The Buchu Industry

Sustainability

The buchu industry in South Africa holds significant importance due to its historical, economic and ecological value. Sustainability is a crucial factor in the management of this precious resource.

Buchu is endemic to the Western Cape region of South Africa. Indigenous communities have used it for generations for its health benefits. Its demand is steadily increasing globally due to its unique flavour and fragrance and its therapeutic properties. As a result, commercial cultivation is steadily increasing.

Overharvesting and habitat destruction pose threats to wild buchu populations, emphasising the need for responsible cultivation practices. Sustainable farming techniques, including organic methods and biodiversity conservation, are imperative to maintain buchu’s natural habitat.

Moreover, the buchu industry significantly contributes to South Africa’s economy, especially in rural areas. Sustainable practices not only protect the environment but also support livelihoods, providing income opportunities for local communities involved in cultivation, harvesting and processing.

In essence, sustainability is the cornerstone of the buchu industry’s future. Balancing economic interests with environmental conservation is essential to safeguard this invaluable plant, ensuring its availability for generations to come while fostering socio-economic development in the region.

Sustainable practices not only protect the environment but also support livelihoods, providing income opportunities for local communities involved in cultivation, harvesting and processing.

Baseline assessment tool

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH and the German government provided funding for a project focused on buchu access and benefit-sharing compliance, with a sub-project on sustainability. The project was run by the International Organization of the Flavor Industry and the International Fragrance Association. The sub-project involved furthering the industry’s sustainable development and biodiversity conservation agenda by securing the buchu industry’s subscription to the IOFI-IFRA Sustainability Charter. The Charter is indirectly applicable to the buchu industry through Focus Area 1 of the Charter (raw material supplies). To assist new producers joining the industry, a baseline assessment tool and local guidelines on sustainable buchu cultivation and the conservation of surrounding biodiversity were developed.

IFRA/IOFI Charter

The International Fragrance Association and the International Organization of the Flavor Industry, together with their members, have developed the IFRA-IOFI Sustainability Charter to raise the bar for sustainability in the flavour and fragrance sectors. The Charter builds on the flavour and fragrance industries’ proud heritage and on the long-standing commitment to sustainable development across its many dimensions, as demonstrated by many individual companies. The Charter is complementary to existing company sustainability programmes, helping our industries as a whole to make advances on sustainability by sharing best practices and benchmarking progress. Visit the Charter Website