Why We Choose Glass Bottles and Skip Unnecessary Packaging
If you've ordered from Sunshine + Saltwater before, you may have noticed something a little different when your package arrives.
Most of our products don't come wrapped in layers of decorative packaging. There isn't an extra product box inside the shipping box. You won't find plastic inserts, shrink wrap, or packaging that's designed to look beautiful for a few seconds before ending up in the trash.
That isn't an accident.
Every decision we make about our packaging starts with one simple question:
Does it serve a purpose?
If the answer is no, we leave it out.
As a company inspired by the beach, we believe protecting the places that inspire our products should be part of how we do business. We know one company won't solve the problem of plastic pollution, but we also know every thoughtful choice helps.
The Reality of Plastic Pollution
Plastic has become part of nearly everything we buy, especially packaging.
According to conservation organizations, about 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. That's roughly the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic being dumped into the ocean every minute.
Much of that plastic was used only once.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that 95% of the value of plastic packaging is lost after its first use, creating billions of dollars worth of waste each year while leaving behind materials that can remain in the environment for decades.
Plastic doesn't simply disappear. Over time, sunlight and waves break larger pieces into tiny fragments called microplastics. These particles have been found in marine life, beaches, rivers, drinking water, and oceans around the world.
Those facts are difficult to ignore.
While we can't change the entire packaging industry, we can make better choices within our own business.
Why We Choose Glass
Whenever practical, we package our products in glass bottles and jars.
Glass is durable, recyclable, and easy to reuse. It also protects fragrance exceptionally well, which is important for products that are meant to smell fresh from the first use to the last.
Many of our customers find new uses for our empty containers instead of throwing them away. We've seen them become flower vases, cotton swab holders, organizers for small items, and containers for shells collected during beach vacations.
When their useful life finally comes to an end, glass can be recycled again and again without losing its quality.
Glass isn't perfect. It requires energy to manufacture and weighs more than plastic, which can increase shipping emissions. We don't pretend it's the answer to every environmental challenge.
For our products, though, it allows us to reduce our reliance on disposable plastic while creating containers people can continue using long after the fragrance is gone.
Why We Skip the Extra Packaging
Take a look at many products on store shelves and you'll find layers of packaging.
A decorative box.
A plastic insert.
Tissue paper.
Protective wrapping.
Sometimes another box inside the first one.
Most of those materials serve one purpose. They create an unboxing experience.
They also become trash almost immediately.
We'd rather let the product be the packaging.
Our bottles and jars already protect what's inside. They display the scent name and important product information. Adding another box simply because it's expected didn't feel like the right choice for our brand.
Instead of investing in packaging that's designed to be thrown away, we'd rather invest in quality ingredients, thoughtfully designed containers, and products you'll enjoy for a long time.
When We Do Use Packaging
Some products need a little extra protection.
When additional packaging makes sense, we often choose reusable canvas bags instead of disposable materials.
They're sturdy enough to protect products during shipping, but useful enough to become part of everyday life afterward.
Customers have told us they use them for travel, toiletries, makeup, charging cords, jewelry, sunglasses, and beach essentials.
That makes us far happier than imagining another piece of packaging headed for the trash.
Refills Help Reduce Waste Too
Creating products that last longer is just as important as choosing better packaging.
That's one reason we introduced our Diffuser Refills.
Instead of replacing the entire diffuser when the fragrance fades, you can simply refresh the one you already own. Our refills work with our reed diffusers, mini car diffusers, and many other passive diffusers, helping containers stay in use longer while reducing waste.
It's a simple idea, but one we believe makes sense.
What You Can Do
No one person can solve ocean plastic pollution, but small choices made consistently can have a meaningful impact.
Recycle Properly
Recycling helps reduce the amount of plastic entering landfills and waterways while giving many materials a second life. If you're unsure how to recycle something, visit Earth911.org to find local recycling information and nearby drop-off locations.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics
Reusable shopping bags, refillable water bottles, food containers, and reusable utensils can all help reduce disposable plastic waste. Choosing reusable items whenever possible keeps fewer single-use plastics in circulation.
Avoid Products with Microbeads
Some personal care products still contain tiny plastic particles called microbeads. Check ingredient labels for polyethylene or polypropylene when they're used as exfoliating beads and choose natural alternatives whenever possible.
Join a Beach Cleanup
Spending even an hour picking up litter can prevent plastic from washing back into the ocean.
As a member of the Surfrider Foundation Delaware ChapterExecutive Committee, I've seen firsthand how much can be accomplished when volunteers work together to care for the beaches they love.
Stay Informed
Learning more about plastic pollution helps all of us make better decisions. Sharing that knowledge with family and friends helps create even more awareness.
Support Organizations Protecting Our Oceans
Organizations like the Surfrider Foundationwork year-round to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches through education, advocacy, conservation, and cleanup efforts. Volunteering, becoming a member, or making a donation helps support that work.
Small Choices Matter
We don't claim to be a zero-waste company, and we're always looking for ways to improve.
What we can do is make thoughtful decisions every day.
We can choose glass whenever practical.
We can offer refill products.
We can avoid unnecessary packaging.
We can use reusable canvas bags when products need additional protection.
We can support organizations working to protect our beaches and oceans.
Every one of those choices reflects what Sunshine + Saltwater stands for.
The beach has given us countless memories, endless inspiration, and the fragrances that became this business.
Choosing packaging with purpose is one small way we can help care for the places that have given us so much.
Sources
- Surfrider Foundation: Plastic Pollution Resources and Ocean Protection
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation: The New Plastics Economy
- Earth911: Recycling Directory and Recycling Resources
