Supporting communities
Nutraceutical companies have also explored many new options for creating sustainable programs that address needs of people both inside their operations and in the communities where they source ingredients. OmniActive, for example, developed the Improving Lives Foundation, a program committed to fostering change not only for customers and consumers but also communities where its products are sourced. The program focuses on critical issues in rural communities, such as nutrition-related issues, and supports gender equality, improving sanitation and access to clean water.
But many companies have also come to realize that sustainability demands a top-to-bottom philosophy, which includes a well-informed and engaged workforce. Kappa Bioscience, for example, established the Ecologi program to develop a climate positive workforce. “Every one of our staff members became climate positive,” said Mattern, noting that Kappa offsets the entire carbon footprint of its staff including emissions from business and personal travel, holidays, food, and hobbies. “We are doing this by planting groves of trees in our company’s forests and financing carbon-reduction projects worldwide through Ecologi.” Companies are also pushing boundaries in these areas with certifications that help them move along the sustainability continuum. The B Corp certification, for example, provides an annual assessment of a company’s value chain and operations to improve both internal business procedures and stakeholder relationships. “Being part of this movement means balancing both the social and economic purpose of the company, maintaining rigorous control and striving for continuous improvement,” Bensadon explained, noting Baia recently received its B Corp certification. The standard, he added, helps prove that the company is moving forward on things like waste management, energy consumption, and corporate governance within the company. Above all, he added, it establishes a company culture to help employees “feel like part of something that is a living ecosystem.”