The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) has today launched its “Sustainability pledge: Lifting the planet, taking a leading role in accelerating the industry’s transition to sustainability. 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. 

Dr Adam Carey, Chair of ESSNA said:  

“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. 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. 

The Sustainability Pledge sets out the aspirational goals for sustainability that will allow our 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: 

1. Ensuring that the origins of ingredients and raw materials can be transparently traced to sustainable sources. 

2. Taking environmental and ethical credentials into consideration when procuring suppliers. 

3. Opting for grass-fed whey products and free-range farming practices. 

4. Continuing to invest in the development and roll-out of plant-based sports nutrition products. 

5. Supporting the development and adoption of innovative and low-carbon packaging materials. 

6. 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.  

On 10th May, ESSNA Vice-Chair Luca Bucchini will present the ESSNA’s Sustainability Pledge, as well as a review of the regulatory and policy landscape on sustainability, at the trade event Vitafoods Europe. Vitafoods Europe takes place online between 2nd and 13th May, and in person in Geneva from 10th to 12th May. Find out more and register here.   

For further information or comment from Dr Adam Carey or one of ESSNA’s Vice-Chairs, please contact Careen Becker at [email protected] 

About ESSNA 

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) is the trade association representing the interests of the sports nutrition sector across the European Union. ESSNA was created in 2003 to campaign for appropriate European legislation on sports nutrition products. Today ESSNA is a mature and respected organisation, widely recognised by legislators and the mainstream media as the voice of the responsible specialist sports nutrition sector in Europe. 

Twitter: @ESSNAsports 

LinkedIn: European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance