The initiative sets out ESSNA members’ commitments towards clean energy transition, circular packaging, efficient waste management, ethical and sustainable sourcing of ingredients, and improving animal welfare practices.
“As an important and a fast-growing segment of the food sector, sports nutrition can play a crucial role in the increasing governmental efforts in Europe and globally to make the food system more sustainable,” said the Chair of ESSNA, Dr Adam Carey.
He explained that as front-runners in the industry’s sustainability transition, ESSNA’s members have already started to reap the opportunities of the sustainable transition.
“Many sports nutrition companies have launched plant-based product ranges to respond to consumers’ demand for vegan and vegetarian products, while others have taken steps to remove and reduce plastic in their packaging,” Dr Carey said.
According to Dr Carey, the Sustainability Pledge sets out the aspirational goals for sustainability that will allow ESSNA members to ensure their operations continue to reflect and actively contribute to sustainability objectives laid out in policy and legislation, such as the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
The Sustainability Pledge takes a holistic approach supporting not only environmental protection but also the local communities which supply chains interact with. These aspirations include:
- Ensuring that the origins of ingredients and raw materials can be transparently traced to sustainable sources.
- Taking environmental and ethical credentials into consideration when procuring suppliers.
- Opting for grass-fed whey products and free-range farming practices.
- Continuing to invest in the development and roll-out of plant-based sports nutrition products.
- Supporting the development and adoption of innovative and low-carbon packaging materials.
- Minimising the amount of product waste through various outlets.
ESSNA’s Sustainability Pledge can be found here.
ESSNA Vice-Chair Dr Adam Carey’s interview on the ESSNA’s Sustainability Pledge can be found here.
