Our Packaging Journey
Balancing Sustainability and Reality
At the heart of our brand is a deep commitment to the earth. Because our products are completely natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable, our dream has always been to house them in packaging that shares those exact same qualities.
We want to be completely transparent with you about our packaging journey, the hurdles we’ve faced, and how we are working to deliver our products safely to your door while staying true to our values.
The Challenges of Shipping Naturally
When we first set out to design our packaging, we tested the most eco-friendly options available. However, the realities of shipping taught us some hard lessons:
- Cardboard Containers: We loved the idea of 100% biodegradable cardboard boxes. Unfortunately, these proved too fragile for the shipping network. To prevent them from spoiling or crushing in transit, we had to wrap them heavily in plastic bubble wrap—which completely defeated the purpose of a plastic-free box.
- Glass Jars: Glass is beautifully sustainable, but it is incredibly fragile. Just like the cardboard, shipping glass required excessive layers of bubble wrap to prevent shattering, making the overall carbon footprint and plastic usage higher than we were comfortable with.
- Kraft Paper Pouches: We explored kraft paper pouches because they have a beautiful, earthy look on the outside. However, we quickly realized that to keep products fresh, these pouches are lined with a hidden layer of plastic on the inside. Because they fuse paper and plastic together, they are incredibly difficult to recycle and don’t fit our true sustainability goals.
- Metal Tins: Metal is sturdy, endlessly recyclable, and ships beautifully without the need for plastic padding. However, it is significantly more expensive to produce, which would force us to raise the price of our products for everyone.
Our Packaging Materials: At a Glance
| Packaging Material | The Eco-Appeal | The Shipping Reality (Pain Points) | Our Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard Boxes | 100% biodegradable and plastic-free. | Too fragile for transit; requires heavy plastic bubble wrap to prevent crushing or spoiling. | Tested & Rejected |
| Glass Jars | Beautiful, infinitely reusable, and highly sustainable. | Highly fragile; requires excessive layers of bubble wrap to prevent shattering. | Tested & Rejected |
| Kraft Paper Pouches | Earthy, natural paper aesthetic on the outside. | Contains a hidden, fused plastic lining inside; very difficult to recycle. | Tested & Rejected |
| Recyclable PE | Lightweight, highly durable, and recyclable locally. | Not fully biodegradable; requires customers to actively recycle it once empty. | Used for Standard Orders |
| Metal Containers | Sturdy, endlessly recyclable, and requires zero plastic padding. | Significantly more expensive, which would force us to raise standard product prices. | Free Upgrade for Subscriptions |
Where We Are Today:Recyclable PE
Our primary goal is to ensure your natural products arrive fresh, safe, and ready to use, without generating unnecessary waste from broken or spoiled shipments.
For our standard orders, we have chosen to use Recyclable PE (Polyethylene). While it isn’t the fully biodegradable solution we originally dreamed of, it is currently the most responsible, lightweight, and durable option that protects the product without requiring extra bubble wrap. We ask that you please recycle these containers locally once they are empty!
The Metal Container Solution: Subscribe & Save
Because we love the durability and sustainability of metal containers, we found a way to make them work for our most loyal customers.
When you subscribe to receive our products on a regular basis, we are able to better predict our inventory and shipping costs. We pass those savings directly back to the planet—and to you!
All recurring subscriptions are packaged in our premium, sturdy metal containers at absolutely no extra cost. It is our way of saying thank you for supporting our mission and committing to a sustainable routine.
Help Us Do Better
We view our current packaging as a stepping stone. Sustainability is a journey, not a destination, and we are continuously exploring new, innovative materials. The moment a better, truly biodegradable packaging solution becomes viable for shipping, we will make the switch.
If you know of or can help us identify a better packaging solution that aligns with our goals, please write to us. We are always eager to learn from our community and improve.
Thank you for your understanding and for growing with us.