Coloring Pages with Purpose: Schisandra, Pandas, and Power of Sustainable Sourcing

March 16 is National Panda Day, a celebration that goes beyond an iconic animal. Native to the mountain forests of central China, giant pandas are considered a vulnerable species, relying on healthy, biodiverse ecosystems to survive. While conservation efforts have helped populations recover in recent decades, protecting the forests they depend on remains essential to their future. 

At Traditional Medicinals, sustainable sourcing serves as the heart of our ethos and represents ethical sourcing in action. We look beyond ingredients themselves to consider the long-term impact of how and where our herbs are grown and gathered. This commitment is especially meaningful in the regions where we source wild schisandra berries, a remarkable plant that shares its forest ecosystem with giant pandas. 

Used in our EveryDay Detox® Hibiscus & Schisandra Berry tea to support healthy liver function*, schisandra connects herbal wellness with conservation. As more people turn to this tea for daily support, our responsibility to protect both the plant and the environment it grows in becomes even more vital. 

Because behind every schisandra berry is a collaboration more than twenty years in the making. 

A Berry with Deep Roots 

Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, schisandra berry is known as an adaptogenic herb that supports vitality and resilience. It is also traditionally used to support liver health and encourage the body’s natural detoxification processes.* 

Today, schisandra remains an important botanical in EveryDay Detox® Hibiscus & Schisandra Berry tea. But understanding this herb means understanding where it grows. 




Wild schisandra vines climb through biodiverse mountain forests in Southwestern China, landscapes that are also home to the giant panda. These forests support an extraordinary web of life, making responsible sourcing essential for both ecological health and herbal quality. 

Herbal Demand, Conservation, and a New Model for Sourcing 

More than two decades ago, increasing global demand for schisandra created both opportunity and responsibility. Wild harvesting provided important income for rural communities, yet unmanaged collection practices risked damaging vines and disrupting forest regeneration. 

Rather than turning away from wild sourcing, Traditional Medicinals chose to invest in long-term solutions. 

Beginning in 2008, Traditional Medicinals partnered with local communities, conservation scientists, government agencies, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-China) to develop sustainable harvesting standards that could protect forests while supporting livelihoods. 

Together, this multistakeholder collaboration reimagined how herbal supply chains could function. Harvesters were trained to selectively pick ripe berries while leaving vines intact, allowing schisandra plants to regenerate naturally and forest ecosystems to remain healthy. 

In 2018, this work was recognized by WWF-China and the Chinese government with the establishment of the world’s first Panda-Friendly certification for wild-harvested schisandra, with Traditional Medicinals as the first company to bring a Panda-Friendly certified product to market. 

This sustainable development model is market driven. By committing to responsibly sourced schisandra, demand for herbal tea helps create economic opportunity for farming and harvesting communities while reinforcing conservation practices that protect panda forests. 

People, Plants, and Wildlife 

At its heart, Panda Friendly sourcing reflects a whole-ecosystem approach. 

People benefit through stable income and long-term partnerships that support rural communities.
Plants are harvested using regenerative practices that allow schisandra vines to continue thriving in the wild.
Wildlife, including giant pandas, benefit from protected forests and preserved biodiversity. 

When supply chains are designed to support all three, sustainability becomes lasting rather than temporary. 

This integrated philosophy continues to guide how Traditional Medicinals approaches herbal sourcing around the world. 

Coloring as Connection and Education 

This year’s National Panda Day coloring pages celebrate pandas, creativity, and sustainably sourced herbs. Featuring playful, panda-forward designs, these pages invite children and adults alike to slow down, color, and enjoy a moment of creativity and connection with nature. 

For adults, the experience can be paired with a sustainably sourced cup of EveryDay Detox® Hibiscus & Schisandra Berry tea, adding a mindful ritual to the creative moment. 

From Forest to Cup 

Every cup of EveryDay Detox® Hibiscus & Schisandra Berry tea represents more than herbal tradition. It reflects over twenty years of partnership, learning, and shared stewardship. 

Supporting daily wellness can also support thriving ecosystems, resilient communities, and the protection of species that depend on healthy forests. 

This National Panda Day, we invite you to download the coloring pages, share them with your family or community, and take a moment to reflect on how interconnected wellness truly is. 

Because when people, plants, and wildlife flourish together, the impact reaches far beyond a single cup of tea.