30-year partnership with Bhutan
For their exceptional long-term cooperation, the Kingdom of Bhutan and PRIMAVERA were awarded the special award of the International German Sustainable Development Prize (IDNP) 2025 - this makes us extremely happy and is a great success for the equal and sustainable partnerships that PRIMAVERA has maintained with all its agricultural partners since its founding in 1986. The award ceremony took place on December 5, 2025 in Düsseldorf in the presence of the sister of the King of Bhutan, HRH Princess Dechan Yangzom Wangchuck.
The recognition of the cooperation with Bhutan honors a partnership that has shown for three decades in an exemplary way how entrepreneurial commitment, environmental responsibility and intercultural cooperation can go hand in hand, the jury said. The partnership embodies the spirit of the 2030 Agenda and is a shining example for companies around the world.
On behalf of the King and Government of Bhutan, HRH Princess Dechan Yangzom Wangchuck accepted the award at the ceremony in Düsseldorf:
"My deepest gratitude goes to the German Sustainability Award Foundation, as well as to Ute Loebe and Kurt Nübling from PRIMAVERA. For 35 years now, you have treated the people of Bhutan with humility, respect and genuine care, showing that something extraordinary can happen when relationships are built on trust."
The roots of the partnership
The roots of the partnership between PRIMAVERA and Bhutan date back to 1990, when PRIMAVERA founders Ute Loebe and Kurt L. Nübling first visited the country. In search of high-quality lemongrass oil, they discovered a preserved, culturally rich country that has enshrined “Gross National Happiness” as its highest state goal in its constitution. A careful and caring attitude towards nature is one of the four pillars of Gross National Happiness.
"The unique beauty of nature and the way the people there live in harmony with it captivated us from the very beginning. What we saw in Bhutan corresponded 100 percent to our deepest personal beliefs."
Ute Loibe, co-founder and co-owner of PRIMAVERA
"Our cooperation with Bhutan shows that everyone can benefit from a values-based economic partnership – both nature and people."
Kurt L. Nübling, co-founder and co-owner of PRIMAVERA
Pioneering sustainable development
From the first meetings, a partnership based on trust, respect and shared values has developed. After many years of cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Bhutan, a close collaboration with the local company "Bio Bhutan", which has since been founded, which advocates for organic farming and certified wild plant collection, was born.
In addition to distilling wild lemongrass in remote areas of Eastern Bhutan, PRIMAVERA supports "Bio Bhutan" in building a high-quality soap factory.
Terra Himalaya – in harmony with the vision of Bhutan
Pristine nature gives birth to plants of extraordinary power. To connect people even more closely with their healing power, in September 2023, PRIMAVERA founded its first own partner cultivation company – Terra Himalaya – in the capital Thimphu.
The subsidiary, which acts consistently in line with the vision of the King of Bhutan and the government to protect biodiversity, distills organic essential oil from Himalayan pine and supplies it directly to PRIMAVERA in Oy-Mittelberg in the Allgäu region.
Just two years after its founding, Terra Himalaya is already working with over 165 farming families. Knowledge transfer, collaborative research, capacity building and expanding value added in rural areas underline PRIMAVERA’s commitment to Bhutan. A key objective here is to harness the economic opportunities to preserve value added in the country, in order to provide young people with prospects for a future in their homeland.
"Land of the Thunder Dragon"
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a global biodiversity hotspot – from subtropical virgin forests in the lowlands to the highest unclimbed peaks in the world.
According to the jury, Bhutan can boast significant achievements in the field of sustainable development. At least 60 percent of the country's territory must remain permanently covered by forests according to the constitution, and more than half of Bhutan's area is protected national parks. For the future, Bhutan is also pursuing ambitious environmental goals, such as switching to 100% organic agriculture by 2035 and using only renewable energy sources.
Conclusion
PRIMAVERA's commitment for 35 years is driven by the desire to support Bhutan's extraordinary journey and help its successful transformation towards a thriving future in harmony with nature. Learn more about lemongrass essential oil and essential oils in our store.
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