IADSA’s Guiding Principles push for sustainability in supplement sector

The Principles are in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed in 2015 by the United Nations designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.”

Along with malnutrition and noncommunicable diseases, the 17 SDGs also embrace efforts to reduce climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss.

“It is considered important to help establish a culture of sustainability within the sector,” the IADSA says.

“The IADSA Guiding Principles have therefore been developed for all involved in the food supplement sector to help accelerate action and collaboration  towards  a  sustainable present and future.”

Integrating sustainability practices

The Principles are:

1. Maintain and continuously improve awareness and understanding of sustainability principles and environmental stewardship.
2. Incorporate global,  regional,  indigenous, and local societal values related to environmental  impact along with traditional and cultural values.
3. Integrate environmental stewardship and sustainability planning into the life-cycle planning and management of products and activities at the earliest possible stage.
4. Carry out activities towards sustainability objectives in a transparent way and assess them  periodically.
5. Only use claims relating to sustainability in marketing and advertising that relate to a substantiated environmental, social and/or economic  impact.
6. Only use claims relating to sustainability in marketing and advertising that accurately convey the sustainable attributes of products and help consumers to make informed  choices.
7. Ensure that all actions taken in relation to sustainability  safeguard  fair  competition between  actors.
8. Ensure that quality and safety are not compromised in actions taken with respect to  sustainability.

‘Involvement of the majority’

“The IADSA Code of Ethical Principles calls on all businesses in the food supplement sector to “strive to integrate sustainability practices into their operations and to embrace efforts to reduce inequality, discrimination, and injustice,” the Association adds.

“Many in the supplement sector are already playing their  part  at  national,  regional  and  international level to address the challenges.

“However, a shift to sustainable systems cannot take place without the involvement of the majority of those involved in the supplement sector, whether they are large or smaller companies.”