Verdure Sciences, a pant-based ingredient supplier initially founded as Geni Herbs in 1997 by founder and CEO Ajay Patel, recently launched its first sustainability, global stewardship, and environmental impact report as a way to celebrate its 25th year in operation.
 
“Throughout the pandemic, the big takeaways and messages have heavily focused on supply chain mitigation for all companies. In addition to supply chain scrutiny, sustainability, traceability, and transparency have all been key points of discussion as nearly all industries have faced challenges with value chain and consistent supply,” said Kristen Marshall, digital marketing manager at Verdure Sciences. “Building trust and providing transparent messaging for formulators and finished product manufacturers through sustainable and traceable initiatives continues to find a place in primary messages. For Verdure’s customers, supply chain security and reliable solutions, supported by transparency and traceability have provided an added layer of confidence in the extracts supplied and make the choice to partner with us an easier one.”
 
“We have taken extra effort to help formulators and finished product manufacturers share these transparent messages, sustainable storytelling, and high level of traceability that is at the foundation of our corporate mission,” Patel said.
 
Marshall said that the company’s reporting represents a more meaningful way in which it can share to its customers the positive impacts of its ingredients, through company programs such as Verdugration and Verdure Cares.
 
“Verugration is Verdure’s internal mission for sustainable, socially conscious, and transparent global stewardship with particular focus on the plants, ingredients, environment, and processes. In addition to that, we have Verdure Cares, which is a subset of Verdugration that really focuses on sustainable partnerships, social impact, and the amazing team at Verdure. Combined, under the Verdugration umbrella, these efforts aim to make our contributions to the planet, people, and practices we employ more meaningful to our customers, but they have always been in practice,” Marshall said. “While we have been doing a lot ‘behind the scenes,’ so to speak; it is really challenging to summarize everything concisely. We have taken time to really define our efforts with this first report and explain how we are hoping to measure our initiatives moving forward. We don’t want this to be greenwashing, but rather impart a true change.”
 
Citing data from market research company FMCG Gurus, Verdure reports that global consumers are seeking out products that are traceable, sustainable, and contain upcycled ingredients with a variety of benefits in the areas of sustainability, ethics, and health.
 
For this reason, it’s important to be able to share stories and messaging for social impact, Marshall said. “In addition to what’s going into one’s body, consumers want to know that they are making a difference too. This culminates in seeking out clean labels and certified products and ingredients from trustworthy brands with traceable and sustainable storylines.”
 
This year, the rolling debut will come in monthly features which include: highlights of the full report; case studies and highlight reels featuring Bacopa monnieri, Boswellia serrata, holy basil, turmeric, pomegranate, and other ingredients; sustainability efforts at the company’s headquarters; the Sustainable Turmeric Program; sustainability through the involvement of all teams; and Verdure’s relationship with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.