our approach to
As a company that offers plastic-free alternatives to everyday products, sustainability is naturally at the core of our company DNA. But more tangibly, what does sustainability mean to us? And how do we live by this value?
Sustainability is a broad, overarching term. To us, sustainability involves multiple angles, including improving the way products are made and consumed, and reducing negative environmental impacts throughout a product’s lifecycle. We also take into consideration the sustainability of our company’s operations, and to that end have become a Climate Neutral Certified business.
We are constantly weighing multiple factors when it comes to sustainability – for example, cutting out manufacturing processes and ingredients that are toxic to humans and the environment, considering the shipping weight of glass vs. aluminum, evaluating the recyclability of our packaging choices, reducing the use of virgin materials, and choosing non-petroleum-based inks for our labels. It’s a complex web of decisions, but taking the time and money to do our research is extremely important to us.
THE PLASTIC PROBLEM IN PERSONAL CARE
The beauty and personal care industry is a major contributor to plastic waste. Euromonitor International estimates that in the U.S. alone, 7.9 billion units of rigid plastic were manufactured for personal care products in 2018.
The Earthling Co. addresses this problem head on by offering an alternative: low-waste personal care products that are better for you and better for the planet.
Our Low-Waste Products
To date, our Earthling community has diverted 2.3+ million plastic bottles by choosing plastic-free, solid form shampoo and conditioner bars!
We always try to minimize the amount of packaging we use, and the packaging we DO use is all recyclable and/or compostable. One example is the unbleached, 100% recycled brown kraft paper for our shampoo and conditioner bars, a sturdy yet lightweight material that has a smaller shipping carbon footprint.
We also utilize aluminum and glass for other product packaging. In addition, all our shipping materials are 100% recyclable and/or compostable. Learn more details about our plastic-free shipping materials here.
Behind the scenes, we are actively researching sustainability on an ongoing basis. As we learn more, grow as a company, and have the means to do more, we are continuously improving products and iterating on processes to minimize our impact on the planet.
COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
The Earthling Co. is proud to be a Climate Neutral Certified business – this means that we measure ALL of the carbon we emit through every single business activity and operation, offset those emissions, and have a plan in place for reducing future emissions
Read this letter from our founders about why we decided to go Climate Neutral, and check out this blog post for deeper insight into our Climate Neutral certification process.We also encourage you to learn more about Climate Neutral (and explore other businesses out there that have taken this big commitment!) on their website.
Since The Earthling Co.'s inception, we have donated to causes close to our mission and aligned with our values of favoring progress, seeking harmony, empowering Earthlings, and providing solutions. These donations include: