AN INDUSTRY LEADER
Joar Opheim, Nordic Naturals CEO and founder, came to the United States in the mid-1980s to complete his MBA. When he couldn’t find the high-quality fish oil he relied on to manage inflammation from old athletic injuries, he resorted to bringing his own bottles from Norway, filling his suitcase on trips back and forth. This began Joar’s personal mission to transform fish oil quality in the United States and increase global access to the profound health benefits of high-quality omega oils. He founded Nordic Naturals in 1995 with this aim in mind, and the company has been a pioneer of omega-3 nutrition ever since.
Nordic Naturals’ leadership has redefined omega-3 fish oil products in the United States. Like ShiftCon, Nordic Naturals places education and optimal health at the forefront of our organization. Our staff includes a research advisor, educators, and a host of nutrition and omega-3 experts that support our efforts to inform consumers and the general public about the importance of sustainable, high-quality omega-3 nutrition. Simply put, we believe that omega oils are essential to life. By correcting the global omega-3 deficiency, we give each generation what they need to grow healthy and strong.
BOAT-TO-BOTTLE MANUFACTURING
Foundational to Nordic Naturals’ success, and to the exceptional quality of our products, is our unique boat-to-bottle manufacturing process. We begin our fish oil production with the end in mind, carefully managing every step in order to deliver the purest, freshest, and most sustainable omega-3 products.
It Begins at Sea
We always source the best raw materials while protecting the long-term future of our marine resources, and supporting the livelihoods of those who depend on them. Managing every step of production means that we can work directly with fishermen who utilize proper fishing and handling procedures to source the 100% wild, omega-rich fish used for our omega oils. Our fish come from two specific fisheries located in the Norwegian Sea and the South Pacific Ocean. These fisheries are models of sustainability that continually monitor their fish biomass and the fishing methods used in order to ensure flourishing stocks. Most importantly, in both locales, every part of the fish is used for human or animal consumption.
Sustainable Fish Oil Manufacturing
Nordic Naturals is mindful of the effects that our business has on the environment and the specific communities where we operate, and we always try to minimize our overall environmental footprint. Our state-of-the-art, green manufacturing facility in Tromsø, Norway uses 20–30% less raw material in order to achieve the desired levels of omega-3s in our fish oil. Equally important is the facility’s ability to convert unusable components of fish oil production into biodiesel for heating, vacuum, and steam used during manufacturing. This biodiesel is an incredibly clean fuel that is typically used to meet 100% of Nordic Pharma’s energy needs. Any surplus energy is provided to neighboring businesses. In recognition of our achievements in sustainable manufacturing, the Norwegian Government gave our new facility the highest possible rating, and awarded it a $1 million grant for minimizing its carbon footprint.
The Freshest Fish Oil in the World
Owning the manufacturing process to the very end ensures that we maintain a complete inventory of exceptional finished products. After encapsulation, our products are distributed to more than 30 countries worldwide from our LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-certified U.S. headquarters in Watsonville, California. See sustainable fish oil manufacturing in action in our new documentary short film True North: The Omega-3 Journey from Boat to Bottle http://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/About_Us_portal/True_North_Documentary/1079
NON-GMO CERTIFICATION
We recognize that there’s more on people’s minds when it comes to their fish oil than only freshness and sustainability, important though these qualities may be for premium fish oil. Product safety remains the very top priority for Nordic Naturals and is reflected in all that we do, from our choice of fish species, to our manufacturing methods and product testing, corporate transparency, and the certifications we maintain.
Given the public’s concerns about the effects of genetically modified organisms in our food supply, there is an urgent need for natural products brands to proactively disclose the condition of ingredients used in their supplements. Nordic Naturals has voluntarily enrolled our products with the Non-GMO Project, an organization that evaluates and verifies non-GMO products for brands, and identifies verified choices for customers. Many of Nordic Naturals products have already been non-GMO verified, and those that have not yet been verified, are currently in the process of becoming so. To view the status of our products, visit nongmoproject.org and search by brand. To learn more about Nordic Naturals sustainable, award-winning omega oils, visit nordicnaturals.com.