Are Supplements Sustainable? A Comprehensive Guide to Eco-Friendly Options

Discover eco-friendly options for dietary supplements! Learn about companies committed to producing sustainable supplements using sustainable ingredients.

Are Supplements Sustainable? A Comprehensive Guide to Eco-Friendly Options

With the ever-growing demand for dietary supplements, it's essential to consider the sustainability of the ingredients used in these products. Unfortunately, some farmers are clearing entire forests to grow certain types of plants, leading to soil degradation and air pollution. In addition, farmworkers are often exploited and underpaid for their hard work. Fortunately, there are a number of companies that are committed to producing sustainable supplements.

One way that manufacturers of dietary supplements can make sincere and informed sustainability claims is through the use of sustainable ingredients. Seed is a great example of this. This company manufactures a daily probiotic that comes in plastic-free containers made of biodegradable algae, paper and glass. The capsules are made from a blend of tapioca, seaweed extract and fermented sorghum.

The powdered formula can be mixed with any beverage and requires no refrigeration. Seed is a company with negative carbon emissions, meaning that it sequesters more carbon than it produces, and is passionate about giving back to the planet and improving its health. Form Nutrition is another environmentally friendly supplement company that produces high-quality, research-backed products to improve your overall health and well-being. They make nootropics and health supplements that are vegan, dairy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free and soy-free.

All of their products come in glass jars that are recyclable and reusable. Form is a B company, which means that it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. In addition, they contribute to causes that are close to their hearts, such as the creation of the Form Feeding Fund at the Bansang Hospital in the Gambia. Vitable partners with family farms to source their ingredients from land that are truly improving ecological health.

Vitable targets the consumer directly, which means it eliminates middlemen and saves on the ecological costs of additional transport. They also use compostable, waste-free packaging materials for their plastic-free vitamins. GEM takes a different approach to supplements. They don't send you a bottle or bag of pills.

Instead, they offer “GEMS”, which are delicious edible cubes packed with all the nutrients you need. GEM uses science-backed formulas to ensure you get the most effective dose of every vitamin in every bucket. Each GEM is plant-based and minimally processed. The packaging is reusable, recyclable and compostable to reduce waste.

Their focus on algae helps GEM to be carbon neutral and they are based primarily on organic ingredients. Doctors formulated these plant and mushroom supplements to unlock the body's natural potential and healing capacity. They use holistic science to combine the highest quality ingredients with cutting-edge science and clinical research to offer the best health in supplement form. Each of its product lines is sourced sustainably and fairly.

Plant People uses regenerative agriculture and a responsible supply chain that minimizes plastic packaging. They also participate in environmental programs to plant more trees to help build a healthier planet. Wild Nutrition offers several different supplements that you can select based on your individual needs. They are a B company, which means that they meet rigorous standards of social and environmental impact.

You can trust that you'll get high-quality vegan supplements from a company that cares about animal welfare and the environment when you shop at Dr Vegan. Moon Juice offers a supplement for every possible health need. They contain protein powders, adaptogens and beauty powders, to name just a few. And all products are manufactured with respect and responsibility in mind.

Most of the containers used by Moon Juice are plastic-free and compostable. You'll find most of their vitamins in glass bottles. They also offer refillable vitamins that come in compostable packaging, and any plastic that this company uses is post-consumer plastic, which means it's recycled. Just Vitamins offers almost any supplement you need from biotin to zinc in varying amounts so you can choose the format you prefer.

They also offer free standard shipping on most orders. Vegums has what you need if you're looking for a simple, sustainable and vegan multivitamin. These gummy vitamins are made with real fruit extract and contain no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives. They are cruelty free, non-GMO and approved by the Vegan Society.

Terraseed calls itself the vegan vitamin with a mission because its goal is to take care of your health as well as animals' and the planet's at the same time. This complete multivitamin covers all the nutrients a vegan needs while being completely cruelty free. These plastic-free vegan vitamins use sustainably sourced ingredients and come in 100% biodegradable, plastic-free packaging. Public Goods offers vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free supplements using plant-based ingredients that are sustainably sourced.

Most of their packaging is recycled, recyclable or compostable. Fishy's Omega-3s use sustainable algae oil as a source of omega 3 while their capsules are made from seaweed extract making them 100% vegan. Your superfood multivitamin supplement is packed with vegan-friendly ingredients that will help you achieve your maximum performance. Each of their plastic-free multivitamins is sustainably and fairly sourced, suitable for a vegan diet and contains no synthetic ingredients. Currently about 80% of Americans consume vitamins and supplements but this increase in consumption brings with it an increase in packaging waste such as droppers, cotton balls, desiccants, tamper proof seals or dosing cups which can be difficult or impossible to recycle.