Here at our headquarters in Chicago, we take sustainability seriously. Every minute, two million plastic bags are used. That's 22,046 pounds of plastic or 10 tons worth of plastic bags. The world has a plastic problem to say the least. Keep reading to learn more about the 5 ways we are reducing plastic at Rise Gardens!
Dry Nutrients
For those Rise Members, you may have noticed we completely removed plastic from our nutrients packaging. You'll no longer find your nutrients — the mineral compounds dissolved in water that feed your plants everything they need to thrive — contained in a plastic bottle–or liquid for that matter. Our nutrients are now contained in kraft paper packaging.
By transitioning to this more concentrated formula, we have also removed 100% of water needed to produce the nutrients. These changes alone have massively reduced our carbon footprint as the volume and weight we ship out to you is much less compared to previous liquid nutrient shipments.
How Does Rise Gardens Use More Metal and Less Plastic in the Rise Garden?
By using sturdy and long-lasting metal components, replacements of the exterior components of your Rise Garden are far less frequent than if they were made up of plastic. This is because of metal's physical properties, which lend to its strength. According to the USDA's research on sustainable manufacturing, designing products for durability and longevity is one of the most impactful ways companies can reduce their overall material waste and environmental footprint.
Recycling and composting initiatives at Rise HQ
Rise Gardens has been recycling and composting in the office since 2021. We recycle most of our materials in the office (given that materials are in accordance with Chicago's recycling restrictions). We also have implemented other office programs such as battery recycling, repurposing old t-shirts and tote bags as dish rags, and donating shipping materials to a local Chicago company aiming to divert shipping material waste.
Purchasing refills for office supplies like dish soap and hand soap instead of new bottles
Like any office, the coffee pot is always hot and mugs are frequently in use. As a result, we frequently wash dishes, thus purchasing refills for our existing soap containers has both saved us money and reduced our plastic consumption. No more purchasing a new bottle of soap every time the office runs out!
No plastic single use water bottles in office
In our office, it will be tough to find a single-use bottle of anything. Having access to the city of Chicago's tap water, as well as filtered water from the fridge, we are lucky to be able to reduce our plastic usage in this way. Over the holidays, employees were gifted a Yeti tumbler which gave all the more incentive to keep drinking sustainably.
By making these active decisions and policies for our office, products and company, we're committing to doing our part to reduce plastic consumption in the US + Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Rise Gardens reducing plastic in its products?
Rise Gardens has committed to meaningful plastic reduction across its product line, including transitioning to more sustainable packaging materials, reducing single-use plastic in pod and nutrient packaging, and designing products for longevity and repairability rather than planned obsolescence. The company continuously evaluates its supply chain to identify and eliminate unnecessary plastic wherever alternatives are viable. These efforts reflect a genuine commitment to environmental responsibility that goes beyond marketing language into operational practice.
Is hydroponic growing more sustainable than organic soil gardening?
Hydroponic growing offers specific sustainability advantages over even organic soil gardening, particularly in water efficiency of up to 95% less water, land use through vertical growing in a small footprint, and the elimination of soil erosion and agricultural runoff. The energy used by grow lights is a consideration, and Rise Gardens addresses this with highly efficient LED technology. For most household applications, a Rise Garden's combined environmental profile of minimal water use, zero food miles, no pesticides, and minimal packaging makes it one of the most sustainable food production options available to consumers.
What other sustainability practices does Rise Gardens follow?
Beyond plastic reduction, Rise Gardens focuses on designing products that last for years rather than requiring frequent replacement, minimizing packaging materials in shipping, and continuously improving nutrient formulations to reduce waste. The company also emphasizes the sustainability value of its core product, as every household that grows its own herbs and greens is reducing demand for produce transported thousands of miles in refrigerated packaging. Rise Gardens sees each customer's growing journey as a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable food system.
Can a Rise Garden help reduce a household's environmental footprint?
Yes — a household that regularly grows its own herbs, lettuces, and specialty produce with a Rise Garden meaningfully reduces its food-related carbon footprint by eliminating the transportation, cold-chain storage, and packaging associated with the same products purchased at a grocery store. Fresh herbs in particular often come in plastic packaging with very short shelf lives and a high associated waste rate, and growing your own eliminates that packaging and waste entirely. Small, consistent actions like growing your own food are among the most direct and powerful ways individuals can contribute to environmental sustainability.
