This Earth Month, we’re taking a moment to reflect on an incredible year—thanks to you, our community, partners, and supporters. Each year brings challenges and triumphs, and this one was full of growth, impact, and exciting milestones. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Our First Year Plastic and Carbon Negative
This past year marked our first official year as a plastic and carbon negative company. Becoming both plastic and carbon negative did not happen overnight. It is the result of years of intentional decisions, long-term partnerships, and a commitment to measuring what truly matters. This year, we were finally able to calculate, verify, and consistently exceed our environmental footprint in both areas. It represents a major step forward in our mission to create truly regenerative change. Below is a closer look at what that impact looked like in practice, along with a few additional milestones from the year.
Plastic Negative Impact
From the beginning, we have worked to minimize plastic use wherever possible. Our packaging has always prioritized glass and paper (though a small amount of plastic remains necessary for certain components, such as closures).
Early on, we became inaugural members of Pact recycling collective to help mitigate this impact. Still, our larger goal was always to move beyond reduction and actively remove plastic from the environment. This year, that aspiration became a reality.
Our sustainable packaging materials
Through our partnership with rePurpose Global, every purchase helped fund the ethical collection and recovery of plastic waste before it could enter ecosystems. Over the past year, we supported the recovery of 16,662 pounds of plastic. This is equivalent to nearly 18 million straws, 420,000 bottles, or 1.25 million shopping bags.
Through initiatives such as the Hara Kal project in Kerala, India, this work supports 1,558 workers, 98.5 percent of whom are women. These programs provide fair wages, improve waste collection for more than 700,000 people, and create long-term, sustainable employment opportunities.
rePurpose workers removing ocean-bound plastic from the environment
Hara Kal project team
Carbon Negative Impact
For years, we have planted trees with every product to help offset carbon emissions. This year, we took that commitment further by calculating our full carbon footprint and ensuring that our tree planting substantially exceeds it.
Through our partnership with Trees for the Future, we have now funded the planting of over 141,702 trees. These trees support regenerative forest gardens, biodiversity restoration, and climate-resilient farming systems that help communities adapt to environmental change across five countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
TREES forest garden
As Trees for the Future continues to evolve, there is a growing focus on verified impact. New investments in monitoring, reporting, and validation are already showing evidence of increased farmer income, improved nutrition, and enhanced biodiversity across partner communities. In recognition of this work, TREES was named a UN World Restoration Flagship, an honor that highlights the organization as a leading example of large-scale, long-term ecosystem restoration. This commitment to accountability and continuous learning ensures that the benefits of tree planting are not only measurable, but truly lasting.
To bring this impact closer to home, we want to share one real example of how this work supports families on the ground.
Betty Mwihava on her farm in Tanzania
Betty Mwihava is a farmer in Iringa, Tanzania, and the sole provider for her three children. When she joined Trees for the Future’s Forest Garden program in 2022, her land was severely degraded and limited to just one or two crops. Today, her forest garden holds more than 2,500 trees and supports over a dozen nutrient-rich crops, providing both reliable food and steady income for her family.
“Before, I depended on just one or two crops,” Betty shared. “Now my land feeds my children, supports my income, and keeps improving every season.”
Stories like Betty’s show what regenerative agriculture makes possible. Healthier soil, diversified food systems, and long-term resilience for families and ecosystems alike.
A recent biodiversity study in collaboration with WildMon also documented over 120 species living in TREES's forest gardens, including the endangered Grey Crowned Crane. These results confirmed that not only are the forest gardens helping remove carbon from the environment and providing food for families in need, but they are truly revitalizing local ecosystems along the way.
Land restoration done by TREES
Endangered Grey Crowned Crane
Looking Ahead
Even as we celebrate the end of this Earth Month, we’re already looking to the future. We’re excited to continue innovating, supporting our partners, and creating skincare that makes a meaningful impact—for skin, for people, and for the planet.
Thank you for being a part of Apoterra’s journey this year. Your support and intentional choices make everything we do possible. Here’s to another year of growth, sustainability, and skincare that truly works!