Absolutely! This is an important step to reducing our collective carbon footprint as consumers, so we strongly encourage it. We use HDPE/LDPE plastics not only because they are food-safe, but because they are accepted at most recycling centres globally.

It’s crucial to differentiate between HDPE/LDPE plastics and single-use plastics, which are items used only once before being recycled or thrown away—think bags, straws, utensils, beverage bottles, feminine hygiene products, and much of our food packaging. Globally, we produce over 300 million tons of plastic, and half of it comprises these single-use items. However, only around 11% of plastic items get recycled. The problem isn’t just insufficient recycling; most of the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic produced yearly can’t be recycled. Petroleum-based disposable plastics often need virgin materials and added chemicals to become recyclable, which contributes to toxic chemicals being found in our bloodstream and even in human feces, as revealed in a study by the University of Vienna and the Environment Agency Austria. The toxins present in many plastics, known as endocrine disruptors, can lead to various health issues, including cancer, infertility, suppressed immunity, birth defects, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, and more. It’s not that all plastic is bad, but rather the types of plastic we use and how we dispose of them.The type of plastic we use for our magnesium containers has a smaller carbon footprint compared to alternatives like glass (especially when recycled), and it is food safe.

After extensive research into various packaging options, we've concluded that high-density polyethylene (HDPE) stands out as the most environmentally safe choice currently available. HDPE is a robust and durable food-grade plastic that can be easily repurposed into numerous household items. Considered one of the finest containers ever made, Tupperware is a prime example of HDPE. Not only is HDPE food-safe, but it's incredibly resilient and resistant to deterioration from sunlight or extreme temperatures. While our tubs are crafted from HDPE, our lids are made from LDPE (low-density polyethylene). LDPE shares a similar composition and is just as recyclable, but it's a softer and more flexible form of polyethylene. This characteristic makes it easier for you to open your MAG365 container. As Susan Selke, director of the school of packaging at Michigan State University, highlights, "In many cases, plastics are actually better for the environment than the alternatives. It is surprising until you look closely at it."

HDPE and LDPE are commonly accepted at recycling centers worldwide, given that they're among the easiest plastic polymers to recycle. Recycling companies usually gather polyethylene products and transport them to sizable facilities for repurposing. These containers are widely welcomed at recycling centers due to their cost-saving potential. For instance, it's more cost-effective to create products from recycled polyethylene compared to manufacturing new plastic from scratch.

You can deposit your empty containers into the dry mixed recyclable bins (often green or blue), which accept various materials including polyethylene. By doing so, rest assured that your tubs will be recycled and repurposed appropriately.

Polyethylene stands as the most commonly recycled plastic and is deemed one of the safest plastic forms. Recycling HDPE and LDPE plastics for secondary use is a relatively straightforward and cost-effective process. The majority of polyethylene products are recycled and transformed into various new items, such as rope, toys, pipe fittings, chopping boards, hinges, and recycling bins.

Glass jars, often perceived as an environmentally friendly option, actually have a substantial impact on the environment compared to plastic. Their manufacturing demands more resources and they are heavier to transport, consuming up to 40% more energy. This results in increased carbon dioxide pollution and escalates transportation costs by fivefold. Surprisingly, single-use glass bottles cause significant environmental harm, particularly contributing to global warming, as highlighted in the January 2012 issue of the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. The report emphasizes that you need to reuse a glass bottle at least three times to reduce its carbon footprint to approximately that of a single-use plastic beverage bottle. When a plastic bottle is recycled, you'd need to reuse the glass bottle 20 times to achieve a comparable carbon footprint. Additionally, the production of glass involves the use of sand. This has led to a concerning and relatively unknown sand shortage crisis, driving illegal mining activities on beaches, lakes, and even the destruction of entire islands. The extraction of sand, often conducted in isolated areas, takes a toll on the environment, causing erosion, destroying marine life habitats, and harming coral reefs. Moreover, it silences dissent as those who speak out against these destructive practices face severe consequences. The overall extent of the environmental damage remains largely unknown due to limited research and the secluded nature of sand extraction.

We're actively exploring other packaging solutions to minimize our carbon footprint, yet many options aren't feasible for our product when considering the broader perspective. As Eliot Whittington, policy program director at the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership, points out, it's not a simple matter of "plastic is bad, so let's use something else." The alternative must also be viable and sustainable. For example, using paper would require wax lining, making it unrecyclable. Biodegradable bags, while eco-friendly, often have a short shelf life, leading to product wastage and contributing to our carbon footprint. Furthermore, ensuring food safety may involve incorporating additional materials in the packaging, which might not be ideal for the environment or end-users. However, we are optimistic about the future. With ongoing scientific advancements, more options will emerge for exploration.

We're excited about offering this! While we're all set to introduce bulk buying options, many retailers are not fully equipped for this option just yet. We encourage you to discuss bulk supplements with your local stockist to demonstrate the market demand for zero waste options. Together, we can create an impact! In the meantime, we suggest purchasing your MAG365 in 300-gram tubs as a way to reduce your carbon footprint.

The major challenge we're confronted with today is our excessive consumption. In a world where convenience and cheap, disposable items are the norm, our awareness of what we purchase holds immense power to make a difference. While recycling is crucial, it's just the surface of a much larger issue. As Matt Wilkins, a postdoctoral researcher at Vanderbilt University's Center for Science Outreach, aptly noted, "Recycling plastic is to saving the Earth what hammering a nail is to halting a falling skyscraper." In simpler terms, although it feels good to recycle, the effort is woefully inadequate and diverts attention from the actual cause of the falling skyscraper. The reality is far more nuanced than we often perceive. For instance, a life cycle assessment by the UK Environment Agency revealed that a reusable cotton bag's global warming potential needs it to be used 131 times to surpass the impact of a disposable carrier bag. When comparing the production of a stainless steel water bottle to a single-use plastic bottle, it requires seven times as much fossil fuel, releases 14 times more greenhouse gases, depletes metal extraction resources hundreds of times over, and poses significantly higher toxic risks to both humans and ecosystems. In essence, it needs to be used for several years to justify the carbon footprint it leaves. Beyond these comparisons, the issue also lies in waste and recycling management. Perhaps the most significant way we can collectively contribute is by advocating for change. This involves lobbying our governments and decision-makers to establish better waste diversion systems from landfills. Our voices hold power, and channeling our efforts into demanding improved waste management, better recycling practices, and reduced consumption of single-use plastics will have a far more profound impact on the Earth than simply banning plastics like HDPE and LDPE.