11 Zero Waste Vitamins & Supplements For Your Health & The Planet’s
Why should you opt for zero waste vitamins and supplements over standard off-the-shelf options?
Because the planet could also use an immune boost.
Among Americans, 80% use vitamins and supplements, a percentage that’s increased over the past few decades.
With that comes an inordinate amount of difficult-to-recycle packaging: droppers, dosage cups, cotton balls, labels, outer boxes, desiccants, and tamper-evident seals.
Tack on the environmental impact of ingredients, manufacturing, and distribution, and you’ll soon realize that supporting your health is undermining that of our planet’s.
Fortunately, vitamins and supplements in plastic free packaging are becoming increasingly available.
And so to highlight the best plastic free vitamins and supplements brands we complied this list. Pop to the end of the article to see how they were chosen.
*This post contains affiliate links
1. SEED
About Seed’s Zero Waste Probiotics
If you don’t have time to brew and flavor your own kombucha, Seed makes getting your daily dose of probiotics simple.
Collaborating with leading scientists, they offer research-backed, plastic free probiotics formulated for whole-body health.
DS-01™Daily Synbiotic is a 2-in-1 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic capsule, designed to support digestive health, gut barrier integrity, gut immune function, micronutrient synthesis, cardiovascular health, and dermatological health.
Its plant-based, non-fermenting prebiotic compound is concentrated from Indian pomegranate, and is good for anyone on low FODMAP diets.
The PDS™-08 Pediatric Daily Synbiotic is a clinically studied 2-in-1 powdered synbiotic, formulated for kids and teens with 9 probiotic strains and a fiber-based prebiotic.
Each daily serving comes housed in a biofilm sachet, and the powdered formula can be easily mixed into milk, yogurt, juice, or whatever.
Seed’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
DS-01™ is composed of a blend of probiotics, vegan inner and outer capsules, organic rice fiber, and organic rice extract blend.
Seed engineered a novel capsule-in-capsule delivery system for DS-01™ —it nests its probiotic inner capsule inside a prebiotic outer capsule, protecting the bacteria from oxygen, moisture, heat, light, and even stomach acid.
PDS-08™, is also engineered to optimize probiotic survivability and stability through digestion, with delivery technology that safeguards select strains from stomach acid, enzymes and bile salts.
Both of Seed’s synbiotic products are free from 14 classes of allergens and additives, including sugars, soy, gluten, dairy, nuts, and sesame.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
Seed uses a Sustainable Refill System, meaning all packaging is designed to be gentler on the Earth. Its glass jar for for DS-01(™) and Aluminum BacTrac™ container for PDS-08™ are ready for monthly refills, and can then be recycled or repurposed as needed.
Your monthly refills will arrive in a home compostable-safe, biofilm pouch.
The shipping paper is made from recyclable and biodegradable algae (that would otherwise damage marine ecosystems). Recyclable, compostable and biobased PaperFoam keeps the product safe during shipping.
The barrier foam can be composted, dissolved in water, or even eaten!
Prioritizing planet health alongside human health, SeedLabs uses bacteria to increase biodiversity and recover ecosystems impacted by human activity.
Current projects support honey bees, corals, and regenerative agriculture.
Available: Seed
2. GEM
About GEM’s Zero Waste Multivitamin
Similar to plastic free vitamin gummies, the multi(bite)amins from GEM keep dietary supplementation simple in the form of real food bites.
Their Daily Essentials and Sleep Essentials products are designed to target one’s specific health needs. They incorporate a biodiverse group of whole foods to address the multifaceted nature of our bodies.
GEM’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
Each chewable bite contains 15+ whole-food sourced vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and superfoods—all made from real food synergistically designed to work with one another to increase absorption and utilization.
One of the main ingredients is algae, a significant source of nourishment for both humans and the planet.
Just one gram contains as much nutrition as one kilogram of fruits and vegetables. Algae is also responsible for 50% of the world’s oxygen and can be cultivated in a way that’s significantly more sustainable than traditional land crops.
