【D&A Knowledge Hub】What Is A Sustainable Product？

Sustainability is one of today’s biggest topics. Climate change, deforestation, soil degradation, droughts, mass extinction, and many other problems are in the news daily, affecting all of us. More and more people are taking these problems seriously and companies are responding with sustainable products.

What Makes A Product Sustainable?

There is no official definition of sustainable product. “Sustainable” can mean different things to different companies and individuals. A product is usually considered sustainable if it:

Doesn’t deplete natural, non-renewable resources

A sustainable product is made from renewable resources. Bio-based products on the market can be considered as sustainable product. Qualified bio-based products can be certified through authoritative bio-based product certification agencies (including USDA in USA and Dutch NEN in EU). A series of bio-based products developed by D&A Group have certified by USDA certification.

Manufactured in a sustainable way

The production, distribution, and consumption of the product uses as less energy as possible, and minimizes and responsibly disposes of waste. At this moment, there is no perfect solution to free from environmental impact, so most environmentally conscious companies strive to minimize negative impact, such as lower carbon footprint.

In the field of chemicals, sustainable certifications for manufacturing include bluesign ® System Partner, ISO14000 and ZDHC Level 3 certification. At the same time, some companies adopt the Higg Index to evaluate the sustainable performance of products, brands and supply chains. As a responsible chemical manufacturer, D&A Group actively participates in the well-known sustainable organizations in the industry.

Made in a socially responsible way

A socially sustainable business is one that practices fair and equal hiring, hiring a diverse range of people and ensuring they have a voice in the organization. Socially sustainable businesses also care about the health, wellbeing, and success of their employees — as well as the residents of the cities and countries in which they operate.

D&A Group fulfills its corporate social responsibility and achieves long-term value through sustainable practice. The Group has signed the UN Global compact and supports the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. All locations comply with local labor law and international standards. We implement a strict safety management system, and have been issued with ISO 45001: 2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Certification.