In the supplement industry, sustainable business practices offer win-win-win opportunities for brands, customers, and the planet. Brands and manufacturers that emphasize sustainability are able to reduce the use of energy and materials while meeting customer demand for eco-friendly products.
At Yellow Emperor, sustainability is a core value in our green-certified, carbon-neutral manufacturing operations. Our sustainable business practices include the use of recycled materials, eco-friendly transportation, and clean workplace practices.
The Sustainability Imperative for Manufacturers
Sustainability is commonly defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition was first presented by the United Nations in 1987.
For a materials-intensive industry like supplement manufacturing, sustainable business practices include prioritizing green energy, using recycled materials, and making efficient use of resources and energy.
The Role of Recycling in Yellow Emperor’s Operations
At Yellow Emperor, we emphasize a “beyond the basics” approach to recycling. This includes:
- Electronics recycling
- Using 100% post-consumer recycled paper
- Using recycled material for product packaging
When it comes to recycling, every effort counts. Using recycled material as often as possible is central to Yellow Emperor’s triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.
Green Energy for Sustainable Power Production
Manufacturing work demands substantial energy use to run production equipment, heating and cooling systems, and lighting. Strategies for reducing manufacturing energy use include:
- On-site green energy production via solar panels
- Improving energy efficiency with energy audits and optimization of HVAC, lighting, and manufacturing equipment
- Participation in carbon neutrality programs
Yellow Emperor is a proud participant in carbonfund.org’s Carbonfree® Business Partner Program. Through this program, we’re able to offset our carbon emissions while investing in renewable energy projects and forest protection.
Sustainable Commuting: The Culture of Eco-Friendly Transportation
More than one-fourth of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from transportation. These emissions—along with dreadful traffic—are largely a result of Americans’ reliance on personal cars to get to and from work.
Switching to public transportation, cycling, or remote work is one of the best measures that an individual or a company can take to reduce environmental impacts. At Yellow Emperor, work-from-home isn’t an option for our hands-on manufacturing work. However, we proudly support our many employees who commute to work every day via bicycle or public transportation.
Packaging with Purpose: Yellow Emperor’s Approach
Product packaging materials vary, and while some are more sustainable than others, the ones that have the largest impact are large wholesale orders. Truckloads carrying boxes of product from one facility to another can result in a high amount of waste if not packaged in sustainable materials.
At Yellow Emperor, for example, we use as many recycled materials as possible when shipping our clients’ products to their intended destination. From recycled cardboard and paper to the equipment that we use in our manufacturing center, we choose the cleanest way to ship that we can in compliance with the Smart Way Program.
The Ethical Ingredient Sourcing Strategy
Along with recycling and green energy commitments, ingredient sourcing is another focus area for sustainable manufacturers.
For Yellow Emperor, ethical ingredient sourcing means working with local and organic suppliers as much as possible. By working with trusted local partners, we reduce the environmental impacts related to long-distance product transportation while supporting sustainable agricultural and manufacturing practices.
How Can Recycling Materials Lead to Environmental Sustainability?
Recycling is one of the first environmentally friendly behaviors that we learn as children, and for good reason. Recycling is one of the most powerful actions that individuals and businesses can take to reduce environmental impacts.
Responsible practices like recycling (or using recycled materials) have a positive ripple effect. By using the same materials more than once, we reduce the necessity to extract raw materials from the earth via mining, drilling, and harvesting. This allows for greater preservation of ecosystems, less fresh water diverted from rivers, and reduced air pollution.
In the supplement industry, we make products that are designed to benefit human health and wellness. It’s only natural to extend that same passion and dedication toward caring for the planet.
Partner with Yellow Emperor for Sustainable Supplement Manufacturing
What steps has your supplement brand taken to embrace a people, planet, and profit triple bottom line?
At Yellow Emperor, we’re a Certified Organic Processor with an A+ NSF rating. We’re committed to recycling, sustainability, and—most of all—to providing superior contract manufacturing services for liquid supplement brands.
Contact Yellow Emperor today to request a quote for your brand’s liquid supplement line.
