“Change will only come about with the involvement of a majority in the industry, and through the commitment of businesses large and small,” said Simon Pettman, IADSA Executive Director, in the press release. “To help drive this forward, IADSA believes it’s important that we show leadership and establish a culture of sustainability in the supplement sector that goes beyond our long-term commitment to creating a healthier society. Our new Guiding Principles will be at the front and center of this work.”
The eight principles were developed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are not, the press release explains, designed to replace any national or regional legislation. Instead, they are intended to provide a set of action points to help every part of the global food supplement supply chain to accelerate and collaborate on sustainability.
The guidelines include:
- Maintain and continuously improve awareness and understanding of sustainability principles and environmental stewardship.
- Incorporate global, regional, indigenous, and local societal values related to environmental impact along with traditional and cultural values.
- Carry out activities towards sustainability objectives in a transparent way and assess them periodically.
- Only use claims relating to sustainability in marketing and advertising that relate to a substantiated environmental, social and/or economic impact.
Related: IADSA Resource Explores Connection Between Vitamin D and Falling Ardent Mills Releases FY21 Corporate Social Responsibility Report IADSA Resource Focuses on Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Explaining why companies should engage in sustainability, Pettman said in the press release: “First of all, it is the right thing to do. In addition, taking a lead on sustainability is important since many of the discussions the industry will have with stakeholders in the future will be framed within the sustainability context and will focus on how the sector is contributing to the achievement of the UN’s 17 SDGs.”
