Reducing Single use Plastic Use in Our Softgels Packaging: Lightening Our Footprint, One Layer at a Time

At Herbs, Etc, we see sustainability as a practice of enlivened awareness; an ongoing relationship with the sources, cycles, and living systems that make our work possible. This commitment asks us not only to trace where our materials come from, but to understand the roles they play, the impacts they create, and the possibilities they hold for regeneration. This consciousness of origin, use, and consequence guides us everywhere, from how we grow and gather herbs to how we bottle and share them.

The Change: Saying Goodbye to Plastic Film

For years, we’ve added a protective heat-shrink plastic around our softgel bottles because it was industry standard, and provided a clear indicator of tampering. In short: it was functional but function doesn’t mean forever.

Through thorough evaluation, we realized this plastic film simply wasn’t necessary. We could maintain the same freshness, security, and safety without it. And given that each year we used about 127 kilograms (280 pounds) of protective film, roughly 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of plastic, it was an easy shift to align more with our core principles and ecologically-minded ethos.

In the grand scheme of global manufacturing, it’s a small footprint. But for us, it was a clear place to do better. We saw an opportunity to align our packaging choices with the same values that shape our harvesting, sourcing, and plant partnerships.

Why This Change Matters

The film we’ve been using is made of heat-shrinkable plastic. It works, but it takes energy, water, and raw materials to produce, and once discarded, it lingers far longer than it serves. It’s simply unnecessary. 

By phasing it out, we can:

• Reduce unnecessary material waste.

• Lower resource use and our carbon footprint.

• Move closer to packaging that reflects our ecological commitments.

• Make our seed-to-bottle process more transparent and more in harmony with nature.

It’s part of the deeper work we’re committed to: pausing to examine the micro-decisions, questioning inherited “standard practices,” and designing from a place of intention rather than habit. These micro shifts help us evolve the potential of our business and disrupt the industry standard that often prioritizes fast, quick, and cheap practices.

A Journey, Not a Destination

To us, sustainability is not a final destination; it is an ongoing journey and we’re excited to share our ever-evolving process with you.  As we learn, improve, and discover new ways to honor nature and create well-being for people and the planet, we hope this causes a shift in the industry as a whole - to adapt and adjust as an herbal community.

Same Quality. Same Safety. Less Plastic.
Some of our softgel products will soon appear on shelves without the familiar plastic film. 

Rest assured:

• Your product has not been opened.

• It is sealed, safe, and protected, just as always.

• The only difference is that now it’s contributing to less plastic in your home and less waste in the world.

This step is one of many we’re taking toward full transparency and deeper ecological responsibility from seed to bottle, from wild harvest to your hands.

Thank you for being part of this movement with us.
Every gesture counts. Every step matters. And together, they add up to something meaningful.