Earth Day: Reflecting On Our Eco-Friendly Practices

April is here, and with it brings Earth Day. A day to celebrate the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us everywhere we go. Every April 22nd the world takes time to honor our mutual home and everything she provides us.

At OWL we like to take this time to reflect on our efforts of sustainability to ensure our practices preserve the purity of our environment. We want to share with you, our partners in health and sustainability, everything that we do to maintain our status as a friend of the Earth. After all we only get one planet. We plan on seeing her flourish with life and beauty for a long, long time.

Waste Prevention

Our number one goal is to leave behind the smallest footprint possible on this lovely place called Earth. That is why we do our absolute best to abide by our Minimal Waste Policy. The ugly truth is that almost 45% of United States landfill materials are containers for food and packaging. This is attributed to spoiled food caused by insufficient packaging and unsustainable sourcing, as well as non-recyclable packaging materials.

The other hard-to-swallow pill is that restaurants aren’t the only contributors to the problem. Food production companies and individual households hold just as much sway when it comes to decisions regarding the environmental impact of waste.

We want to do our part to reduce as much waste as possible, which is why we’ve established production policies that help reduce food waste. We also insist on using sustainable packaging that preserves our food products more effectively.

FOOD WASTE PREVENTION
Our ingredient orders are based on our production schedule and needs. The produce we use is fresh and ordered weekly so that no product is wasted. OWL Mylkshakes are made-to-order for local requests since their freshness only lasts four to six days after preparation. Shakes that need to be shipped are sent in powder form with a 3+ month shelf life. Our stock of shakes at the OWL HQ is always at a low quantity, and any that aren’t purchased become free samples prior to their expiration date.

On the flip side, OWL Broth Elixirs are pressure canned for a 6 month shelf life as well as a tight seal to keep out microorganisms that can spoil our product or cause illness.

PACKAGING WASTE PREVENTION
When it comes to environmentally friendly, glass is the better option. All of OWL’s products come packaged in glass. We use 32 ounce mason jars for our Broth Elixirs and Mylkshakes. You have the option to reuse, recycle, or return these containers so that you can join us in our efforts to protect the environment. We also use glass bottles for all OWL skincare products.

Another benefit to pressure canning our broths is that they don’t need to be refrigerated. Therefore, we have no need for styrofoam or cold packs for orders sent around the country.

We are thrilled and humbled to announce that we have found an alternative to our previous packaging use of “packing peanuts” to an all-cardboard method. When shipping our ceramic homegoods, we re-use the bubble wrap we receive from our vendor shipments. We encourage all of our customers to reuse this bubble wrap when they open their OWL packages to continue the cycle.

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIERS
OWL is honored to support local small farmers who produce their food the all-natural way. We source our ingredients from farms that do not use toxic chemicals and guarantee high quality products. These farms produce less fossil fuels and less waste than factory farms. Here are some of the suppliers we work with to lighten our impact on the environment.

Buy Ranch Direct - a cooperative of family owned and operated ranch in Northern California. The bones we use are 100% grass-fed, grass-finished, and free-range.

Gourmet Specialties - a local wholesale company specializing in organic food. This is where we get all of the herbs listed in our recipes.

Heath & Lejuene - a distribution company located in downtown Los Angeles that serves the organic produce community.

Charlie's Produce - a Los Angeles distribution company supporting local growers first to market, with organic certified warehouses.

At OWL, sustainability is more important than expansion. Local grocers, like Lassens and Erewhon, partner with us to help us impact the health of humans across the U.S. They walk side-by-side with us in our commitment to shopping local and promoting sustainable food production practices.

Only the best bones in our broth

As part of the food industry, we see it as our responsibility to be intentional about our sources. We believe in providing the best ingredients regardless of convenience or cost.

Organic Bone Broth - do not contain toxins such as pesticides, insecticides, lead, or growth stimulating hormones

Responsibly Raised Bone Broth - grain-fed cows are weaned off and taken from their mothers early in life and kept in confined areas. This means more stress, high levels of hormones such as cortisol.

Grass-Finished Bone Broth - these cows were fed nutritious grass and plants for their entire life, meaning the nutrient density of the bones and marrow are much higher than grain-fed cows.

Free-Range Bone Broth - allowed to roam and cared for with humane practices, the products derived from these cows are pure, healthy, and the most nutritious you can find.

How You Can Contribute

Here are a few easy ways you can help heal our planet. These small steps when taken by many can have an enormous impact on the state of our shared environment.

Bring Your Own - your own beverage containers, your own silverware, your own food containers. Anything that you know will end up in the trash when you’ve finished your outing that you already own and can bring along.

Use Reusable Bags - plastic bags are suffocating our planet. Investing in a few, durable, reusable shopping bags can keep these items out of landfills and the environment.

Recycle - check your containers! Pay close attention to the markings when you’ve finished using your materials. Also be sure to dispose of different materials in the appropriate bins. (or REUSE- OWL mason jars are perfect for repurposing!)

Shop at the Farmers Market - when you support local farms you’re supporting the health of the environment, improving your own health, saving money, and supporting small businesses!

Support Sustainable Small Businesses - the beauty of shopping locally is that you get to choose businesses with values you believe in. By supporting them with your business, you actively contribute and support the causes that matter most to you.

You Have The Power.

The power to impact the word by making healthier choices for yourself, the community, and the environment. When you consciously make the choice to support sustainable, environmentally friendly businesses you’re making the choice to care for the Earth. When the businesses from where you choose to buy invest in responsible practices, your community and the surrounding natural environment profits in a big way.

It’s because of people like you that OWL can perpetuate sustainable, eco-friendly, healing principles that are good for your body and the earth.

With deep gratitude to you all,
The OWL Fam