Impact

Get to Know Ritual's Sustainable Packaging

6 min read
Learn about Ritual's environmental impact and our commitment to sustainability.
Learn about Ritual's environmental impact and our commitment to sustainability.

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We tell you where our omega-3 DHA comes from; we put a face to the scientists behind your vitamin D3. So it just wouldn’t make sense that we’d continue to champion our Made Traceable approach and the first visible supply chain of its kind, while keeping you in the dark about the packaging your products come in.

That meant plowing ahead and continuing to test alternatives even when the answer was “no.” One big example: We know that finding new use for old materials is one of the most planet-conscious decisions we can make, but one of the challenges was choosing materials that wouldn’t compromise the quality of our multivitamins. That’s why we’re especially proud that as of April 2021, your vitamin mailers and bottles are made of 100% recycled materials—making good on a promise we made two years ago. And that means some serious environmental savings. Let’s take a closer look.

4 Sustainable Updates We're Making: Our Bottles

Our bottles are now made with 100% recycled materials.

We’ve been on a mission to eliminate our use of virgin plastic from the very beginning. After testing out a lot of possibilities, we were excited to land on a bottle made from repurposed plastic, which means that it’s made from 100% recycled matter and hardy enough to meet our standards for product quality. The same goes for our caps, which are made from post-industrial resin (scraps from the manufacturing process). But let's put a finer point on it: In 2020, we recycled an amount of plastic equivalent to more than three million water bottles.†

Less new plastic in the world, and the same high standard of quality—that’s what we call a win-win.

We also know through LCAs that our 100% post consumer recycled multivitamin bottle uses 59% less carbon than glass.

†Using 10 grams as the average weight of a water bottle

Our mailers, too.

From the moment we sent out our first order, we've aimed to better understand the environmental impact of our packaging from every angle—so that you can feel truly great about the Ritual order that lands on your doorstep each month.

After learning a lot and experimenting with some different methods, we ultimately made the switch over to our current mailer, which is made exclusively from recycled newsprint and plant fibers. (Rip it open and see for yourself.) The mailers are made in Pennsylvania and the newsprint is sourced from the east coast. It’s padded to ensure the protection of your bottle, and it’s much kinder to the planet. No, seriously: Let’s check out the total environmental savings of our mailers in 2020:††

  • Our recycled mailers saved 1,319,705 lbs of wood—the equivalent of 3,536 trees.
  • Our recycled mailers saved 1,973,244 lbs of carbon monoxide emissions—the equivalent of 100,714.36 gallons of gasoline.
  • Our recycled mailers saved 2,112,160 gallons of water—enough water for 201,158 5-minute showers.
  • Our recycled mailers saved 1,862.74 million BTUs of electricity—enough to power the average US household for about 17,899 days (or 49 years).

††Our 6x9” padded mailers. Environmental savings calculated by comparing ecoenclose products to a virgin product of equivalent size and makeup

4 Sustainable Updates We're Making: Our Mailers

The extras that occasionally arrive with your order? Yep—they’re made with recycled material.

We’ve limited a lot of the calendars, booklets, and other collateral that sometimes arrives with your order, and those we do occasionally include are now made with recycled materials.

Introducing our Carbon Offsetting Program

Carbon offsets are not the key to solving climate change, but high-quality offsets are a step in the right direction as we continue to decarbonize. In early 2020, we officially became a Carbonfree® Shipping Partner with Carbonfund.org.

Carbonfund.org helps us do this by donating to a number of sustainability initiatives like renewable energy, reforestation, and energy efficiency. We’ve already offset all order deliveries for 2019 and 2020, and we tackle current and future orders on an ongoing, quarterly basis.

The bottom line: We’re committed to a more sustainable future, and we know this is just the beginning.

This dedication to doing better for our customers and the environment requires constant evolution: We’re always asking ourselves how we can improve our ecological footprint while upholding an unwavering standard for our product. The path forward isn’t always easy—but then again, obsessing over ways to challenge the status quo has always been our M.O.

Meet Our Expert

WhoWeAre-Mastaneh

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, PhD, RD, VP of Scientific Affairs at Ritual

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian. She received her training from Penn State University and University of Connecticut where she researched dietary patterns, chemosensory perception and community nutrition. Her dietetic work is focused on promoting healthy eating habits by translating the science of nutrition into practical information for the public.

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WhoWeAre-Mastaneh

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, PhD, RD, VP of Scientific Affairs at Ritual

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian. She received her training from Penn State University and University of Connecticut where she researched dietary patterns, chemosensory perception and community nutrition. Her dietetic work is focused on promoting healthy eating habits by translating the science of nutrition into practical information for the public.

LinkedIn

Meet the Author

This article was written by our content specialist.

vhoff

Victoria Hoff, Writer

Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career.

LinkedIn
vhoff

Victoria Hoff, Writer

Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career.

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