Botanical supplement brand Gaia Herbs obligation to the environment drives it to advance sustainable packaging, according to brand executives.

Sandy Almendarez, VP of Content

September 6, 2019

“Our shareholders aren’t the only ones we’re responsible to,” noted Stacey Gillespie, director of product Strategy, Gaia Herbs Inc. “The environment is our stakeholder,” she said, and that is why the herbal supplement brand dedicates itself to improving the sustainability of packaging among other initiatives to ensure the company follows earthy-friendly practices.

Gaia Herbs is part of the Climate Collaborative, a natural products industry organization where businesses join forces to reverse climate change. Gaia helps in this way by using cartons made from 100% recycled paperboard sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests, according to the company's 2018 Sustainability Report. In 2018, Gaia saved over 742,000 gallons of water; 511,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of Power and 347 cubic yards of landfill space by using ecofriendly packaging.

In this podcast, Gillespie is joined by Alison Czeczuga, sustainability and social impact manager, Gaia Herbs, to discuss the company’s commitment to sustainable packaging with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSDER. They cover:

  • The need for supplement brands to consider the impact that their packaging has on the environment.

  • How the company’s efforts are now directed to replacing the last item of plastic in its packaging: the cap.

  • Why focusing on packaging advancements leads to innovation in other areas of business.

Hear more from Gillespie at the SupplySide Workshop “Sustainable, Safe and Sanctioned Packaging for CPG Brands” on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019 at 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

About the Author(s)

Sandy Almendarez

VP of Content, Informa

Summary

• Well-known subject matter expert within the health & nutrition industry with more than 15 years’ experience reporting on natural products.

• She cares a lot about how healthy products are made, where their ingredients are sourced and how they affect human health.

• She knows that it’s the people behind the businesses — their motivations, feelings and emotions — drive industry growth, so that’s where she looks for content opportunities.

Sandy Almendarez is VP of Content for SupplySide and an award-winning journalist. She oversees the editorial and content marketing teams for the B2B media brands Natural Products Insider and Food and Beverage Insider, the education programming for the health and nutrition trade shows SupplySide East and SupplySide West, and community engagement across the SupplySide portfolio. She is a seasoned content strategist with a passion for health, good nutrition, sustainability and inclusion. With over 15 years of experience in the health and nutrition industry, Sandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a content-focused business leader. With specialization in topics ranging from product development to content engagement, creative marketing and c-suite decision making, her work is known for its engaging style and its relevance for business leaders in the health and nutrition industry.

In her free time, Sandy loves running, drinking hot tea and watching her two kids grow up. She brews her own “Sandbucha” homemade kombucha; she’s happy to share if you’re ever in Phoenix!

Awards:

Speaker credentials

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University

Contact:

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