A Word About Packaging...

Packaging On My Products

I've had a few people comment recently on the fact that my products don't have a box the jars go into. They had valid points as to why it would be helpful, including the fact I could include more information on the product to make it easier to use. 

All true! And all things I've thought about extensively over the years. Like, seriously, I've obsessed on this topic many times over the years. So it seemed like a good time to explain WHY there isn't a bunch of extra packaging on my products. 

Or, for that matter, why your order doesn't look it took me an hour to box with sprigs of fresh lavender and scoops of dried rose buds...

Shipped Packages

You may have also noticed when I've shipped a package to you that it's nothing fancy. In fact, it's quite plain.

I use materials I have on hand from receiving shipments myself first, which is why you may find plastic used to pack your order. 

I use purchased packing materials second made from recycled materials as much as possible and recyclable again once it reaches you. So it's going to look like this plain jane box made with recycled materials. Even the tape is brown and boring, but unlike plastic tape, it's completely recyclable with the box.

I'm Sure You've Guessed the Reasons Why...

Simple Apothecary is built on ethics that put people and the earth before profits. So the reason I don't add on extra packaging is because of that specific reason. Let me explain.

Fancy luxury packaging is generally made out of new materials and once made, is not recyclable. So those fancy shiny boxes, with the pretty paper linings or sparkly ribbons on it, were made from raw, new materials. Then after you take out your jar of salve, all of that fancy packaging has to go in the trash.

I'm not okay with that. The fancy visuals isn't worth the tradeoff when it's the product inside that is more important.

Saving YOU Money

Let me just say this bluntly- packaging is expensive. The better quality materials, the more direct cost to me as a business. A major reason luxury brands cost so much up front isn't because of the ingredients, it's because of the fancy packaging designed to catch your eye.

I'm already using sustainable packaging on my products, such as glass jars and bottles. Glass is better for the essential oils used in many of my products, but it's also better environmentally as it's reusable and recyclable when you're done with the product itself.

Glass costs a lot more than plastic, but it's never been a tradeoff I was willing to make to save money, so it's long been factored into my pricing. But adding on a box, even if (or in some cases, because) it's made from recycled materials, adds on a few dollars to each jar.

I'm not comfortable adding on that cost to my customers, especially when the entire world is still dealing with the effects of recovering from a global pandemic. I'm not greedy, I don't have shareholders to answer to, and I care more than about just the bottom line.

Still Want Fancy Packaging?

The fact is, the fancy packaging and coordinated shipping boxes with inserts and my name all over it, costs a LOT of money. And while some people may be willing to pay that money and it would draw in a "certain type of customer" as someone told me recently, it would still mean I would have to compromise my ethics.

And I'm just not willing to do that.

So let me ask you- now that you have this information, how does your outlook on luxury body care product lines look now?