Sustainable Star Anise Cultivation: A Core Driver for Resilient Customer Supply Chains

Against the global shift toward greener, more compliant supply chains, star anise— a key raw material for food processing, spice manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals—relies on sustainable cultivation. This is no longer just an environmental responsibility but a strategic way to boost supply chain efficiency and competitiveness. Guangxi Deng's Spice Co., Ltd., a local leader in the star anise industry, exemplifies how sustainable practices deliver tangible value to customer supply chains.

1. Ensuring Compliance to Break Trade Barriers

Global trade rules (e.g., the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Japan’s strict pesticide residue standards) demand full traceability and low environmental impact for spices. Non-compliance risks heavy fines or market bans.

Deng's Spice, based in Gulong Town (a major star anise hub in Wuzhou), addresses this with integrated sustainable techniques. It has cut pesticide use by over 40% and chemical fertilizer by 35% on its own farms, meeting EU and Japanese standards. The company also uses a full-process traceability system and supports customer product testing, providing clear compliance proof. Leveraging state subsidies for organic certification, it is advancing international certifications like ECOCERT, helping clients (e.g., food processors) enter high-end Western markets.

2. Stabilizing Supply to Reduce Risks

Traditional star anise farming suffers from pest outbreaks, volatile yields, and inconsistent quality—threatening supply chain stability. Deng's Spice solves this through localized expertise and reliable practices.

It cultivates high-quality "Big red Star Anise" (a local premium variety) and uses refined field management, keeping the rate of top-grade dried star anise above 80% (far higher than the traditional 42%). Its "own farms + direct supply" model avoids quality loss from middlemen, and its commitment to "year-round stable supply" ensures reliability. Nearby Wuzhou Port also shortens logistics cycles, further reducing supply disruptions.

3. Optimizing Costs for Win-Win Gains

Sustainability cuts costs across the chain. Deng's Spice maximizes these savings with scale and local advantages.

Gulong Town produces 10% of the world’s star anise, allowing the company to build intensive farms that lower labor and technology costs per mu (0.067 hectares). It offers "factory-direct prices" (no middleman markups) and centralized processing, slashing supply chain costs. By accessing local green development subsidies, it passes savings to clients—for example, helping a compound seasoning client reduce procurement costs by 12% vs. market averages.

4. Enhancing Value to Capture Premiums

Consumer demand for green, safe food is surging (organic star anise sales rose 54.2% in 2023). Deng's Spice leverages this to create higher value for clients.

Its star anise, known for large size, rich flesh, strong aroma, and high oil content, sells for 25-30% more than ordinary star anise. It also produces deep-processed products (e.g., star anise oil, powder) to help clients develop high-end lines. Data from JD Fresh shows that "direct supply" and "eco-cultivated" star anise have higher repeat purchase rates—Deng's Spice helps its clients boost repeat purchases by 18% above industry averages.

5. Fulfilling Social Responsibility to Build Credibility

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance shapes brand image. Deng's Spice integrates sustainability with community development.

Environmentally, it uses soil and water conservation measures and natural fertilizers on its farms, maintaining ecological balance alongside Gulong Town’s 190,000 mu of star anise forests—aligning with Deloitte’s "supply chain decarbonization" goals and improving clients’ ESG ratings. Socially, as a local family-run business, it drives local employment and shares scale benefits with nearby farmers, enhancing its reputation as a responsible partner. This helps clients build a "sustainable supply chain" brand identity.

Sustainable star anise cultivation is reshaping supply chain competitiveness. Guangxi Deng's Spice turns sustainability into real value through local advantages, expertise, and responsibility. As Sino-EU organic certification mutual recognition (expected in 2026) and carbon markets develop, partners like Deng's Spice will become "value centers" rather than just cost centers. For clients, partnering with such enterprises is both a solution to current challenges and a strategic investment in future opportunities.