May 18, 2020
Brand holders and product developers focused on sustainability need to connect with forward-thinking ingredient suppliers that embody sustainability in all they do.
According to president and CEO Steve Holtby, the gelatin capsule manufacturer has reduced the amount of gelatin left over from each manufacturing run and passes the remnants along to scrap gelatin processors who sell it to the adhesives industry. … Another part of sustainable ingredient production is using less energy and more efficient fuels to power production. “To reduce our environmental footprint, Soft Gel Technologies produces our own energy through a 260-kilowatt co-generation machine that uses clean-burning natural gas,” Holtby says. “Recycling waste heat saves other pollutant-spewing fossil fuels from being burned, substantially cutting carbon dioxide emissions, other greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxides.” And by providing 80% of its own electricity, Soft Gel Technologies saves about 660,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, says Holtby.
Beyond just choosing the right active ingredients, product developers must pair them with the appropriate delivery systems to truly support consumers’ health. “Of course, consumer preference for vegetarian ingredients, pill size and dosing compliance are important issues to ponder,” says Soft Gel Technologies’ Holtby. “However, the dosage form chosen will have a significant impact on bioavailability and effectiveness, so it should be a major consideration when selecting a delivery system.” He adds that Soft Gel Technologies conducts extensive testing on both raw materials and finished softgel encapsulated products to ensure consumers are getting the nutrition and benefits they expect from their supplements.
