FORCED LABOUR and
HPMC HARD CAPSULES
- #Protect Human Rights
- #Stop Exploitation
- #Be Responsible, Take Action
Have you ever wondered
why certain HPMC capsules come with
such a cheap price tag?
Let’s dive into :
- The properties of HPMC capsules
- The ethical dimensions
- Explore the potential risks associated with their sourcing
Not all HPMC capsules are created equal!
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules have gained popularity in the dietary supplement industry due to their unique advantages over traditional gelatin capsules. Hypromellose is a semisynthetic polymer derived from cellulose. The highest quality and most compliant HPMC is derived from wood pulp, whereas some HPMC may be made with cotton linters, a byproduct of cotton production.
While this may seem cost effective, it raises serious ethical concerns. In some countries, which are responsible for a large proportion of the world’s cotton production, human rights violations occur due to mass detention, surveillance and forced labour of ethnic minorities.
Cotton Industry and Forced Labour
Cotton is a globally prominent crop renowned for its applications in apparel and textiles. The problem is, that some country's cotton industry is heavily involved in forced labour and human rights violations. For example, 20% of the world's cotton and 84% of China’s cotton are produced in the Xinjiang region, where ethnic minorities such as the Uyghurs are often oppressed. In response to these challenges, there has been a global mobilization towards regulating supply chains, wherein policies have been enacted related to the importation of products linked to forced labour.
Global Regulations
About Xinjiang and the Uyghur Population
Who are Uyghurs? A Turkic ethnic group, primarily Muslims, native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China.
These minorities have been subjected to mass detention, surveillance indoctrination, and coercion by their government.
Some of the issues include
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Destruction of Uyghur cultural sites, restrictions on religious attire, and interference in religious education
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Uyghurs are subjected to forced labour in various industries, including cotton production, which is a significant concern given Xinjiang’s role in the global cotton supply chain.
What should YOU do?
As a responsible dietary supplement company, you need to be aware of the potential implications of using HPMC capsules made with cotton or other materials from countries or regions associated with forced labour and human rights violations. It is highly recommended to always check exactly which raw material is involved, where the raw material is produced and what are the production and working conditions are like, so as not to indirectly support the oppression of ethnic minorities in certain countries.
Strengthen the trust of your customers, who are increasingly concerned about the ethical and social aspects of the products they consume!
EMBOCAPS’ PROMISE
EMBOCAPS® is committed to supplying benchmark-quality capsule products and services. In our efforts to provide you with the best HPMC capsule for your needs, we start with the highest quality raw materials. All EMBOCAPS® VG product lines (VG-Pro, VG-Alpha, and VG-AP) use wood pulp origin HPMC materials from qualified, reputable, and globally known partners.
We rigorously avoid any materials associated with or derived from certain regions known for human rights abuses, including forced labour. We are committed to providing high-quality and ethically sourced products to our customers and take pride in our responsible sourcing practices.