Not so long ago in our post on ethical aromatherapy, we introduced the idea of using and practising Aromatherapy with regard for the environment.  With the aid of the updated report by Cropwatch we have highlighted a few of the more commonly used oils in Aromatherapy that may warrant closer consideration before purchase or use.

Cropwatch aggregates (for want of a better expression) assessments from various organisations as to the endangered status of a species.  It is the only self-proclaimed truly independent watchdog for those working with natural aromatic materials.  They keep an updated list of threatened aromatic plants used in the aroma & cosmetic industries, the latest of which was updated in January 2010.  They closely refer to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  The IUCN is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and their Red List details 45,000 species, estimated to rise to between 50,000-60,000 in 2010.

Following the green movement over the last decade, Greenwood (2008) states that “economics and ethics have stopped endangered species from turning up in perfume formulas” however this is not the case, as certainly reading some labels will testify.  Cropwatch state that the ignorance of ecological and socio-political fall-out from trading in scarce or threatened species is “depressingly common”.  So for all the millions that is spent on marketing “green”, “organic”, “natural” and “sustainable”, much of it is green washing designed to hide the dirty truth about un-savoury business practices that endanger the survival of species (as well as pollute our environment and poorly compensate indigenous peoples).

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