A “green” extract claim holds only for a stated functional unit and boundary, and a legal, reliable supply

ISO 14040 sets the principles and framework; ISO 14044 sets requirements and guidelines for the same four phases, plus reporting, critical review and limitations. ISO 14040 does not specify methodologies for the individual phases. The functional unit fixes what is compared, for example one gram of extracted bioactive compounds or one kilogram of dry extract at a stated marker content. A cradle-to-gate study stops at the factory gate; a cradle-to-grave study adds use and end of life.

An extract made by a route that uses less energy per batch can still have a larger footprint per functional unit if its yield or selectivity is lower. That is why routes are compared per unit of delivered function, not per batch or per kilogram of plant.

The apple-pomace study's authors conclude that "a technology labeled as 'green' is not necessarily environmentally superior." The review's ranges are per kilogram of input, which is a different basis from the apple-pomace study's per-gram-of-product unit, so the two figures are not placed on one axis.

Results from one feed, one scale and one electricity grid do not transfer to another botanical. A credible comparison would repeat the assessment with the actual process data.

CHEM21 scores safety from flash point and other physical hazards, health from GHS H3xx statements and boiling point, and environment from H4xx statements, boiling point and other criteria. The overall ranking follows the most stringent criterion, not a sum, and the authors adjusted some rankings after discussion: methanol and acetone moved from problematic to recommended. Heeley et al. note that the guide was designed for the pharmaceutical sector and that its scores may need modification for other applications, for example where distillation favors a higher boiling point.

ICH Q3C is a guideline for residual solvents in medicines. It is not binding on dietary supplements, but it is a common reference when an extract specification sets residual-solvent limits. Class 3 solvents such as ethanol, acetone and ethyl acetate have low toxic potential (50 mg per day or less acceptable without justification); Class 2 solvents such as hexane (2.9 mg per day) and methanol (30 mg per day) have permitted daily exposures.

Under OSHA's hazard communication standard, Sections 12 to 15 of a safety data sheet, including Section 12 (ecological information), "may be included in the SDS, but are not mandatory" (29 CFR 1910.1200, Appendix D). Pesticide registrants must supply aquatic data under 40 CFR Part 158: freshwater fish toxicity (OCSPP 850.1075) and acute toxicity to freshwater invertebrates (850.1010) are required for terrestrial and aquatic uses in § 158.630, and aquatic plant growth (850.4400/850.5400) in § 158.660.

The CHEM21 environment score uses GHS H4xx statements: hexane carries H411 ("toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects") and heptane and cyclohexane H410 ("very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects"). These come from classification data, not new tests.

American ginseng has been in CITES Appendix II since 1975. Nineteen States and one Tribe (the Menominee Indian Tribe Reservation of Wisconsin) have approved export programs; some States require plants to be 10 years old, and most require three compound leaves. Goldenseal was added to Appendix II at the tenth Conference of the Parties, effective September 18, 1997; the 1999 notice describes the listing as covering live plants and whole and sliced roots and root parts, and excluding manufactured parts or derivatives such as powders, pills, extracts, tonics and teas. Annotations can change, so a proposed EUTECNIQ sourcing procedure would check the current CITES Appendices for each shipment.

TRAFFIC's figures are a 2018 synthesis. The IUCN Red List is updated continuously, so the share of species assessed has likely changed; the 7% figure is shown as published.

A unit value is customs value divided by net weight. It is a price proxy, not a price: it moves when the product mix inside a code changes as well as when prices change. HS 1211 covers whole, cut or powdered plants used mainly in pharmacy, perfumery or as pesticides; turmeric is in heading 09.10 and plant extracts in 13.02, so no single code measures the botanical ingredient market. Comtrade records U.S. imports at CIF value, which runs about 5% above the customs (FOB/FAS-type) value for HS 1211.

Ginseng-root unit values moved from US$93.80 to US$53.44 per kg between 2016 and 2021, then back to US$80.84 in 2024. Over 2015–2024 the coefficient of variation of the annual unit value was 9.9% for HS 1211, 10.0% for turmeric and 19.7% for ginseng roots (computed). The largest one-year moves were −31.2% (ginseng, 2018 to 2019), +32.8% (ginseng, 2023 to 2024) and +29.0% (turmeric, 2020 to 2021).

A proposed EUTECNIQ supply plan would qualify at least two origins for each critical botanical where trade data show concentration, document legal acquisition for any CITES-listed species, and test identity on receipt. These are plans; no suppliers have been qualified.