Many people are first introduced to kratom for the sustained energy, relaxation, and general sense of well-being, but then want to learn more about this amazing botanical. If you’re just now learning that the kratom tree grows in specific regions of Southeast Asia, you may start to wonder about the environmental impact of the larger kratom industry–and your role as a consumer.
We don’t have all the answers or all the data for kratom’s carbon footprint, but we do have revealing facts about kratom’s current overall impact to the environment.
One big reason we believe kratom is a substantial positive for the environment is the simple fact that it allows local communities to benefit economically while also protecting a tree that’s a major part of the local ecosystem. If not for kratom, it’s widely believed these farming communities would turn to the cultivation of palm oil trees.
It’s important to realize that not all plants and trees are good for the environment. Harvesting and collecting palm oil contributes to deforestation. One study found that palm oil production accounts for as much as 50% of the deforestation in Borneo (an island in Southeast Asia). The native kratom tree, by comparison, is excellent at preventing erosion and supporting the rest of the ecosystem.
Kratom is such a vital part of Southeast Asia that, as recently as November 2023, the President of Indonesia met with the U.S. President. In this meeting, Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with President Joe Biden. During this meeting, Widodo requested that President Biden consider removing a current ban stopping Indonesia from exporting its kratom into the United States.
Representatives from the Indonesian government believe that eliminating trade barriers between the United States and Indonesia could help improve the livelihood of nearly 250,000 Indonesian farmers.
Especially when properly harvested, dried, and stored, raw leaf kratom can be remarkably shelf-stable. Ocean freight shipping is less expensive and has a smaller carbon footprint than air freight. Both the bulk of Southeast Asia kratom farmland and the extraction and manufacturing facilities that process the leaves tend to be port-friendly locations that minimize the need for long ground transport. And because there’s really no bad season to enjoy kratom, the supply and demand for kratom is much more consistent compared to many transglobal industries. All of these factors lead to manageable shipping and environmental costs.
Additional efficiencies that can reduce the carbon footprint even further may be possible through new legal and regulatory standards that reduce the risk of product loss through liability management.
Stringent testing protocols combined with the best manufacturing practices allow top-flight companies like Golden Monk to make the highest quality kratom while also sourcing their leaves from multiple farming operations. Yes, there are large-scale commercial farms, but it’s not hard to find news reports and short video documentaries from farmers who don’t know how else they would support their family. With a healthy kratom industry and consistent demand from consumers like you, kratom is a legitimate source of economic opportunity for countless Southeast families.
Sustainable farming is another way people and companies can focus on helping the environment. This type of farming uses agricultural methods that yield usable materials without making it hard or impossible for future generations to benefit from these same crops and plants.
Fortunately, many farmers in Southeast Asia utilize sustainable farming methods to harvest kratom. Because farmers can collect many leaves from a single kratom tree, even a few trees can yield a lot of kratom.
During photosynthesis, kratom trees pull carbon dioxide from the world around them to produce oxygen – a process also known as carbon sequestration. As farmers in Southeast Asia continue planting more kratom trees and implementing fully sustainable cultivation practices, the world benefits from increased carbon sequestration.
All in all, cultivating, manufacturing, and consuming kratom isn’t going to save the world in itself, but we think it’s fair to say that you can start or continue to enjoy a healthy kratom habit with a clear conscience for the environment and the local communities that produce kratom.
If trying kratom interests you, don’t miss everything available at Golden Monk. We’re a proud supporter of kratom and conduct business in a facility that follows current good manufacturing practices (cGMP). Our company is also a proud Platinum Level sponsor for the American Kratom Association (AKA). Golden Monk offers kratom edibles and powder including potent red, white, and green strains at incredibly low prices.
It’s hard to deny kratom’s continued and widespread popularity. Most people who take kratom should be glad to know that it can be (and often is) good for the environment. The main way to ensure kratom’s positive impact on the environment is to have farmers and companies continue focusing on sustainable harvesting methods.
