From multivitamins and omega supplements to collagen powders and greens, there’s a good chance you have at least one nutritional supplement in your cupboard or fridge that might help you with your daily health regimen. There are many reasons for you to have it. Supplements may deliver key nutrients to your body, enhance gastrointestinal health, promote healthy aging, and increase immunity. According to a recent survey, 75% of US residents reported using supplements in 2022 — and that’s just in the United States. So if you are one of them, then you need to pick your supplements taking into account the substantial factor. Keep reading to learn how that works.
How to Make the Right Decision?
Not all PCOS supplements are made the same. While quality and safety regulations for these nutritional goods remain vital, with so many supplements being manufactured, distributed, and eaten globally, informed customers should carefully analyze the ingredients, fillers, origin, manufacturer, and environmental effect of their preferred supplements. Here’s what you should look for:
Better Packaging
First of all, keep an eye on their packaging. It can make a product eco-friendly or bad for our environment. Here is what’s important:
- To decrease long-term environmental effect, use supplements with non-plastic packaging. Many companies are striving to package their goods in reusable containers like glass or aluminum. Additionally, some businesses accept empty containers and provide customers a discount on future purchases, so be sure to inquire about this.
- If plastic is your only choice, make sure the bottle or bag is produced from post-consumer recycled material, and do your best to reuse or recycle it after the final capsule goes down the hatch. For added points, send an email to the company advocating for future plastic-free packaging options.
- Purchase bigger amounts or bulk-sized bottles, particularly for vitamins with a longer shelf life. Purchasing in bulk is generally more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
- Avoid single-use packaging, especially for powdered supplements like greens and collagen. The only exception here is when you are traveling.
- Choose a company that provides monthly supplement refills in min, compostable, or recyclable packaging.
Sustainably Grown and Sourced Food
The contents are important. After all, this is what you are paying for. Not to fail here, consider the following:
- Look for herbal and botanical supplements produced organically or using biodynamic agricultural practices. These are often healthier for you and more environmentally friendly.
- In terms of ingredient certifications, seek for certified organic, traceable, renewable, ethically sourced, and/or non-GMO.
- Check where the components cultivated, harvested, produced, and if they were packed using fair labor? Read the harvesting information on the FAQ page or contact the company to learn more about their labor methods.
- Research how and where the vitamins were packed. Is the laboratory using sustainable practices? How can I use less water? Produce minimum waste? If this is the case, you may limit the effect even more.
Certification Data
Unfortunately, there is no one “gold star” accreditation for supplements that ensures the company and its contents meet all of the requirements. Most third-party certification focuses on product safety for consumption, but they leave customers wondering about the environmental effect. Here are a few of the eco-friendly seals of approval to look for while shopping for your next supplement. We also encourage consulting directly with companies, since some of the certifications listed below are pricey, and smaller firms may be implementing similar programs without accreditation.
- Certified CarbonFree — Supplements with the Certified Carbon Free mark have completed a lifecycle study to establish their carbon impact. Once certified, the firm offsets its carbon footprint by acquiring credits from the Carbonfund, which are then invested in environmentally friendly, carbon-reducing activities.
- A My Green Lab Certification — It indicates that a laboratory has implemented sustainable best practices such as lowering water and plastic consumption and increasing energy efficiency.
- Fair Trade Certified — A Fair Trade accreditation indicates that all parties involved in the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of organic products are treated equitably.
- Non-GMO Project Verified — A non-GMO certification is the most stringent method of ensuring that a product does not contain genetically modified components, including its encapsulation.
- USDA Certified Organic — The familiar organic certification indicates that farmers and/or companies have satisfied stringent criteria for farming, processing, and managing the raw materials used to make the supplement. The USDA organic seal requires that the supplement have at least 95 percent organic components.
- Friend of the Earth accreditation — As part of the Project World Sustainability Organization program, this certification holds producers responsible for agricultural techniques that benefit native flora and fauna, soil health, and natural water supplies. It also guarantees that corporations handle garbage correctly.
- Climate Neutral Certified — Certified brands must adhere to climate neutrality requirements for measuring, mitigating, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and delivery of goods and services.
- Clean Label Certified — This certification aims to remove heavy metals, pesticide residues, and plasticizers associated with cancer and infertility from consumer items, including food. This is not only excellent for humans, but also for the environment.
Final Say!
While it is good to take supplements and vitamins for your health. It is important that you make “eco-friendly” decisions. After all, you do not want to harm the environment. Stay conscious about what you purchase.