Producing high-value wild forest products for the global food and cosmetics industries to contribute to stopping deforestation

  Geography

The Netherlands (HQ), South East Asia

  Sector

Wild forest production

Company overview

Forestwise produces unique, high quality organic and Fairtrade certified ingredients harvested from the Indonesian rainforest by local communities. Forestwise’s main clients are in the international food and cosmetics industries. The company has successfully introduced organic and Fair for Life certified illipe butter to the global market, which is currently sold in four continents. This has resulted in strategic alliances with firms such as Lush, IMCD, DKSH and Premier Specialties. Forestwise also provides a high level of traceability and transparency throughout its supply chain. Its local presence allows the company to work closely with the communities and to guarantee the sustainability of its products.

Impact

• Provide additional livelihoods to local communities through the harvest of rainforest products. Through its work Forestwise supports the protection of over 200,000 hectares of rainforest, storing over 20 million tons of carbon;
• Contract 740 families in Forestwise’s supply chain for the collection of illipe nuts and increased their annual income by 16%, reaching an estimated 2,500 beneficiaries, both men and women. The factory has created 20 full-time jobs;
• Develop new forest sugar production units through the fund raise. Through this it can provide full-time jobs for 125 farmers and 10 factory workers per forest sugar production unit. Besides, Forestwise also provides electricity for 200 households with a kinetic power plant.