Other ingredients include chickpeas, ashwagandha, stone fruit, citrus, beta-glucan, and spices.
They’re free of animal products, soy, dairy, synthetic ingredients, and gluten.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
GEM is a woman-founded brand and has a Scientific Advisory Board with members from functional, holistic, and integrative medicine.
Whenever possible, the ingredients are organic, non-GMO, and purchased from sustainable farms.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
The vitamins are sent in a reusable tin jar, while refills come in a compostable pouch that will break down in as little as 12 weeks.
You can also add on a smaller metal travel tin.
The mailers and shipping boxes are partially or 100% recycled and recyclable.
Available: GEM
3. DR. VEGAN
About Dr. Vegan’s Zero Waste Vitamins UK
Dr. Vegan allows you to create your own diet profile to find the best vegan zero waste supplements for you and your lifestyle.
“Better Me. Better Planet.” is their motto.
Different formulations are available: Energy; Stress & Sleep; Hair, Skin, & Nails; Bones & Muscles; Brain & Memory; Women’s Health; Immunity; Heart; Digestion; Eyes; and Liver.
You can also choose between individual vitamins and minerals, or opt for a bundle.
Dr. Vegan’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
The certified kosher and non-GMO ingredients are naturally sourced and plant-based.
Each formula is free of allergens, lactose, sugar, starch, gluten, and other additives.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
Dr. Vegan’s plastic free vegan vitamins are made in the UK using ethically sourced ingredients.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
The Pill Tin (free with the first order) holds 84 capsules and can be refillable with 100% plastic free and compostable refills.
The outer packaging is biodegradable and recyclable.
Available: Dr. Vegan
4. VITABLE
About Vitable’s Vitamins in Paper
Delivering personalized supplements and vitamin sachets directly to your doorstep, Australia based Vitable takes the guesswork out of good health.
You can start by taking a quiz, which assesses your lifestyle, diet, and goals in order to create a custom-curated pack of 30 sachets delivered every month.
Alternatively, you can create your own subscription of products you know you’d like to take. These include vitamins, minerals, herbs, probiotics, and specialty products (think: zero waste prenatal vitamins).
They also have supplement powders, but these do come in plastic.
Vitable’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
Vitable’s ingredients are science-backed, suitable for most allergies and diets, and free of nasties, gluten, lactose, and GMOs.
They’re high-quality and in forms that are easy for the body to digest and absorb.
Most supplements are vegetarian / vegan friendly.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The ingredients are ethically sourced from around the world. For instance, the curcumin is from India (where it’s traditionally from), whereas the fish oil is sustainably sourced in Norway.
The plastic free vitamins are then made in an Australian factory that meets the highest quality and safety standards, per the Therapeutic Good Administration.
By cutting out middlemen, they’re able to reduce transportation emissions and keep the personalized packs more affordable.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
Free with your first order, Vitable’s Refillable Dispenser is a reusable plastic-free tin container that stores the sachets, which are made from a home compostable eucalyptus-based cellulose.
Monthly plastic-free sachets are sent in a recyclable FSC-certified cardboard refill mailer.
Available: Vitable (use our discount code for 40% off: SUSTAINABLEJ40)
5. WILD NUTRITION
About Wild Nutrition’s Plastic Free Vitamins UK
Maker of food-grown vitamins and supplements, Wild Nutrition has refillable vitamins for women, men, kids, and teens.
You can shop by health goal—cleanse, endometriosis, or fertility, to name a few—or take a 60-second quiz to get tailored recommendations.
Their range is huge and includes both vitamins and herbs as well as complexes for everything from menopause to bone health.
Wild Nutrition’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
The food-grown supplements are made with natural, sustainably sourced ingredients, many of which are organic, locally sourced, or MSC-certified.
They are free of unnecessary fillers, binding agents, preservatives, colorants, and aggressive doses of isolated, synthetic ingredients.
