audiohook pixel

Our Sustainability Impact

‎A Better Story Starts Here...

Let’s be honest—food production is responsible for significant ecological impacts like biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also an industry with systemic social injustices from labor practices to land access.

But when food production is done right, we believe it can be part of the solutions to these challenges: regenerating ecosystems and creating equitable jobs and resilient rural communities. That’s the story we want to be a part of.

A better story starts from the ground up, beginning in the fields and orchards where our ingredients grow.

We believe a steady supply of nutritious ingredients requires soil, ecosystems, and workers that are well cared for.

Farmer + Farmworker Wellbeing

Did you know more then 50%* of farmworkers are parents? We want our products to be good not only for the kids who eat them, but also for the people who grow them. Everyone deserves safe, healthy and respectful working conditions. Though our supply chain is complex, and our methods imperfect, we believe complexity should not equal complacency. We are proud to be the first consumer goods brand to source and pay premiums on produce from suppliers certified by the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). Learn more about EFI and our progress in the links below.

Organic Agriculture

All of the ingredients we source are grown with certified organic practices. This means they are always non-GMO and free from synthetic pesticides. Better yet, organic farming protects pollinators and builds soil health. But, only 2% of global agricultural lands are under certified organic management*. We want to see more organic acres and increased access to organic for both farmers and consumers alike.

Learn More

<a style=Organic Agriculture" loading="lazy">

Organic Agriculture

<a style=What is EFI?" loading="lazy">

What is EFI?

<a style=Code of Conduct" loading="lazy">

Code of Conduct

After fruits and veggies are picked and packed, we turn them into delicious farm-fresh snacks, made using renewable energy.

Energy used to make our products is one of the top contributors to our greenhouse gas footprint. To take action, we purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for our manufacturing needs. In this way, we support renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Even better some of our RECs support a Tribal Renewable Energy Fund that aims to bolster energy sovereignty and resilience in indigenous communities.

What farm-fresh snacks get packaged in is just as important as how they got there.

Quality, safety, nutrition, and convenience—these are all part of our promise to you and your families. While we won’t compromise on these standards, we are focused on improving the sustainability of our product packaging, by using less materials and increasing the circularity of materials.
Illustration of a pouch

We’re committed to an improved pouch design by 2026 with less materials and more circularity.
How2Reycle instructive label

To help take the guesswork out of recycling, we include How2Recycle’s instructive label on packaging. Making sure items end up in the right waste streams supports better recycling.
illustration of a Once Upon a Farm delivery box

Fiber-based materials like cardboard actually make up the majority of our packaging by weight. So, we focus on using recycled materials or materials from responsibly managed forests.

Our Pouch Mail-Back Process

We offer a free pouch mail-back program in partnership with fellow B Corp, Recyclops! Since recycling is often out of sight, having visibility into every stage of a pouch’s journey is a level of transparency we’re especially proud of!
1. Collect

1. Collect

Customers collect empty pouches.
2. Mail

2. Mail

Pouches are mailed to Recyclops (for free—it's on us!)
3. Bale

3. Bale

Pouches are baled and sent out for processing
 4. Process

4. Process

Pouches are processed with other hard-to-recycle plastics.
5. Repurpose

5. Repurpose

Pouches get a new life as part of a more sustainable building material.

Learn More

<a style=Pouch Mailback Program" loading="lazy">

Pouch Mailback Program

<a style=Can I Recycle This?" loading="lazy">

Can I Recycle This?

<a style=Plastic Elephant on the Farm" loading="lazy">

Plastic Elephant on the Farm

<a style=Our Standards" loading="lazy">

Our Standards

From farm to fridge, sustainability is core to our business. But this story doesn’t end there.

Our mission to “drive systemic improvements in childhood nutrition for a happier, healthier, more equitable world” compels us to work across the industry to create positive change. We are dedicated to advancing nutrition access through our WIC-approved bowls and partnership with Save the Children.

We’re also engaged in industry collaborations that aim to support Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs and colleagues in our industry. This includes our Entrepreneur Ally Program and a multi-year sponsorship of the non-profit, Project Potluck.

Learn More

<a style=B Corp & PBC" loading="lazy">

B Corp & PBC

<a style=Entrepreneur Ally Program " loading="lazy">

Entrepreneur Ally Program

<a style=A Million Meals" loading="lazy">

A Million Meals

<a style=WIC" loading="lazy">

WIC

Want to learn more about our sustainability initiatives and progress?

Check out the Impact Report we publish every year:
2023
2022