In October this year, Friend of the Sea® certified a new Norway based omega-3 company. Founded this past year in 2022, Fjorda is a women-led company “passionate about our collective well-being.”
Beate Thy, one of the organisation’s founders, shares Fjorda’s goals: “To make people healthy for life, naturally. We do this by bringing together food science expertise, renowned R&D capabilities, leading-edge manufacturing, and the purest raw ingredients to create the best quality omega-3 supplements.”
Fjorda is located in Kristiansund, on the coast of Norway. A city with a fish oil history that goes back almost 200 years. This tradition combined with new technology makes them capable of producing capsules with more concentrated omega-3 EPA and DHA per capsule, increasing their health effects.
Fjorda’s commitment to sustainability
Fjorda’s commitment to sustainability was a cornerstone of the company’s growth. Regarding Fjorda’s Friend of the Sea® certification, Co-owner and Marketing Manager Beate says: “We want to be on top of the standards in the supplement industry so that it becomes mandatory for everyone to have sustainability on their agenda.”
Besides their Friend of the Sea® certification, they use recycled aluminium bottles and labels manufactured by an Eco-lighthouse certified Norwegian company. They’ve also committed to three UN Sustainability goals, with the aim to continuously improve as they grow. At heart, Fjorda’s founders believe the effort to keep a small environmental footprint will only improve their products, keeping their quality standards high.
Why take Omega-3s?
Omega-3s in general are a family of “good” fats that are scientifically backed to be an incredible health supplement for a wide variety of reasons. However, Fjorda creates its supplements to be targeted to a particular health concern, structured around the four most beneficial uses of omega-3s: heart, brain, pregnancy, and immunity.
They have intentionally made small capsules that are easy to swallow, but still potent to cover your daily requirements to maintain a healthy life.
The supplements are targeted to each health condition. For example, the “heart” pills have a higher ratio of EPA to DHA, which is shown to help maintain normal cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels. Conversely, the “brain” supplement is formulated with ultra-pure DHA, commonly known as “brain gold”. In addition, all contain more than 75% omega-3, a very high percentage in the industry.
Omega-3s are found in fish, fish oil, flaxseed, walnuts, leafy greens, and other foods to a lesser degree. Unfortunately, most Western diets do not get enough Omega-3s so supplements are an important replacement and Fjorda’s rendition ensures that one is getting the appropriate nutrients for each health concern.
Environmental impact of supplements
One of Friend of the Sea’s largest categories of certifications is in the nutraceutical industry. Though it is not often addressed, supplements have an environmental impact just like any other product. Omega-3’s like those sold by Fjorda are traditionally made using fish oil. They are one of the most popular categories of supplements, making up 16% of supplements bought in the US, the world’s biggest supplement market. Due to the growing demand for fish and fish products in recent years, there is an increasing need to fish responsibly. In just under 60 years, seafood production increased from 19.3 million tons (1950) to 163 million tons (2009).
Friend of the Sea’s sustainable fisheries and Omega-3 certification ensures that its certified products minimally impact the environment by requiring that:
● Target stock is not over-exploited according to FAO Regional Fishery Bodies and National Fisheries Authorities standards;
● There is no significant impact to the seabed;
● Sources of fish oil and fish-krill ingredients are well-managed;
● Only selective fishing gear is used, with a maximum of 8% discard;
● There is no bycatch listed as ‘vulnerable’ or worse in the IUCN Red List;
● Compliance with legal requirements (including TACs, no IUU, mesh size, minimum size, etc.);
● Waste and energy management is monitored;
● Social accountability is prioritised.
Following these requirements ensures healthy fish, supports endangered species, and encourages an abundant supply for the future, and therefore the choice to uphold them by organizations like Fjorda is becoming increasingly crucial.
Friend of the Sea® and Fjorda
Fjorda’s prioritisation of sustainability so early on in their growth as a company aligns well with Friend of the Sea’s rigorous requirements for certification. Follow the links to learn more about Friend of the Sea guidelines and other certified companies, and Fjorda products.