Sustainability and Responsibility Commitment
Sass & Sass, Inc., established in 1999 and headquartered in Oak Ridge, TN, is a privately owned veterinary biotech company that works to develop, license, and manufacture safe, potent, and efficacious treatments for pets. Many viral diseases in pets have no treatments. Being cat lovers, we focused on products that would help cats. The first product, Polyprenyl Immunostimulant™ was conditionally licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2012. With our independent marketing and distribution arm, VetImmune LLC, we provide sales and distribution in 47 countries around the world.
We understand that caring for the environment is just as important as caring for our pets. That is why we have made the following commitments to the environment, and our employees.
Commitment to the Environment
Sustainability starts with the environment, and Sass & Sass Inc. is working to have as little impact on it as possible by implementing a closed-loop manufacturing process. We work hard to minimize our effects on the planet while providing a high-quality product.
Some of the many efforts we have put in place:
• Regeneration of Chemicals and Solvents
We regenerate, recover, and recycle various chemicals and solvents in our manufacturing process to minimize waste and prevent pollution.
• Sustainable Raw Materials
All raw materials we use in our production process are organic; they are sourced locally, from sustainable native plant species. We use a strict set of standards in the selection of raw materials for our products. Quality of our veterinary products begin at this initial stage.
• Water Backflow System
Our facility has a water back flow system installed to ensure that no waste returns to the local water system. This ensures that all waste can be properly disposed of instead of ending up in the local water supply.
• Commitment to Life
As any manufacturer of regulated medicines, under U.S. Laws, we are obligated to do studies on animals. Our firm aims to be sustainable in the use of animals in research. We do not use inoculate research animals with terminal diseases.
We maintain a small mouse colony to ensure that our products are safe (9 CFR 113.33). The animals are well cared for and maintained for as long as possible for the species. In the end, they are given to a local raptor rehabilitation center to feed their birds.
We outsource studies in animals to Contract Research Organizations (CROs). We require all CROs to commit that all of the cats used in studies of our products are adopted to caring homes after the studies are concluded to responsible cat owners who will care for the rest of their lives.
• Maintain instruments
All of our lab equipment is maintained at the highest standards. Quality maintenance and regular calibration ensure that it is working properly and that it lasts long-term. Well-maintained equipment can provide many years of service and prevent us from having to waste resources to dispose of the old and purchase new equipment.
Commitment to our Employees
Unlike many corporate companies that have a bottom line of growth, we are a small business that provides a flexible working environment for our employees that allows them to prioritize their families. We encourage and support them in finding a work-life balance that helps them thrive.
Commitment to the Economy
Sass & Sass Inc. employs local workforce and used uses locally-sourced, renewable materials. The technical jobs we provide are stable and secure so our employees stay with us long term.
Certifications and Regulations
We produce veterinary biologics using practices of good manufacturing. Our manufacturing facility, operations, and product are strictly regulated by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act of 1913 and the Title 9 Code of Federal Regulations (parts 101-122). We are subject to inspections by the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), the City of Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Department of Public Works.
U.S. Veterinary Establishment License No. 637 – Polyprenyl Immunostimulant Product Code 9380.00
Sustainable recovery from the disease
Polyprenyl Immunostimulant™ provides relief to cats suffering from viral infections and makes sustainable recovery possible.
VetImmune Sustainability
With veterinary biologic medicines, providing safety, potency, and effectiveness is just as important as how environmentally friendly it is. At VetImmune we strive to sell and distribute products that are sustainably and responsibly sourced and produced.
Sustainability of VetImmune operations are rooted in:
• We value our employees and support them with finding a work-life balance that works the best for them.
• We practice complete transparency in all communications, including interactions with our customers
• We are compassionate about each customer’s individual needs and work to make sure they are knowledgeable about their cat’s care
• We work to reuse packing supplies whenever possible to reduce the need to use new supplies.
• We thoroughly vet every product we sell and distribute to ensure the companies involved also have sustainability in mind.