Plant Based Packaging
We use plant-based polyethylene for some of our product packaging. This material is made using ethanol derived from sugarcane rather than fossil-based feedstocks.
Our aim is to make informed packaging choices that protect our products while considering the environmental impacts associated with the materials we use.
Our Plastic Solution
Plastic is lightweight, durable and versatile, making it suitable for protecting our products during manufacturing, transport, storage and use.
Rather than replacing plastic with another material, we have looked at changing the source of the plastic we use.
Our plant-based polyethylene uses ethanol derived from sugarcane as a feedstock.
The polyethylene has the same fundamental chemical structure as conventional polyethylene and can be processed through established polyethylene recycling systems.
Plastic bottles made from plants!
Sugarcane absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows. The ethanol produced from the sugarcane is used to manufacture our plant-based polyethylene.
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is used to compare the environmental impacts of materials across defined stages of their lifecycle.
Braskem's published LCA for its I’m green™ bio-based HDPE reports a cradle-to-gate carbon-footprint benefit compared with fossil-based HDPE within the defined assessment boundary.
This result relates to the specific material and lifecycle stages assessed. It does not mean that a BetterYou product or order is carbon neutral or carbon negative.
Source: [1]
Solving problems without creating new ones
Plant-based polyethylene can be processed through polyethylene recycling systems.
Recycling availability depends on the packaging format and the facilities available in your area. Please follow your local recycling guidance when disposing of BetterYou packaging.
Source: [2]
But why not ditch plastic altogether?
We have considered alternative packaging materials as part of our packaging development work.
Plastic remains useful for some of our products because it is lightweight, durable and capable of providing the level of protection required during manufacturing, transport, storage and use.
Replacing one packaging material with another does not automatically result in a lower environmental impact. The appropriate comparison depends on the materials being considered, the amount of material required and the lifecycle stages assessed.
Our Approach
We recognise that no packaging material has zero environmental impact.
Using plant-based polyethylene is one part of our wider approach to reviewing the materials we use and their environmental impacts.
We will continue to assess our packaging, operations and supply chain as part of this work.
The BetterYou Impact
Here at BetterYou we continue to pursue growth whilst staying true to our fundamental principle of maximising positive influence and reducing negative impact.
We believe our customers want us to make the decisions about how we operate that reflect their values, their standards and their expectations.
They believe a business should operate this way - so do we.
Explore our 2024-25 Impact Report to see the latest developments in ingredient sourcing, biopolymer plant-based plastic and charitable and community contributions.
Sources:
[1] Braskem – I’m green™ bio-based polyethylene
Braskem's published life-cycle assessment and carbon-footprint information for its sugarcane-derived polyethylene.
[2] UK Government – Simpler Recycling: household recycling in England
Guidance on household recycling and materials accepted within the dry recyclable waste stream.
[3] British Plastics Federation – Independent studies on packaging
Research summarising comparisons between plastic packaging and alternative packaging materials, including packaging weight, energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions.