While they have a range of vegan supplements, not every product is suitable for those on a vegan diet. They do not test on animals.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The woman-founded and operated brand is a Certified B Corp.
They are committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and a certified Great Place To Work®.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
While initial orders are sent in reusable, recyclable glass jars, refill pouches are also available for most. These are fully biodegradable and certified plastic free.
They regularly support organizations like Ocean Generation and One Tree Planted, while supporting their local community with care packages and more.
Available: Wild Nutrition
6. PLANT PEOPLE
About Plant People’s Zero Waste Supplements USA
Whether you need support for cognition, immunity, stress, recovery, skin, or sleep, Plant People has zero waste supplement gummies and plastic free supplements for you.
They’re most well-known for their WonderDay Mushroom Gummies, which contain functional mushrooms like Chaga, reishi, and lion’s mane.
Plant People’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
The regenerative plant and mushroom supplements are doctor-formulated and harness the natural intelligence of plants.
They’re free of sugar, gluten, GMOs, heavy metals, and contaminants, as well as being vegan and cruelty free.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The Certified B Corp uses ingredients that are organic, regenerative, or support biodiversity-friendly farming practices, like hemp (CBD) farming.
You can see the location of where some of these ethical supplement ingredients are sourced, often from the USA.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
While most come in a reusable / recyclable glass jar, it does appear some supplements come in sachets that contain a bit of plastic and may not be recyclable or compostable. We’ll reach out to inquire.
The shipping materials are 100% recycled and biodegradable / recyclable, being free of dyes and plastic.
Plant People is also Certified Carbon Neutral. For every product sold, they plant a tree with American Forests and Trees for the Future so far capturing 48,554 metric tons of CO2.
They also offer a Veterans discount.
Available: Plant People
7. HERBALAND
About HerbaLand’s Zero Waste Vitamins Canada
“The First Gummy Vitamin Brand to go Compostable”, HerbaLand makes zero waste vitamin gummies with the earth in mind.
You can start with a quiz which will provide a curated list of vitamins that fits yourr daily needs, or you can shop their various categories: essentials, wellness, kids, snacks, and active.
You’ll find multivitamins, prenatal vitamins, probiotics, sleep supplements, natural energy supplements, and more.
HerbaLand’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
Whenever possible, they use organically-farmed and fair trade ingredients, which are free of dairy, soy, palm oil derivatives, allergens, and nuts.
They’re also certified gluten-free, non GMO, halal, kosher, and low-sugar or sugar free.
Aside from their omega-3 fish oil, all products are vegan or vegetarian.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
HerbaLand is a CAMSC certified minority and diversity-owned company. Their team comes from 27 countries and the company is 50% woman-founded and owned.
The gummies are made in Richmond, BC, Canada, in factories that are GMP compliant and adhere to quality standards set by the National Health Products Directorate of Health Canada.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
Using a unique eco-forming technology, starch gummy molds are replaced with stainless steel molds, which cuts down waste and the risk of cross-contamination.
HerbaLand’s sustainable vitamins are available in bulk (zero waste) from The Soap Dispensary.
Otherwise, some products come in home compostable pouches made from sustainably sourced cornstarch, sugar cane, and cassava.
They’re aiming to use these compostable pouches for their entire product line by 2023. Through this change, they’ll eliminate the consumption of over two tons of plastic per year.
For every pouch sold, a tree is planted through a partnership with veritree. They have a goal of planting 2.5 million trees by 2025.
They also share, give, and partner with organizations like the Lotus Light Charity Society, Backpack Buddies, Covenant House Vancouver, and other organizations.
Available: HerbaLand
8. APSU
About Apsu
If you’re an athlete or just active, then consider Apsu’s plastic free multivitamins which are designed for peak performance.
Initially created to support Hawaiian surfers and windsurfers, they’re engineered to boost energy, immunity, flexibility, and recovery.
