Recycling and packaging
How to recycle ice packs
Follow the directions provided on your ice pack. Otherwise, cut open the pack, empty the gel into the trash, then rinse and recycle or discard the plastic film via in-store drop-off.
Recycling and packaging
How to recycle plastic
If your plastic packaging has the numbers 2 or 4 on it, it’s recyclable. If not, you can discard it in your regular trash bin. For more information, check out plasticfilmrecycling.org.
Recycling and packaging
How to recycle insulation
Depending on the season, your box may include different insulators to keep ingredients fresh. Our corrugated liners, honeycombed paperboard, and ClimaCell plant-based insulation foam are all fully recyclable.
Recycling and packaging
How to recycle boxes and separators
Most of our boxes are 100% recycled content cardboard, and all are at minimum 40% recycled content. Fold and place with your curbside recyclables, or even compost them!
Recycling and packaging
How to recycle meal kit bags
The paper bags for your meal kits are fully recyclable and compostable. You can also discard the sticky-backed label in your regular trash bin.
Why is my zucchini wrapped in plastic?
Some produce like zucchini and cucumbers need extra care, so they may arrive wrapped in plastic. This can actually reduce food scraps, resulting in lower CO2 from the diverted waste.
Just 1.5 grams of plastic can extend a zucchini’s shelf life between 3 and 15 days!
Packaging innovations
Last winter, we eliminated a significant amount of the insulation liners from our boxes. As a result, in the first 2 weeks of January 2022 alone, we shipped over 2 million liner-less boxes—a weight reduction of 48,750 pounds per week!
Our Box Fit system determines each order's most efficient ice levels and box sizes. During winter, the number of small boxes we shipped increased from around 12% to 50%. Now delivery vehicles can carry more boxes, meaning fewer carbon emissions.
We replaced traditional liners with paper “protein pouches” to ship ice and proteins to destinations with temperatures from 36° to 54°F. This innovation allowed us to increase the available space in our boxes, enabling us to use less packaging.
Other resources
Recycling services vary by area, so visit the links below to find out where to dispose of your packaging materials properly.
Recycling plastic
Head to Plastic Film Recycling for detailed instructions.
Where to recycle
Visit Earth911 to discover recycling centers in your area.