Sensitive Choice® helps you make better lifestyle choices that may help you manage your asthma and allergies more effectively.
The Sensitive Choice® programme is offered by the Asthma Foundation of New Zealand and the National Asthma Council Australia.
Sensitive Choice® helps you identify companies that are committed to reducing asthma and allergy triggers.
The Sensitive Choice® programme has a large target audience. One in four Kiwi kids and one in six adults have asthma, that’s over 600,000 people. We receive many enquiries from families and people with asthma wanting to know how to reduce their asthma symptoms.
Why make a “Sensitive Choice”?
Kiwis need to be aware of the importance of self-managing their asthma and how a few simple steps can significantly reduce the potential for triggering asthma. The Sensitive Choice® programme assists the Asthma Foundation in encouraging manufacturers and suppliers to provide products and services that may benefit people with asthma and their families and friends.
The butterfly logo will help you make informed lifestyle choices that may help improve outcomes regarding asthma and allergies. If you see the blue butterfly when shopping, stop for a moment and think about your family’s asthma and allergy care.
- Do you know your triggers?
- Are you taking steps to reduce your exposure to your triggers?
- Have you had an asthma and allergy review with your doctor recently?
- Do you follow your asthma or allergy action plan?
Why a butterfly?
The butterfly was chosen as a symbol that people instantly recognise as being “better for the environment” and a “better choice for allergy and asthma”. Of all the symbols associated with asthma and allergies the simple butterfly offered the best response from consumers for the following reasons: the moving wings are symbolic of the lungs it is a gentle and sensitive creature it flies best in fresh air.
Where will I see the butterfly symbol?
The Asthma Foundation has a formal review process to assess company proposals and their products. This review process is conducted in conjunction with the National Asthma Council. If accepted, the butterfly symbol is awarded. You will see the butterfly appearing in retail outlets and online.
The Product Advisory Panel
The National Asthma Council Australia has appointed an independent and voluntary panel of experts to form the Sensitive Choice® Product Advisory Panel, which advises the Council and the Asthma Foundation of New Zealand. The Product Advisory Panel members include:
- a respiratory physician
- an allergist
- a general practitioner
- a pharmacist
- an industrial chemist
- a person with asthma
Information is also provided to the Panel on request, by representatives of the National Asthma Council Australia or the Asthma Foundation of New Zealand. Each application is reviewed, read and discussed rigorously by the Product Advisory Panel. Only when each member of the panel is satisfied that the product may be of benefit to people with the condition will it become a member of the Sensitive Choice® family. Applicants are not able to meet any Panel members or discuss their application directly with the Panel.
More information
Would you like to know more about the programme? Please contact:
Jennifer Smyth at The Asthma Foundation
Jennifer@asthmafoundation.org.nz Phone (04) 495 0099 Fax: (04) 499 4594
Aims
The Sensitive Choice® programme was developed to achieve the following:
- Educate New Zealanders about the importance of managing their asthma.
- Encourage manufacturers and suppliers to produce products and services that are asthma and allergy friendly and that could benefit people with asthma and allergies.
- Provide you and your family with a way of identifying products and services that may benefit people with asthma and/or allergies and improve your health and wellbeing.
- Generate sponsorship funds to enable the Asthma Foundation to continue their work in improving asthma care.
How does the Asthma Foundation use the income from Sensitive Choice®?
The Asthma Foundation has been helping New Zealanders breathe easier for over 40 years. Here are some of the ways we make a difference:
- by funding research by acting as advocates for people with asthma and respiratory illnesses
- by providing information on how to understand and manage your illness by producing resources for educators
- by running training courses for nurses and community health workers
- by helping schools become ‘asthma friendly’
Product Categories
Is your product a “Sensitive Choice” for allergy and asthma? Contact Jennifer Smyth to find out how to submit your product for consideration in a category:
- Air conditioning
- Air Purifiers
- Baby Bedding
- Building Products
- Cars
- Cleaning
- Flooring
- Foods and Beverages
- Garden
- Heating
- Health Professional Products
- Pets
- Pool and Spa
- Paint
- Skin Care
- Tissues
- Washing Machines
- Vacuum Cleaners