Sourcing responsibly natural gums requires mulitfaceted expertise, from tree to soil, to production and sales.

Every day, we work to build and strengthen lasting partnerships with local suppliers.

Committed to being a trustworthy partner for our stakeholders, we have developed solid partnerships with an extensive network of suppliers.

We strive to operate to high social, societal and environmental standards. As a crucial part of our value chain, our suppliers commit to these same standards – set out in Alland & Robert’s supplier code of conduct.

Keen to foster strong, equitable and collaborative relationships, we never ask our suppliers to do more than we are willing to do ourselves.

Our responsible practices are aligned with the company’s sustainable procurement policy and Fair-Trade charter.

Together, we contribute to a more ethical supply chain, sustainable practices and a greener future.

Gum harvesting

Harvesting acacia gum is a natural process that doesn’t harm the trees. Depending on climatic conditions, the harvest takes place in several stages between January and April every year.

  • An incision is made on the tree in a process known as “tapping”. This doesn’t cause any damage, rather induces the acacia to exudate gum to cover the incision – a completely natural mechanism. The exudated gum starts to dry on contact with the air and progressively becomes a nodule.
  • Several weeks after tapping, harvesters cut the nodule from the tree. The nodules are dried, sorted and stored, before being sent to our manufacturing sites.
  • Harvesting techniques are traditional practices that farmers have been developed over time. No chemicals are involved, and harvesting is done by hand.

Knowledge of natural exudates

At Alland & Robert, we’ve been acquiring knowledge of natural exudates since 1884 and have contributed to numerous studies published in botanical and scientific reviews. With strong ties to local communities, we aim to share and improve knowledge of trees and plant exudates.

Natural gums are a precious resource for people living in the Sahel and represent a significant part of farmers’ yearly income. The gum is harvested on wild trees and sold in local markets, meaning the money is directly reinvested in the local economy. Moreover, the income from acacia gum is off-season compared to many other crops harvested in autumn. This allows harvesters to spread their income over the year. Acacia gum has long been an additional revenue for local populations, which usually also engage in other activities such as farming or raising cattle.

Numerous studies have shown that acacia trees have a positive impact on the environment. The trees act as a barrier to desertification while nourishing soil, making it more fertile, supporting intercropping and stabilising rainfall cycles. In addition, acacias provide forage and shade for cattle and homes for birds, while fostering biodiversity.

A strong network of suppliers

Over the years, we have built a network of local suppliers across Africa. Together, we work tirelessly to ensure traceability and safe, consistent supply.

Every year, our suppliers are audited by our teams including our Quality Manager and CEO. This is an opportunity to check their facilities, enhance traceability and quality, and monitor maintenance work. We can discuss any issues and new solutions to improve working conditions, sustainability, traceability and quality.

Suppliers are fully integrated into our value chain based on trusting long-term relationships. To optimise this collaboration, all our partners commit to respecting Alland & Robert’s charters and safety, ethical, environmental and societal standards.