Meet Our 4 Ocean-Friendly Values

World Oceans Day is Monday, June 8. To celebrate, we’re showcasing four of our favorite—but perhaps lesser-known—values. Meet: Low-Waste Living, Plastic-Free, Turtle + Dolphin Safe, and Sustainably Caught. Our mission is to make healthy living easy, and that commitment expands beyond our members and our soil to the very oceans that provide the sea greens and fish that we love. Read on to learn more about these values and what they mean when you shop on Thrive Market.

Low-Waste Living

According to the EPA’s definition, for a company to be zero waste, it means 90 or 91 percent of material that comes into a facility must leave it in a sustainable way. The other nine or 10 percent can head to a landfill. At our HQ and fulfillment centers, Thrive Market diverts more than 90 percent of waste into a recycling stream, and we recently announced that our brand is now carbon neutral, thanks to a combination of renewable energy, efficiency improvements, and carbon credits.

What Is Low Waste?

If you choose a reusable form of something that’s traditionally single use, such as straws, water bottles, and plastic bags, it’s considered low waste. By opting for stainless steel straws and glass food storage, you’re on your way to embracing a more low-waste lifestyle.

Top Low-Waste Brands

Get to know some of the most sustainable brands on Thrive Market, plus their most-loved products.

Bee’s Wrap

Founded in 2012, Bee’s Wrap offers an innovative alternative to plastic. Each washable wrap is handmade made from organic cotton, beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil, and serves as eco-friendly food storage. Get a taste of what Bee’s Wrap has to offer with this convenient three-pack set.

Stasher

Stasher started in 2005 to encourage consumers to drop traditional single-use plastic bags and reach for reusable options instead. The brand’s signature silicone bags help keep plastic out of landfills, and they are 100 percent BPA-free, recyclable, and odorless. Stasher’s clear storage bags are a customer favorite and truly versatile.

Plastic Free

Plastic might be one of the world’s most versatile materials, but it’s not exactly eco-friendly. According to the World Economic Forum, 32 percent of plastic packaging ends up in the oceans every year. And most plastic (approximately 91 percent) never makes it to recycling bins, even though much of the plastic is able to be recycled when disposed of properly.

Benefits of Plastic Free

Going plastic free (or close to it) can make a big difference in a variety of ways, such as tapping into creativity when making DIY household products, improving your health by opting for fresh fruits and vegetables instead of premade foods, becoming a more conscious consumer, and of course, helping the environment.

Tips for Going Plastic-Free

Even if you’re committed to making the shift, there are so many environments that introduce plastic into our daily lives—at work, at restaurants, while traveling, and at home. Here are some of the easiest swaps to get you started.

• Stainless steel straws: Swapping stainless steel straws for plastic is an easy and affordable way to start your plastic-free journey.
• Glass food containers: It’s worth investing in a set of glass containers for food storage—they can be used for years to come.
• Cloth shopping tote: Heading to the grocery store? Be sure to bring a cloth tote—it’ll keep you from bringing plastic bags home.

You can also shop plastic-free brands such as Food Huggers, New Wave Enviro, and Thrive Market.

Turtle + Dolphin Safe

Concern over dolphin-safe fishing practices first arose in the 1980s when it was discovered that tuna boats in the Eastern Tropical Pacific were killing approximately 130,000 dolphins every year by using dolphin pods as a way to catch tuna. This eventually led to major reform in 1990 with the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act. Today, around 98 percent of canned tuna sold in grocery stores carries a dolphin-safe label, but there is still more work to be done. More recently, it was discovered that sea turtles are getting caught in commercial shrimping trawls. Shopping brands that are both dolphin and turtle safe is crucial to keeping these animals safeguarded and preserving our oceans.

What Is Turtle and Dolphin Safe?

Dolphin- and turtle-safe labeling indicates that the brand complies with policies to minimize dolphin and turtle fatalities during fishing and shrimping.

Top Turtle- and Dolphin-Safe Brands

Safe Catch, Thrive Market, and Halo are all ocean-friendly brands that fit this value.

Safe Catch

This dolphin-safe brand uses spotters or sonars to help detect when a school of skipjack tuna is swimming nearby, which has reduced its bycatch to roughly 0.3 percent. The company also uses proprietary technology to test every single fish for mercury to eliminate consumer worries about toxicity.

Thrive Market

Our Non-GMO Chunk Light Tuna and Seaweed Snacks are sustainably caught without putting dolphins or turtles in danger. Plus, it’s additive-, color-, and preservative-free and delivers 28g of protein per serving.

Halo

For more than 25 years, this holistic pet line has been keeping your furry friends well cared for with nutrient-packed food, supplements, and herbal grooming supplies—and without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The Dry Cat Food (Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe) is made with whole salmon and whitefish.

Sustainably Caught

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, more than 85 percent of the world’s fisheries are fully exploited, leading to 1,098 endangered fish species. Not only are various fish stocks overfished in many areas, but many traditional fishing methods bycatch marine animals, which can have detrimental effects on the overall health of the ocean’s ecosystem. That’s why shopping sustainably caught fish and seafood is more important than ever.

What Is Sustainably Caught?

In the United States, both wild-caught and farmed fish and shellfish are managed under a system of enforced environmentally responsible practices. Fisheries use a variety of scientific information—such as stock assessments and species and ecosystem research—to conserve fish stocks and only source abundant species that can be obtained without disrupting ecosystems. These requirements support the goals of sustaining fish populations and protecting habitat.

Tips for Shopping Sustainably Caught

The first step to buying seafood sustainably is realizing that as a consumer, you have the power to make a difference. Here are a few more tips for shopping smarter:

1. Stay in the know about the health of our oceans and where your seafood comes from.
2. Don’t be afraid to try less-fished seafood species (think trout, hake, or herring).
3. Read labels carefully and look for terms like “wild caught” or “sustainably farmed”—brands such as Safe Catch, Thrive Market, and New Chapter are great options.
4. Look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label. The organization is dedicated to sustainable fishing practices.