The Wellness Industry Has a Plastic Problem
The modern wellness industry has taught us to care deeply about what we put into our bodies - organic ingredients, superfoods, supplements, clean labels, functional mushrooms, cold-pressed juices. But somewhere along the way, many of us stopped questioning the materials surrounding our food.
Plastic has quietly become embedded into nearly every corner of wellness culture. Protein powders arrive in oversized plastic tubs. “Healthy” beverages sit in plastic bottles for months. Takeout meals marketed as clean and sustainable are often packaged in petroleum-based containers designed for convenience, not longevity.
At Purée, we started asking ourselves a simple question: can wellness truly exist separately from the environment our food lives in?
That question shaped many of the decisions we’ve made as a company. We chose glass bottles despite the added weight, cost, and logistical challenges because glass protects flavor, preserves freshness, and avoids direct contact between highly acidic juices and plastic packaging. The same philosophy led us to transition our soups into glass jars as well. With hot foods in particular, we wanted to avoid pouring steaming soup directly into plastic containers.
Even behind the scenes, we pay close attention to packaging. Much of our organic produce arrives from our wholesalers in cardboard produce boxes rather than individually wrapped plastic packaging - something we actively value and seek out as part of reducing unnecessary waste throughout the supply chain.
Our in-store experience reflects this philosophy. Our hot beverage cups are plastic-free, and customers ordering smoothies have the option of choosing either glass or plant-based petroleum-free PLA cups. We intentionally seek out retail partners and pantry products packaged in glass jars, paper, compostable materials, or pouches rather than conventional plastic packaging whenever possible. From olive oils and nut butters to pickled vegetables and specialty wellness products, you’ll seldom find traditional plastics on our shelves. It was important for us to create an optional low-plastic experience at Purée for customers who actively seek it out.
Of course, eliminating plastic entirely in modern food systems isn’t always realistic. But when we do use plastic, we intentionally opt for petroleum-free PLA plastics made from renewable plant materials rather than conventional petroleum-based plastics. While not a perfect solution, we believe it’s a more thoughtful step toward reducing our dependence on fossil-fuel-derived packaging and lowering the environmental burden of single-use materials.
We’ve also invested in composting programs, compostable bowls, plastic-free chopping boards, reverse osmosis water filtration, and organic cotton uniforms because wellness, to us, extends beyond calories and macros.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about awareness.
The future of wellness cannot simply be about what we consume. It also has to include how our food is grown, packaged, transported, and served. The conversation around health is evolving - and we believe sustainability deserves a seat at the table.
