Chapter 5 About this Report

About this REPORT

About this Report

The quest for sustainability is how our story began.

Quintis was born of tenacity in the vast and challenging terrains of Australia’s tropical north. At the time, Indian sandalwood grown in the wild was on the cusp of global extinction, plagued by years of over-exploitation, resulting in it being listed as a vulnerable species in 1998 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

We took it upon ourselves to secure an ethical and sustainable supply of this ancient tree, planting our first seedlings under broad skies in red soils, identified as the perfect place for it to flourish.

Now, through over 20 years of careful cultivation, research, and innovation, we have established ourselves as the global leaders in ethical and traceable sandalwood. We manage an expansive 12,000-hectare estate where more than 5 million Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) trees thrive, and we work with local suppliers in Western Australia to procure legally sourced Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum/Fusanus spicatus).

We process the wood, turning it into an array of products at our processing facilities in Albany and Kununurra, where we are constantly reviewing and refining our manufacturing processes to minimise our impact on the environment and maximise our contribution to the local communities.

As foresters, we take our role as stewards of the earth seriously. Inspired by the Indigenous perspective of the earth as a never-ending cycle of growth and care, we aim to give where we take, seeking innovative solutions to reduce our footprint and add value. We are proud that we have helped reintroduce native birds, mammals and insects into areas where they were lost and ensure processes are in place to minimise disturbances to habitats that exist in our plantations. We have implemented award-winning water-saving systems, created jobs in regional areas, and supported community initiatives.

Yet, there is still much to be done. We began our sustainability journey many years ago, a journey that has changed and evolved in response to the world around us. As we look ahead to the next decade, we are excited to document the continuation of this journey, and our commitment to achieving business outcomes, without compromising our community, environment, or our people. This report outlines our commitment to sustainability; to being today’s best, and tomorrow’s better.