and demand for plant-based body care products is increasing worldwide, particularly in rapidly expanding urban societies. Increased consumption of body care products derived from plants is putting increased pressure on a resource that is largely harvested from depleted wild populations in shrinking wild habitats.
As many as 15,000 species of medicinal and aromatic plants are threatened by over-harvesting or loss of habitat. One example of this trend is the sandalwood tree, Santalum album: mature sandalwood trees are felled to extract their aromatic oil for use in body care products and perfumes, and, as a result, the species is seriously threatened in India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.
Check all products containing plant-based products to ensure that the plants used to make these products have been harvested sustainably, and have been collected from cultivated sources that do not endanger wild sources of supply. Appropriate standards include the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants or organic, fair trade and sustainable agriculture standards; and are not endangered and/or listed under CITES. Explain to your staff the hotel's commitment in relation to the use of medicinal and aromatic plants in amenities and spa products. Help them to communicate with customers about these issues.
Choose products from reputable sources that are informed about conservation and sustainable use issues associated with production and sourcing of plant-based body-care products, and which operate in accordance with international sustainability standards. Appropriate standards include the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, or organic, fair trade and sustainable agriculture standards.
Explain to your current suppliers that you want to purchase plant-based spa products and similar items that come from sustainable sources, and ask them how you can work together to put this standard into practice. Support local communities and producers to build their own businesses for sustainable harvest and cultivation of plants for production of plant-based body-care products, and once these businesses are established, purchase their products.
Explain to your clients the importance of protecting medicinal and aromatic plants, and offer information about where they can purchase medicinal and aromatic plant products that are produced sustainably. Consider selling a selection of these products in the hotel shop. Use the wall space in the spas to showcase local culture and biodiversity through photographs and artefacts.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Michael G. Crawford at 08252010
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