The National Asthma Council Australia’s (NAC) Sensitive Choice® program is celebrating 18 years helping New Zealanders  and 20 years of helping Australians identify products and services that   may help them live better with asthma and allergies.

The trusted Sensitive Choice® blue butterfly symbol can be found on hundreds of products, including bedding, building products, cleaning agents, carpets, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners and more, that have all undergone a rigorous approval process.

National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice® Business Development Manager, Adele Taylor, said it is this process that ensures consumers can rely on the blue butterfly when making purchasing decisions for themselves and their families.

“Products and services seeking to be included in the Sensitive Choice® program must submit research, testing and evidence, which is then assessed by an independent and voluntary panel of experts to determine their potential benefit to those with asthma and allergies.

“The confidential Product Advisory Panel is made up of a diverse range of experts including pharmacists, general practitioners, respiratory physicians, industrial chemists, allergists, lawyers, engineers as well as people with asthma and allergies,” she said.

National Asthma Council Australia CEO, Rhonda Cleveland, who played a key role in the launch of the program 20 years ago, said it is a significant milestone achievement.

“For 18 years, Sensitive Choice® has helped empower New Zealanders to make more informed choices about products and services that can help them live better with asthma and allergies.

“The NAC is proud of how the program has been helping to educate consumers about the importance of managing their asthma and allergies with a comprehensive website that includes a resources hub, fact sheets, tips on how to create a healthy home and a video library.

“We regularly get feedback from consumers talking about how life changing it has been for them to recognise and find reassurance in the Sensitive Choice® blue butterfly,” she said.

National Asthma Council Australia Board member and allergist, Clinical Professor Sheryl van Nunen OAM FRS(N), said that a critical element is working with manufacturers and organisations to encourage the development and sale of products and services that offer a potential benefit to those with asthma and allergies.

“The program has had a huge influence on manufacturers who have changed or created products and services to help those with asthma and allergies.

“Some of the original founding Sensitive Choice® partners in 2006 are still valued partners today and four have expanded into New Zealand with a NZ license including Dunlop Foams (2026), CSR Building Products NZ (2012), Daikin NZ (2013) and Waterco (2006).

“There are also several NZ only partners that have been part of the program for a very long time including HRV (2009), Clean Planet (2011), Resene (2011) and NZ Steel (2012).

“They and many other organisations have seen the value in creating products and services that are asthma and allergy aware,” said Clinical Professor van Nunen.

John Gomatos, Sales Director of Dunlop Foams, said they have been a proud partner of the National Asthma Council and Sensitive Choice® since the program commenced.

“For Dunlop Foams, this alignment reflects a genuine commitment to healthier homes. All our products are treated with Ultra-Fresh, an antimicrobial treatment that helps control dust mites and other household bugs known to trigger allergies and asthma, while also keeping foam cleaner and fresher for longer.

“Dunlop Foams sees the Sensitive Choice® blue butterfly not just as a symbol on its products, but as an ongoing promise to New Zealanders living with asthma and allergies that they can trust what’s inside our products,” he said.

Some of the more recent Sensitive Choice® partners include Cold Power Sensitive laundry liquids, as well as Panel Plus, a flooring company based in Thailand and Anker Innovation, the manufacturer of an all-in-one base station robot vacuum.

Sensitive Choice® is a not-for-profit program of the NAC and was established to provide critical funding to the NAC to do the important work it still does today, creating the treatment, management and diagnosis guidelines for asthma in Australia, and to provide education to health care professionals Australia wide.

Sensitive Choice® is a global program with trademarks in over 60 countries, so people with asthma and allergies can look out for the reassuring blue butterfly around the world. This includes well known global household brands such Panasonic, Asko and Miele.

More information about the Sensitive Choice® program can be found at:

Instagram @Sensitivechoice_nz

Facebook @Sensitivechoicenewzealand

Website sensitivechoice.co.nz

For further information or an interview with a NAC Sensitive Choice® spokesperson, please contact: Donna Le Page, Le Page PR

Mobile: +61 429 825 703 or Email: donna@lepage-pr.com.au

The National Asthma Council Australia is a collaboration of four member organisations (APNA, ASCIA, PSA and RACGP) and the national trusted authority for asthma knowledge. We set and disseminate the standards for asthma care through our responsive and evidence-based asthma guidelines – the Australian Asthma Handbook and resources for primary health care professionals. Our Sensitive Choice program empowers consumers to identify asthma and allergy-aware products and services.