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WHO Code Compliance Policy

Purpose

Conscious Coconut is committed to ethical, transparent, and responsible practices in the marketing, education, and distribution of organic coconut oil used in maternal, newborn, and family skin care.

This policy affirms Conscious Coconut’s alignment with the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions.

Our company supports breastfeeding as the biological norm while respecting maternal autonomy, cultural context, and the guidance of healthcare professionals including lactation consultants, pediatricians, obstetricians, and neonatal care teams.

Conscious Coconut’s organic coconut oil is intended solely for external skin care applications, including newborn skin care and lactation-related skin support. Our products are never designed, promoted, or distributed in a way that influences infant feeding decisions.

Conscious Coconut remains committed to responsible education, clinical transparency, and ethical engagement with healthcare providers, parents, and families.

 

1. Scope of Policy

This policy governs all Conscious Coconut distribution and communications, including:

  • Product sampling and donations

  • Hospital, clinical, and professional applications

  • Marketing and educational materials

  • Digital platforms (website, email, social media)

  • Retail, wholesale, and institutional distribution

  • Internal training and third-party representation

2. Commitment to WHO Code Principles

Conscious Coconut:

  • Does not manufacture, market, or distribute breast-milk substitutes, infant formula, feeding bottles, or teats

  • Does not position any product as a replacement for breast milk or breastfeeding

  • Does not engage in marketing practices that discourage breastfeeding or influence infant feeding decisions

All Conscious Coconut products are non-feeding, external-use skin care products and are never promoted in connection with infant nutrition or feeding outcomes.

3. Product Purpose & Intended Use

Conscious Coconut products are intended exclusively for external skin care applications, including:

  • Nipple and areola skin conditioning

  • Maternal skin hydration and barrier support

  • Neonatal and infant skin care (e.g., diaper area, dry or sensitive skin)

  • Adhesive removal and skin integrity support

Products:

  • Are not ingested by infants

  • Are not required for breastfeeding success

  • Do not influence feeding method, duration, or exclusivity

4. Marketing & Communications Standards

Conscious Coconut maintains the following standards:

  • No direct or indirect promotion of products as breast-milk substitutes

  • No claims implying superiority over breastfeeding or breast milk

  • No messaging suggesting products are necessary for feeding success

  • No comparative language referencing formula, breast milk, or feeding methods

All communications are informational, non-directive, and skin-focused.

5. WHO-Compliant Product Distribution & Sampling Policy

5.1 Purpose of Distribution

Conscious Coconut may distribute limited product samples of coconut oil packets for external skin care use only, including postpartum and neonatal skin support.

Distribution is intended to support:

  • Skin comfort

  • Barrier protection

  • Gentle, non-invasive skin care

Distribution practices are designed so as not to influence infant feeding decisions or outcomes.

5.2 Non-Directive Distribution Standards

When products are distributed:

  • No feeding recommendations are made

  • No claims are stated or implied regarding milk supply, feeding success, or infant nutrition

  • Products are optional and never positioned as essential

  • Distribution is unconditional and not tied to feeding method

Healthcare professionals may introduce products only as a skin care option, at their clinical discretion.

5.3 Separation From Feeding Guidance

To ensure WHO compliance:

  • Products are not distributed alongside infant feeding education

  • Products are not paired with formula marketing or feeding materials

  • Products are not framed as necessary for breastfeeding success

  • Packaging and inserts do not reference feeding outcomes

Any lactation-adjacent reference is strictly limited to external skin comfort, not feeding mechanics or performance.

5.4 No Incentives or Conditions

Conscious Coconut does not:

  • Tie product distribution to feeding choices

  • Offer incentives related to breastfeeding, formula feeding, or mixed feeding

  • Track or evaluate feeding outcomes related to product use

6. Hospital & Clinical Distribution

When Conscious Coconut products are distributed in hospital or clinical settings:

  • Products are used strictly for skin care and barrier support

  • Products do not replace or interfere with breastfeeding protocols

  • No branded materials imply feeding guidance

  • All use is at the discretion of healthcare professionals

7. Education & Internal Training

Conscious Coconut ensures that:

  • Team members are trained on WHO Code principles

  • Sales, marketing, and education teams avoid feeding-related claims

  • Educational materials clearly define product purpose and limitations

  • Lactation-adjacent references remain adjunctive and non-medical unless delivered by licensed professionals


8. Ethical Relationships & Transparency

Conscious Coconut does not:

  • Sponsor or influence infant feeding recommendations

  • Provide financial incentives tied to feeding outcomes

  • Enter partnerships that conflict with WHO Code principles

All relationships prioritize patient autonomy, ethical care, and clinical integrity.

9. Monitoring & Accountability

  • This policy is reviewed annually

  • Concerns regarding WHO compliance may be reported internally

  • Corrective action will be taken if any violation is identified

10. Philanthropic Donations Disclosure (Feeding America)

Conscious Coconut supports hunger-relief efforts through independent charitable donations to Feeding America.

For clarity and transparency:

  • Conscious Coconut does not have a formal partnership with Feeding America

  • Feeding America does not influence product marketing, distribution, or use

  • Donations are philanthropic only and unrelated to maternal, infant, or feeding programs

  • Donation activity is separate from and does not impact WHO Code compliance

11. Statement of Alignment

Conscious Coconut honors breastfeeding as the biological norm while deeply respecting family choice, cultural context, and medical guidance. Our role is to provide clean, gentle, ethically produced organic coconut oil - never to influence infant feeding decisions.


Link to WHO Compliant Policy 

 

Approved by

Danielle Conte

Founder, Conscious Coconut

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

Last Review: December 20, 2025