New Zealand Essential Oils earns FSC® Certification
New Zealand Essential Oils earns prestigious Forest Stewardship Council® Certification for sustainable Douglas-fir production.
Christchurch, New Zealand -- Port Blakely New Zealand Essential Oils (PBNZEO), a global leader in sustainable essential oil production, is among the first essential oil producers worldwide to attain the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification. This milestone validates the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and recognizes its sustainable practices for customers who maintain chain-of-custody.
Internationally recognized as the gold standard of forest management certification, FSC® is an international non-governmental organization that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC® ensures that forest growers adhere to strict standards, including paying living wages, maintaining at least 10 percent of ground area for native forest regeneration, and zero deforestation. PBNZEO’s parent company, Port Blakely has forests that have been FSC® certified in New Zealand for over 20 years and is advancing this initiative in alternative forest products. This certification adds to PBNZEO’s BioGro Organic certification, where the conversion period finished in early 2024.
“Alongside our Organic certification, this accreditation represents a significant achievement in PBNZEO’s commitment to producing a Douglas-fir oil the market can trust,” said Mitch Cooke, Business Manager at PBNZEO. "It validates the high standards and values practiced by our company, and we are excited to lead the charge in bringing a new standard of the highest quality and responsible product to the conifer oil market.”
As the world’s leading producer of Douglas-fir essential oil, PBNZEO’s two certifications aim to enhance interest and trust in Douglas-fir essential oil throughout the global market, where consumers increasingly seek products that are not only effective but also sustainably produced. For customers, especially those in aromatherapy and natural products markets, these certifications provide a compelling value proposition by assuring the product's purity and sustainability, thereby enhancing its marketability and appeal to end users.
The certification process requires strict adherence to social and environmental practices, and a comprehensive third-party audit of the supply chain, maintaining the chain custody from harvesting to ready for sale.
Cooke added, “This achievement strengthens our market position as the leader in environmentally responsible Douglas-fir essential oil production. We now have external validation that we offer products that meet the extremely high standards of quality and ecological integrity that are important to our customers at a scale which provides an accessible price point for this unique essential oil.”
To learn more, visit www.fsc.org.
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About Port Blakely NZ Essential Oils
Port Blakely NZ Essential Oils, headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand, is committed to innovating within the essential oils market. With its own forests and state of-the-art distillation facilities, PBNZEO maintains control over every step of the production process, ensuring premium quality and sustainability. The company’s mission is to cultivate a healthy world through environmentally conscious practices and high-quality natural products. For more information, visit www.portblakelynzeo.com
About Port Blakley
Port Blakely grows and markets renewable forest products around the globe. With a focus on the future, the family-owned company works to advance the ideals and best practices of good corporate and environmental stewardship. Port Blakely owns forestlands and operates two divisions -- NZ Forestry and US Forestry. For information, visit www.portblakely.com