They only offer one supplement—the Superfood Multivitamin—in various subscription or trial packages.
Apsu’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
The Superfood Multivitamin is packed with 42 fruits and vegetables and a range of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes.
The formula is vegetarian and designed to prevent overdosing (when vitamins are consumed at a high level regularly enough to cause problems).
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The vitamins are made in the USA in an FDA-registered and GMP-compliant facility.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
Having signed the UN Environmental Clean Seas pledge, Apsu only uses packaging that is 100% paper-based, recyclable, compostable, and plastic-free.
They recommend storing the vitamins in a glass jar or the Apsu canister (made by Klean Kanteen) after opening.
Shipping boxes have paper tissue and non-plastic sealing tape.
Available: Apsu
9. TERRASEED
About Terraseed’s Plastic Free Vegan Vitamins
When it comes to vitamins in plastic free packaging, most brands make use of compostable sachets.
Terraseed, on the other hand, uses a fully biodegradable bottle for their zero waste vegan vitamins.
Their all-in-one “multivitamins for vegans” are an easy go-to to support your plant-based diet, curbing any nutritional deficiencies.
They work to improve immunity, support skin and hair health, and boost energy.
Teraseed’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
Designed to fill the gaps in vegan diets, the complete multivitamin is gluten-free, non-GMO, and filled with 9 bioavailable ingredients.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The ingredients are ethically-sourced, including sustainably harvested lichen and algae.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
The plastic-free bottle is made from compostable vegetable cellulose.
All other packaging is biodegradable and the paper shipping envelope is printed with algae ink.
The women-founded brand wants to support anyone interested in a vegan diet. For those who can’t afford Terraseed, they encourage you to reach out and they’ll help to make it work.
Available: Terraseed
10. VEGUMS
About Vegums’ Zero Waste Supplements USA
Started by two plant-based pharmacists, Vegums’ plastic free supplement gummies are specifically designed to plug common nutritional gaps in the vegan diet.
This means they carry eco friendly and plant-based multivitamins, fish-free omega-3, and iron.
Vegums’ Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
Vegums uses plant based ingredients that are gluten-free, non-GMO, and naturally flavored and colored (using herbs like paprika).
They’re also 100% cruelty free.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The ingredients they use are ethically-sourced and the small team of 20 is committed to quality and ethics.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
Your first order comes in a cardboard tube that can be recycled or upcycled, and a click-clack metal tin to store a month’s supply of Vegums.
The refills come in a plastic-free, biodegradable, cornstarch-based wrapper.
Outer packaging consists of kraft paper envelopes.
Available: Vegums
11. FYTO
About Fyto’s Zero Waste Vitamins Australia
Fyto’s certified organic vitamins and minerals are made from pure, potent superfoods.
You can choose from zero waste vitamin D, B, C, as well as zinc and iron.
They also have specific complex blends such as Chill, Immune, Skin + Hair, and Hormone.
Fyto’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Ingredients:
Unlike synthetic, isolated nutrients, Fyto uses phytonutrients like enzymes and proteins that are highly bioavailable and readily absorbed by the body.
This even includes their unique cassava capsule, which is certified organic, contains 26% protein, and is a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
The Australian ethical vitamin brand only uses ACS Certified organic ingredients.
They’re an offshoot of parent company One.Organic, which is also responsible for the Happi Earth, the organic laundry detergent brand and the Miessence, the eco friendly deodorant and skincare brand.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
Fyto’s vitamin packets are certified for home and industrial composting.
Available: One Organic
WHY CHOOSE PLASTIC FREE VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS?
Why should we care that our B12 supplements are packaged in a sustainable way?
Unlike most of the consumer world, the supplement and vitamins industry has yet to be swept up in a green wave en masse.
In the US, for example, the number of dietary supplement brands using eco-friendly packaging is currently in the “low double digits”.
