Sustainability at Care/of
We believe in limiting our impact on the environment, without compromising on the quality and safety of our products. We’ve made progress, but there’s still work to be done. And we’ll keep you updated along the way.
Introducing vitamin packs made with compostable film
As of April 2019, our vitamin packs are made with plant-based film, specifically wood pulp and a fermented blend of corn, cassava root, and sugarcane. Our new vitamin pack films meet the same safety standards as our previous packs, which ensure your vitamins are protected and stay fresh — and are better for the environment.
How to compost your vitamin packs
Take your vitamins
Same daily habit, but better for the earth. Your daily vitamin packs are now made with plant-based film.
Compost your daily packs
Throw your packs in the compost pile. If your community offers a composting service, we recommend using that.
Going, going, gone
Unlike petroleum-based plastic, our new plant-based film is designed to break down over time.
Our sustainability roadmap
What’s next
Our new vitamin pack film is just the start of a bigger sustainability initiative. Updated packaging for single-serving protein packets and Quick Sticks is on the way.
Please recycle other packaging
We encourage you to recycle your vitamin dispensers, Quick Sticks boxes, shipping boxes, and protein tubs. Meanwhile, we’re working on longer term, permanent solutions to cut down on cardboard and plastic.
Join the conversation
We promise to do our best to find the most sustainable options available. If you have ideas, let’s chat. Send us an email at hello@takecareof.com.
Sustainability FAQs
Can the packs be recycled?
No. Please do not recycle your daily vitamin packs. Our plant-based film is not recyclable, and attempting to recycle it can disrupt regular recycling procedures — it also may result in packs ending up in the landfill. Check out the recycling section on this page for all of our packaging that is recyclable.
What’s the best way to compost my vitamin packs?
Our compostable film will break down most quickly and completely in a municipal compost facility, so if your community offers one, we recommend composting your packs that way. If you compost at home, you can also add your packs to your compost pile.
How long will it take my packs to compost?
Testing shows that our plant-based films will disintegrate within 84 days in a municipal or institutional composting facility (which have strictly controlled environments) — that’s why we recommend using one of these services if they are offered in your community. These films will break down over time in home compost piles as well, but the amount of time will vary due to the varying conditions of those systems.
What if I don't compost?
We strongly recommend composting. Here's a guide on how to start: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-way-easier-you-think. If composting is not an option, you can put your packs in the regular trash — while we don’t have studies confirming how long it will take our vitamin pack film to degrade in the landfill, they will break down over time. Please don’t recycle your packs.
Why not recyclable packs?
We considered recyclable alternatives, but they required separating each film layer by a third-party service that our customers would have to mail their packs to each month. We were also conscious of the high carbon footprint that would result from shipping packs back and forth.
Why not create sustainable packaging from the start?
We make our packs with film that has extra resistant moisture and oxygen barriers that ensure your vitamins are protected during transportation and stay fresh once you have them. (In our world we assess this in a process called “stability testing.”) Until recently, this film couldn’t be made from renewable ingredients. After years of searching, we found a needle-in-a-haystack company innovating the sustainable packaging industry. They helped us create a plant-based film that keeps vitamins safe throughout their shelf-life — and is free from petroleum-based plastics.