Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/666166
Tablets & Capsules April 2016 32C topic in the natural products space—and is looking to tackle other issues. "In the future, we are interested in sourcing more sustainable ingredients in the tabletting industry specifically. Supply chain identity issues are also of interest to the group," Davis said. No single standard Sustainability isn't just about ingredients. "Sustainability is about balancing economic, environmen- tal, and social performance bottom lines. Manufacturers of dietary supplements can benefit from a variety of sus- tainability standards," said Jenny Oorbeck, general man- ager at NSF Sustainability, Ann Arbor, MI. One of the group's standards, the Non-GMO True North program, aims to ensure "the integrity of GMO claims and to grow the breadth and diversity of non- GMO/GE-verified products sold at retail, and non- GMO-certified ingredients sold throughout the supply chain" [3]. The program is geared toward food and feed, but a forthcoming annex will focus on dietary supple- ments. According to Davis of CSS, consumers are very interested in buying GMO- free products because they think genetically modified ingredients don't fit with the idea of sustainability. For this nutra-specific annex, CSS is providing comments to NSF regarding what is feasible for the dietary supplement industry to provide in terms of traceability. NSF also addresses sustainability in terms of green- house gases, landfills, and energy management. Other third parties that assess sustainability of nutraceutical ingredients and manufacturing practices include the Non- GMO Project, the Marine Stewardship Council, Green America, and SCS Global Services. In fact, there is no shortage of certifications and verifi- cation programs, but there is no single industry standard. "Sustainability is a nebulous term right now. It means different things to different people depending on your role in the industry," Peirce said. "I think the organiza- tions are working to define it so they can apply it to the different sectors in the industry and start benchmarking the practices that are going on and then set some goals for how you can improve your sustainability." The cost of sustainability While implementing sustainable practices may be good for the planet and fosters good will with consumers, is it good for business? "It depends on how you look at it," Peirce said. "Yes, there may be an expense of buying new light bulbs, or putting solar panels on the roof of the building. But is it an expense or an investment? By sourcing locally, you are increasing your sustainability because you are using less fuel for transportation, which is a cost-reduction." Davis agreed. "Sustainability can save costs along the way, but it depends on what type of sustainable practices we are talking about. If we're talking about switching to LED light bulbs from incandescent, then you might see your electricity bills go down, especially if you have mul- tiple manufacturing facilities located around the world. You could see really big savings." Other sustainable prac- tices may result in higher product prices. For example, organic ingredients are more expensive, and it costs time and money to find new ways to source sustainable ingre- dients. FoodState's MegaFood brand is one example. "For a premium brand like MegaFood, we are willing to pay more for sustainably sourced ingredients, and we are able to do that because our price point is higher and/or con- sumers are willing to pay that high price. But you don't see that in the mass market." Nonetheless, she expects bigger companies will find a way to get a return on their investment in sustainable practices. "We are hoping to lead those folks and say here is what we've been working on, here's what it costs, and this might be worth it, too." Yet even companies like FoodState and other CSS members that see a return on their sustainable investments still face challenges. "One of our biggest roadblocks is the fact that most of the compa- nies involved in the coalition are small," Davis said. "We are not on the same scale as some of the very large, mass retail dietary supplement companies. Even when we are all together, we are still only a very small piece of the overall dietary supplement market globally. However, bigger and bigger companies are asking to join the coali- tion and showing interest in sustainable practices." Peirce is also optimistic. "I think sustainability is a jour- ney rather than a destination. It can range from what environmentally-friendly procedures you are following in your office to manufacturing standards and practices. While these are good things from an environmental standpoint, they are also very good for business sustain- ability. When you marry the two concepts of doing the right thing for the environment and saving money for a company, you create a win-win situation." T&C References 1. We Are What We Eat: Healthy Eating Trends Around the World. January 2015. Nielsen, New York, NY. www.nielsen.com. 2. The Sustainability Imperative: New Insights on Consumer Expectations. October 2015. Nielsen, New York, NY. www.nielsen.com. 3. GMO Transparency Services. NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI. bit.ly/254BteO. For further reading Download more articles about dietary supplements at Tablets & Capsules' website, www.tabletcapsules.com. There are many certifications and verification programs but not a single industry standard.