In some cases, it’s hard for them to do so. Sustainable packaging isn’t always best suited for products like sensitive, fragile powders and compounds that usually come in tubs or sachets for preservation.
Especially when this means a higher price point for health products that are already seen as expensive and inaccessible to many lower-income households.
It’s quite the dietary dilemma. On one hand, health supplements should be financially accessible for all, but we also don’t want the planet to pay the extra cost instead.
It’s not just about the packaging.
It’s down the hatch in a matter of seconds, but do you know how that vitamin C was produced or where your omega-3 fatty acids are coming from?
Between links to overfishing and significant carbon emissions, supplement makers have a public image that is…well, not exactly eco-friendly.
Oftentimes the ingredients that make their way into your favorite plastic free multivitamins are produced on farms that don’t consider sustainable food systems.
In some cases, entire forests are cut down to make way for the cultivation of health-boosting plants (not so much foods that are sustainable).
In others, artificial fertilizers and pesticides are used in excess, in which case we shouldn’t forget the farmworkers, who then get exposed to these excessive chemicals and under-compensated with unfair wages.
The industry as a whole can use a boost, which is why consumers should seek out the best zero waste supplements and vitamins for their nutritional and dietary needs and our planet.
HOW WE FOUND THE BEST ZERO WASTE VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS
Our main priority was finding the best plastic free vitamins, which required us to look beyond just the packaging to get all-around sustainable supplements.
Ingredients:
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) joined forces with Quality Assurance International (QAI) and the Organic Trade Association (OTA) to establish a protocol for organic supplements.
Like other food products, dietary vitamins and supplements that contain agricultural products can be labeled as organic.
However, certain conditions must be met:
- If products contain only organic ingredients that are all certified, the product can be labeled as “100% Organic.”
- If at least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic, the vitamin or supplement can be labeled as “Organic.”
- With at least 70% organic ingredients, vitamins and supplements can have the statement “Made with Organic [specified ingredients or food groups]” on the product packaging.
These products should also bear the USDA Organic seal, or one from a USDA-accredited certifying agency. You may spot some of these overseas, too:
If you see “organic” on the label without any of these certifiers to back it up, there’s a good chance the brand is trying to force some greenwashing down your gullet.
If they aren’t using certified organic ingredients, many companies have made the shift to those that are certified non-GMO or are fairly traded.
In addition, many companies use ingredients that are vegan and cruelty free, but certification for these has yet to really seep into the industry.
Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Practices:
Similarly, ethical sourcing has yet to really be backed up by certifications or extensive details.
While many brands claim “ethical sourcing” there often isn’t much other information provided about where and how ingredients are sourced.
In some cases, brands highlight where certain ingredients come from or where manufacturing takes place, or if factories use GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.
However, these claims can also be nothing more than placebo pills.
For example, plastic free omega 3 supplements may “come from Norway”—but only after being caught in a totally different place in the South Pacific, then transported as crude fish oil to Scandinavia.
The good news is that there are some noteworthy Certified B Corps that ensure all aspects of their supply chain are regularly audited.
Overall, however, even the best zero waste supplements and vitamins could use a little more transparency.
Green Business Practices and Charitable Giving:
In addition to using compostable or reusable (AKA zero waste) packaging, it’s great to see that some are certified Carbon Neutral, partake in tree planting, or use manufacturing practices that help them reduce their impact.
Additionally, some have made an effort to support the local and global community, or make zero waste supplements and vitamins more accessible to those in need through discounts.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SUSTAINABLE VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Compared to other products, the demand for sustainable, zero waste vitamins and supplements is low.
It does seem to be gaining momentum though, which is why we need to keep these conversations happening.
If you use vitamins and supplements to support your health and well-being, consider showing some of these sustainable brands some love.
Or, consider making demands of your favorite brands, encouraging them to use planet-friendly packaging and supply chain practices.
So go ahead and (vitamin) C that this article gets in front of the eyes of one of your supplementation-savvy friends or family members.
