Sustainable and Ethical Spice Sourcing: What to Look for in Suppliers

There is an increased awareness now among business owners and the consumers of their products, about how the ingredients in their food are grown, sourced and supplied. A core consideration in many business decisions therefore has to be the ethical and sustainable sourcing of products.

Responsible sourcing supports the stability of long-term supplies, long-term product quality and long-term brand reputation. There is undoubtedly a strong and strengthening connection between sustainability, conscience of consumption and the trust a customer places in a business.

Ethical sourcing is a moral responsibility in the 2020s, and a sound business strategy - but what should you be looking for? Let us support you with knowledge in some key areas as you read on through this article.

Suppliers With Product Expertise are Key

You should choose a supplier who deeply understands their product, who has a broad and deep knowledge of herbs and spices. This knowledge has to reach beyond the simple facts of pricing, reaching for the origin of spices, the processing methods and the most successful applications of their products.

A good supplier should be able to help you select the right format for your spices, weighing up your need for either whole or pre-ground spice. They should be able to talk with you about storage options, shelf life and the best practice for handling, drawing on experiences and case knowledge from food service, retail and manufacturing.

You need an expert partner in the wholesale spice industry, someone who can help you with informed and efficient decisions for your purchases. There is a significant value in partnerships built on knowledge, learning and trust, that could help your business to reach new heights.

Product Sourcing and Origins

In order to understand the quality of herbs and spices, you need a good knowledge of where they come from. Some spices grow better in certain regions or are produced differently for different flavours. Spice origin influences the flavour, scent and performance in the kitchen. Your supplier should be able to advise you on these matters as well as talking about the ethics of the production process with transparency and authority.

Responsible sourcing supports the traditional farming communities that grow and produce the spices we take for granted in Australia. Ethical business practices ensure that these communities are reimbursed fairly for their work and produce. You should be reassured as a business customer by being able to trace your product from origin to marketplace - this is a key indicator or wholesaler integrity.

Certification and Compliance

Certification is your evidence as a business customer, that a third party has confirmed and verified the ethics and sustainability of the product in question. In the wholesale spice industry, these are some key certifications to look out for:

• Australian Certified Organic – ACO.
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points – HAACP.
• Australian Government Authorised Halal Program – AGAHP.
• Kosher Australia / Kashrut Authority – KA.
• Fair Trade.

Compliance with these standards demonstrates the commitment to high quality and sustainable working that a supplier holds. Certification is a reassurance for you as the wholesale purchaser and your end-point consumers, proof that your products align with your values and with wider food safety expectations.

Customer Service and Business Support

Ethics in business extends far beyond the initial growth and production process - the way that suppliers treat and support their customers also comes under this umbrella. Clear communication is vital: they should follow-up on their promises, communicate with transparency and build a client-supplier relationship.

The value of responsive customer service can never be understated, whether that customer is new to wholesale purchasing or has been in the business for years.

Business support looks very different to general customer support. There should be a consistent supply of products with dependable delivery promises. Suppliers should be able to offer advice on product storage and usage as well as support for managing inventory if this is required.

The very best wholesale suppliers will offer support as your business develops and grows as your business needs change, developing a long-term partnership instead of managing transaction by transaction.

Environmental and Social Responsibility

There is growing understanding, socially, of a global need to reduce environmental impact through farming practices and supply chains. Your wholesaler should demonstrate a commitment to minimising waste (something which can then be passed on to you with sensible bulk purchase decisions in line with your production calendar), supporting biodiversity in farming environments and reducing unnecessary packaging (especially where single-use plastics are concerned).

There are multiple social responsibility initiatives in action globally, which your supplier should actively endorse and celebrate their involvement in. Farming communities should be subject to fair labour practices and safe working conditions and should see the benefit of their endeavours with significant reinvestment into their community.

Sustainable business practices contribute to resilience in the global supply chain. These practices may be on the part of suppliers, contributing to the farming communities directly, and on the part of you as a business customer. These subsequently align with the expectations of your end point customers, for a business that is environmentally conscious.

Conclusion

There are several key elements to sustainable and ethical spice sourcing that you should be aware of to inform your choice of wholesale supplier. We hope that this article has presented useful information to you as a business owner, building your understanding of responsible business practice and the importance of expertise, transparency and certification.

At Teavision, we build a relationship with business customers that extends beyond typical transactions. We look at ethical sourcing as a way to protect the quality of our products and encourage the support of our farming suppliers. As a trusted wholesale partner for multiple Australian businesses, we encourage you to get in touch to explore what we can do for you and your business for your long-term success and environmental and social conscience.

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