The SHI Toolkit 3.0
This toolkit draws on the lived experience and collective knowledge of SHI members, who have participated in SHI’s Learning Labs, Learning Journeys, and working groups over many years.
This edition of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative Toolkit builds on years of work by SHI members: farmers, wild harvesters, processors, brands, and advocates. The SHI Toolkit 2.0 was based on more general research and guidance about best practices from the herb industry as well as other sectors. This Toolkit goes the next step and codifies what we’ve been learning and putting into practice together.
From the start, SHI’s goal has been to change the botanical industry from transactional to reciprocal relationships, where value and respect flow in all directions. This work is grounded in the belief that every actor in the herbal value network has intrinsic worth, and that healthy trade depends on healthy ecosystems and communities.
This toolkit asks: What are the concrete tools we can use to implement practices that support and respect stakeholders through the sourcing network? How do we make visible the risks borne by different stakeholders and help reduce those risks? What can we each do to build resilience rather than extract it?
Our shared goal is to develop industry wide best practices that strengthen trust, transparency, and shared prosperity throughout the herbal value network.
The chapters that follow cover the ground we hear about most from SHI members: core practices and sourcing principles, pricing and true costs, quality, certifications, supplier relationships, risk mapping, and marketing for primary processors. Some are frameworks to think with. Some are worksheets to fill out with your team. The Sourcing Self Assessment (Chapter 3) can be a good place to begin, as it invites you to outline a step by step approach to introducing these practices.
The Chapters
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FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER 1
SHI Core Practices
The principles that guide how SHI creates space for deep listening, authentic relationships, and real change across the herbal value network.
CHAPTER 2
SHI 5 Sourcing Principles
Five principles for sourcing herbs in ways that support the ecological, economic, social, and cultural resilience of the communities they come from.
CHAPTER 3
Sourcing Self-Assessment
This simple questionnaire can be used to assess where you stand in terms of sustainable and ethical sourcing in your company. It can help set short and long term goals and outline action steps.
SOURCING & RELATIONSHIPS
Chapter 4
People-Plants-Place and Strategic Sourcing
A guide, based on Guido Mase’s work on formulating herbs in ways that support the people and places from which they are sourced.
Chapter 5
Importance of Supplier Visits
Why supplier visits matter most when their purpose is understanding ground reality, not just inspection or content creation.
Chapter 6
Building Relationships in Herbal Sourcing
How to build buyer and supplier relationships that work for both sides. Based on what we’ve seen succeed, this section outlines a process for relationships that are resilient, fair, and quality driven. Try what fits your context.
Chapter 7
Sourcing Relationship Health Assessment
What makes a good buyer? What makes a good supplier? This assessment offers insight into the quality of your relationships, meant for internal reflection and self improvement only.
Chapter 8
Mapping Sourcing Risk
A framework for mapping risk across the supply chain, from quality and climate to social and market factors, and turning that knowledge into action.
STANDARDS & ECONOMICS
Chapter 9
Certifications in the Herbal Supply Chain
An honest look at what certifications can and cannot do for your company, and how to choose them with purpose.
Chapter 10
True Costs & Fair Pricing
A guide to naming the real costs of moving herbs from field to market so pricing stays fair for everyone along the way.
Chapter 11
Gates of Quality: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective
A multi stakeholder map of what it actually takes to produce herbs that meet regulatory quality standards.
Chapter 12
Marketing as a Primary Processor
Nikita Agarwal of Herb Artizan shares what she has learned marketing a primary processing business.
Chapter 13
A Reference Guide for Primary Processors
A quick reference to the certifications most relevant to primary processors, with costs and best fit for each.
CLOSING
Reference, AI Use Statement & Acknowledgements
This Toolkit was made possible thanks to support from SHI Members and Donors.
The content of this toolkit draws primarily on the lived experience and collective knowledge of SHI members, herbal industry representatives who have participated in SHI’s Learning Labs, Learning Journeys, and working groups over many years. We would like to thank SHI members who have engaged in this exploration with us.
Meeting notes from SHI working groups were compiled and written up by Ann Armbrecht, PhD, founder and director of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative, and Nikita Agarwal, PhD, member of the SHI Stewardship Council and Product Manager at Herb Artizan. Both also served as editors throughout the toolkit. Bryce Youk assisted in the design and layout.
On the Use of AI Tools
AI was used as a practical writing and research aid in the development of this toolkit. Specifically:
- ChatGPT and Claude – were used to help structure and synthesize notes from working group meetings, to compile background research for the certification section, and for basic design.
- Perplexity – was used to cross-check information for accuracy.
- Grok – provided additional quick-reference checks.
All AI-generated content was reviewed manually. The certification section in particular was carefully verified. Language was revised to remove any overstatements or inaccuracies.
Preferred citation: Agarwal, N. and A. Armbrecht. Best Practices for Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing in the Herbal Products Industry. Sustainable Herbs Initiative: Montpelier, VT. April 2026.