Hydroponic technology conserves water by limiting water lost to evaporation, resulting in substantially higher water efficiency compared to soil-based cultivation. As the effects of climate change worsen, access to municipal water becomes a major impact on food production, and water restrictions may limit the ability to grow outdoor plants. Utilizing hydroponic systems for indoor growing can help build a more resilient food system by using less water per plant.

Food miles are the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production against long-distance distribution. They help to show how long it takes for food to reach our plates. Most food in the US is grown in California and shipped across the globe, leading to high food miles. By using Rise Gardens, consumers can recover some of these food miles by growing their own produce at home.

The average customer uses Rise Gardens for 3.3 years. After thorough in-house testing, we determined that the electronics in the New Rise Garden model were designed to last at least 5 years, and improvements were made to increase durability and efficiency. Recycling or reusing the garden are the most sustainable, with passing on the garden to someone else or restarting the garden also being options. If recycling is needed, there are recycling centers that can handle specific parts of the garden.

78% of Rise employees reported working from home either sometimes or always. Those who do commute to the office typically use sustainable transportation methods, like public transport or cycling/walking. We’ve also taken steps to reduce our office supply + kitchen waste by purchasing sustainable tissues, recycling mailers with EcoShip, and diverting all food and plant waste through WasteNotCompost.