Herbalist & Alchemist (H&A, Washington, NJ) released its Annual Sustainability Report, which shows that the company has once again exceeded high benchmarks. The report recaps sustainability progress made in 2024 with a priority on the company’s Zero Waste program, sustainable sourcing initiative and multi-scope emission accounting.
In 2021, H&A qualified for Zero Waste certification, which requires less than 10 percent of waste to be landfilled and the other 90 percent diverted, reused, donated or composted. In 2024, the company reached 96 percent and now only needs a single trash can. H&A recycled more than 11,000 lbs. of material, upcycled more than 1,500 lbs. of material and generated more than 6,200 lbs. of compost, the company said.
According to the company, H&A also has Scope 1 direct greenhouse gas emissions for the entire company that are comparable to what a family of four produces. Energy saving technology and a commitment to sourcing locally whenever possible, such as local farmers and wildcrafters to significantly reduce emissions.
H&A also sources raw materials from various growers following practices such as regenerative agriculture, regenerative organic, non-GMO (genetically modified organism), FairWild and ethically wildcrafted, the company said.
According to the company, the H&A Green Team has also found creative ways to divert materials. The fresh herbs used for finished products have to be kept cool with ice packs during shipping, which are then donated to local children’s camps and food pantries. The 55-gallon drums become rain barrels, raised vegetable beds and used for equine barrel racing. Other changes include smaller shipping boxes and replacing bubble wrap with plant-based material for select products.
“When we initially worked for B Corp certification in 2010, the process created a benchmark that we use to continually ask ourselves what more we can do, a process that continues. After establishing our Green Team, with members from each department working together to find more ways to be sustainable, we’ve achieved far more than we thought possible 15 years ago,” said H&A CEO Beth Lambert.
For more information, visit www.herbalist-alchemist.com.
