As 2025 comes to a close, 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. Here at Apoterra, we couldn’t have done it without you, and we’re excited to share some of our highlights from the past 12 months!
Our First Year Plastic and Carbon Negative
This 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.
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
Our sustainable packaging materials
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 137,702 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.
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 in February 2024, 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 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.
Betty Mwihava on her farm in Tanzania
Land restoration done by TREES
TREES forest garden
Endangered Grey Crowned Crane
Looking Beyond Carbon and Plastic
Aside from becoming plastic and carbon negative, this year also brought meaningful growth and refinement across our business. These milestones reflect our continued commitment to transparency, integrity, and impact-driven choices.
Product Launches & Innovations
2025 was a busy year in the studio! We launched newly reformulated favorites like our Vitamin C Regenerative Balm and Hibiscus Mud, introduced the Barrier Repair Kit, and unveiled our new boxes. Each new release is made in small batches with fresh botanicals and high-performance actives, designed to deliver visible results while supporting holistic skin health. Each new box features a single positive affirmation on the inner sleeve—we hope it brings a little inspiration with every unboxing.
Expanding Our B2B Community
Our professional partnerships continue to grow across the globe, from the US to Canada, Australia, Central America, and the Netherlands. More estheticians, spas, and wellness practitioners are integrating Apoterra into their backbar and retail offerings, bringing our small-batch, sustainable skincare to clients everywhere. This year, we also hosted quarterly masterclasses for our pro community, providing opportunities to deepen their knowledge, learn new techniques, and stay up-to-date on our latest products. We are overjoyed to see our network of pro partners expanding, thriving, and growing stronger together.
A New Website to Match Our Growth
This year, we launched our new website…hope you’re loving it as much as we do! The update makes it easier to explore our products, learn about our mission, and track your batches. It’s another step in helping us share our commitment to clean, effective, and earth-centered skincare with you.
Looking Ahead
Even as we close 2025, we’re already looking to the future. Behind the scenes, our team is hard at work formulating new products, including a special project that we can’t wait to share with you in 2026! 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. We can’t wait to walk into 2026 with you!