Sharing Our Work In Progress
In Japan, the common phrase mottainai means “too precious to waste.” As we all come to understand the impact of our consumption on the natural world, we realize that this beautiful planet we have is too precious to waste. This way of thinking has always influenced our formulas, but what about the packaging that holds our formulas? Or the energy used to ship them to you? We’re on a quest to make Tatcha sustainable inside and out. We know that our peers are also trying to do better and asking the same questions. We pledge to share our learnings for the benefit of everyone on this journey.
READ THE BLOGOur Approach
Waste
Reduce our waste by thinking circular.
- FSC or equivalent certified paper used exclusively.
- Reduce virgin plastic use and design for circularity.
Climate
Reduce the greenhouse gas footprints of our products.
- Map our carbon footprint and other greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduce our carbon and greenhouse gas intensity while offsetting emissions caused from transportation.
Sourcing
Map our ingredients to ensure social and environmental responsibility.
- Screen ingredients for environmental and social impact at beginning and end of life.
- Trace and analyze ingredient processing to monitor and reduce waste creation.
Join Us on Our Journey
We don’t have all the answers, but we are leading with our hearts and asking our minds to catch up. We’ll be sharing everything we learn on our Instagram and T House, but we’d also love to hear from you. Which improvements do you care about most? What would you like to see from us? We can’t wait to hear your feedback, questions, and recommendations!
CONTACT USFAQs
Carbon dioxide is a type of greenhouse gas (GHG) that is emitted into the atmosphere through activities like driving a car, heating water, or even yawning. Carbon dioxide and other GHGs absorb infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface and radiate it back, creating what we know as the greenhouse effect, where heat is trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. As more GHGs accumulate in the atmosphere, the average annual temperature rises, a phenomenon known as global warming.
We offset all carbon emissions from transportation, not only from every Tatcha client order and return, but from every shipment made since the brand was founded. This includes shipments of our empty jars and bottles to be filled, our finished products to our warehouses, and finally, our clients’ orders to their homes. Using our shipment data, we have partnered with Flexport.org to calculate the emissions associated with each shipment, and determine the total metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents that we have emitted. To offset these emissions, we’ve purchased carbon credits, each worth a certain amount of emissions.By using a credit system, we ensure that offsets aren’t double counted, and that each payment is tied to a project designed to either capture and store carbon dioxide, or prevent harmful greenhouse gasses from being emitted in the first place.
All projects are vetted by carbonfund.org to ensure that they are lasting carbon solutions and to ensure that the results are quantifiable so we can be certain we are offsetting just as much as we are emitting. These are projects that are truly additive, permanent, and without unintended consequences, like creating more carbon dioxide elsewhere. All of our projects are independently certified to internationally recognized standards. To learn more, visit carbonfund.org.
In the long term, we will be analyzing our entire supply chain, from how our ingredients are grown and processed, to how you use them in your home, to identify ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with each phase in a product’s lifecycle. We’ll continue to optimize our shipping, favoring more carbon-efficient ocean freight over air, and designing our packaging to be more efficient. We’ve already converted our distribution center to renewable energy and are working on transitioning our headquarters over as well.
PCR stands for post-consumer-recycled. This is plastic that comes from recycled materials (such as water bottles or milk jugs), rather than virgin plastic, which is made from petroleum (or in some cases plant matter such as corn). When discussing plastic, you’ll often hear many companies mention “closing the loop” on plastic. Plastic’s biggest issue is when it ends up in the environment as pollution. By “closing the loop” or focusing efforts on the importance of recycling, we can continue to use already existing materials, reducing pollution and our use of natural resources. It is important that brands purchase and use PCR to provide financial support to recycling facilities.
The complicated answer is that it depends. While plastic is harmful for the environment, it has the lowest carbon footprint. So, while switching to glass would certainly result in less plastic pollution, it wouldn’t solve all of our problems. For some smaller items, glass can be comparable to plastic in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, especially if it is designed to be reusable. Because there is no solution that fits across the board, we must assess each product individually to determine which packaging solution is right for which formula, usage and environment. Is it a small item? Will it be used in the shower or to travel? Is the formula sensitive to UV exposure? All of these dimensions help shape our final packaging.
Most plastic products will feature a recycling symbol on them with a number in the middle. This number tells you what type of plastic it is. Some of the most commonly recyclable plastics include #1 (PET), #2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE) and #5 (PP). However, recycling programs, including what is accepted, vary significantly by location. We always recommend looking up your local recycling guidelines to see what is accepted in your area.
FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, an international non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world's forests through a third party certification system. FSC certification ensures that products bearing its logo come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.