Our Favorite Sustainability Resources for Cannabis Businesses
We all know cannabis has an environmental problem. The industry unfortunately contributes to the heaps of waste, air and water pollution, carbon emissions, deforestation, and depleted soil that stem from how businesses get products to people. At TreeHC, we believe there’s a better, more sustainable way for our industry to grow. We’re not alone in this vision - many different cannabis companies in cultivation, packaging, and distribution have popped up to help sustainability-minded brands make choices that leave our planet and the cannabis industry better than we found it. Below, you’ll find a list of resources we’ve found in our sustainability journey that may help you in yours.
Cultivation
Cultivators are constantly making hard decisions with slim margins. Choosing regenerative or sustainable practices can seem cost prohibitive, but it doesn’t have to be. You can start small. We recommend incorporating the practices that fit best into your operation and building from there. Luckily, there are many experts in our industry to help navigate the switch to sustainability.
For Tips: Sustainable Cannabis Coalition:
www.sustainablecannabiscoalition.com
Our favorite blog and resource for sustainable cultivation practices specific to cannabis.Founded by industry leaders and cultivation experts, the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition publishes content every month with how-to’s, solutions, product evaluation, and interviews with farmers.
For a Full Course: Soil-Food-Web School
www.soilfoodweb.com
For those willing to dip their toes into the world of living soil, the Soil-Food-Web School offers an excellent program for teaching regenerative gardening and farming. Founded by world’s leading soil biologist, Dr. Elaine Ingham, this course is designed for farmers of any background.
For Certification: EnvirOcann
www.envirocann.com
In a world where marketing misleads consumers into buying cannabis products labelled sustainable that simply aren’t, certification provides your audience confidence a third party has validated your environmentally friendly claims and practices. When it comes to certification, you can’t beat the accessible and robust offerings of EnvirOcann’s multi-tiered certification program.
Packaging
For a Paper Alternative: Hemp Press
www.printedonhemp.com
Plastic gets most of the attention nowadays, but between 2015 and 2017, deforestation was responsible for 8-10% of manmade CO2 emissions. For an alternative to paper, it doesn’t get better than Hemp. In the same family as our beloved cannabis, hemp is grown sustainably and produces 85% less emissions than conventional paper. Hemp Press was founded to service the cannabis industry with hemp-derived paper products including labels, business cards, and more.
For Reclaimed Plastic: Sana Packaging
www.sanapackaging.com
With cannabis regulations for child-resistant packaging, it can be difficult to get away from plastic entirely. We can, however, make choices for plastic that are eco-friendly and actually remove the material from our oceans. Sana Packaging, one of our closest partners, offers beautiful, custom design for their reclaimed ocean plastic lids, joint tubes, and concentrate containers.
For Recycled Glass Jars: Tree Hugger Containers
www.treehuggercontainers.com/All-packaging
Glass jars are one of the most common and important packaging types in the cannabis industry. Offering the best seal for keeping flower fresh, glass jars easily provide the smell-proof discretion cannabis customers are looking for with their purchase. While glass is easily recycled and repurposed, manufacturing virgin glass is energy intensive. We’re proud to offer elegantly designed recycled glass containers for flower (eighths and quarters), balms, salves, and tinctures that offset up to 20% of air pollution and 40% of water pollution from manufacturing virgin glass.
For 100% Recycled Mailers, Boxes, and Bags: EcoEnclose
www.ecoenclose.com
This company has a vision for a circular packaging economy and is working to bring that dream to reality with their post-consumer materials packaging. For branded mailers, boxes, bags, filler, and labels that are made from 100% recycled materials, EcoEnclose has a versatile and affordable product line. They’re the company behind our sample packs that are made with 100% recycled fiber and algae ink!
Distribution
When sustainability drives your brand, it’s important you have a distribution partner who understands how to sell this feature. Consumers are demanding more sustainable choices, but to reach them you have to get through the buyers and budtenders. A distributor focused on mission-driven brands will speak the right language to get you into the right dispensaries.
For Boutique Distribution: Bird Valley Organics
www.birdvalleyorganics.com
A boutique distribution company, Bird Valley Organics was founded by regenerative farmers to support other farmers. They live and breathe sustainability and only take on brands whose commitment to the environment mirrors their own. With partners throughout the state, they’re more than values-driven, they’re revenue driven as well.
For Boutique Distribution: Sonoma Pacific Distribution
www.sonomapac.com
With a focus on preserving the legacy of cannabis, Sonoma Pacific specifically works with conscious brands. This California-based distribution company has a goal to only represent brands helping the planet. This year, the company will be 80% plastic free with an aim to be 100% plastic free by 2022.
While we have a long way to go in this industry, we’ve also made a great deal of progress shifting the cannabis industry in a sustainable, eco-friendly direction. Follow Tree Hugger Containers on Instagram (@treehuggercontainers) to stay up to date on sustainable cannabis resources, guides, and examples.