The good news? Many companies are committed to making easy-to-cook (or already cooked) meals with minimal negative impact on the environment. These more sustainable meal delivery services don’t just source high-quality ingredients, they’re also mindful about staying as eco-friendly as possible with packaging, shipping, and food waste. While sustainability is a factor mindbodygreen considers in all our meal delivery guides—from plant-based to keto—some brands go above and beyond when it comes to staying green. Whether it’s offsetting carbon emissions or donating extra resources to local food banks, these more sustainable services have found ways to further reduce their footprint beyond offering a recyclable cardboard box. Below, uncover what exactly sustainability means to us in the meal delivery space and why some brands excel. Every order is shipped in packaging, needs a cooling component to prevent food spoilage, and requires resources to arrive directly at your front door. But when it comes to vetting your most eco-friendly choice within the category, there are a few requirements to keep in mind. Excess packaging is one of the biggest issues with meal delivery, and some brands use a ridiculous amount of it. (It’s one of the reasons we like to show the leftover packaging from a single order in our reviews.) We lean toward brands that try to minimize the amount of packaging in every order, which may be something as tiny as ditching a plastic baggie for produce or swapping a plastic cup for a compostable option. Of course, not all packaging is the same; recyclable, recycled, and/or biodegradable materials are the best option. Another goal? Keeping shipping as efficient as possible. This can mean opting for climate-friendly insulation that allows your food to stay in transit for longer, or ditching heavy gel packs for far more lightweight dry ice. Seasonality is also key. Long-distance shipping of your food not only decreases the nutritional value of your ingredients, but it also has an environmental impact. Luckily, incorporating seasonal produce is one of the easiest swaps a meal delivery service can make—and it gives way more variety in the recipes. Of course, we’re also huge supporters of organic foods and preferred to focus on brands with a similar take. After all, as Lisa Mastela, MPH, R.D., and founder of Bumpin Blends, previously told mbg, “Organic farming reduces pollution, conserves water, reduces soil erosion, increases soil fertility, and uses less energy overall.” Finally, if a company offers animal proteins, they should be sourced from local farmers, ranchers, and/or fishermen that treat animals according to high animal welfare standards. These higher food standards reduce the risk of needing antibiotics to treat disease (which can accumulate in animal runoff). These same vendors also typically skip unwanted hormone injections in your meat or poultry. Need more protein? You’ll also find four dozen bulk add-on options, like organic ground chicken, Wagyu burgers, and falafel. Full transparency: The meal kits are a little more customizable—you can choose specific dietary needs and preferences—but you’ll have to do a little digging to find the right premade meals for your needs. Example Meal: -Lemongrass chicken meatballs with spinach-plum salad and cashews -Pork chile verde over cilantro rice Sustainability & Quality: Sustainability and food quality are top of mind at Sunbasket. Company chefs try to include at least 99% USDA-certified organic produce, eggs, milk, and yogurt in all meals. Ingredients are sourced from small, local farms whenever possible, and if there’s ever a time that a non-organic ingredient must be substituted, Sunbasket will let you know. Seafood is sustainably sourced, and animal proteins come only from farmers and ranchers who follow strict animal welfare standards. All packaging is recyclable, reusable, and/or compostable, and much of that packaging is made from recycled materials too. Cost: From $9.99 per serving Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: Get $90 off your first order, plus a free gift Mix and match recipes from as many categories as you’d like. The menu changes weekly with about 24 new options each week, which all take between 25 and 40 minutes to prepare. Another thing that sets Green Chef apart—aside from its sustainable focus—is the ability to choose six servings per box; many other meal kits cap out at four servings. Example Meal: -Greek beef and feta patties -Korean-style tofu tacos Sustainability & Quality: Green Chef is a certified organic company that’s committed to supporting local, family farms and craft economies. All produce and eggs are 100% organic, and proteins are sourced from farmers and ranchers that follow high animal welfare standards. Most of the packaging is made from recyclable, compostable, and/or reusable materials, but some ingredients arrive in plastic wrap that’s not recyclable. As mentioned, Green Chef also offsets 100% of its carbon footprint from operations, including shipping. Cost: From $11.99 per serving Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: Get $358 off throughout your first five boxes There’s only one menu, so the meal variety is a bit limited; there are around 16 meals per week, many of which are Whole30-approved. When choosing meals, you can filter by allergens, specific diets, and preferences like no garlic, mushrooms, or nightshades, making it easy to fill your box with meals that are catered to your needs. The lack of recipe rotation means you’ll also quickly discover what works for your eating preferences and tastebuds (or what doesn’t). Example Meal: -Chicken cacciatore with cauliflower risotto -Bacon and asparagus frittata with pimento cheese “grits” Sustainability & Quality: The Good Kitchen is constantly working to reduce its carbon footprint. The company uses 100% recyclable packaging and recently introduced liners made with recycled materials. The only thing that you can’t recycle is the gel inside the ice packs, but it’s nontoxic and biodegradable, so the formula can go right down the drain. All meals include organic produce whenever possible (the company prioritizes the Dirty Dozen list), and ingredients are always GMO-free and sourced as locally as possible. Beef is grass-fed and grass-finished, pork, lamb, and turkey are pastured, and poultry and eggs are antibiotic- and hormone-free. Cost: From $13.65 per serving Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: Get $20 off your first order with a referral Example Meal: -Black bean and plantain grain bowl -Kale pesto noodles Sustainability & Quality: Splendid Spoon is mindful of everything within its operation, from the supply chain to packaging. There’s a centralized distribution center, and all packaging is 100% recyclable. Unlike other companies that rely on gel packs, Splendid Spoon ships its boxes with dry ice to further reduce waste and keep shipping more efficient. Since 2015, the company has reduced its carbon footprint by 80% and is currently working toward 100% sustainability. All ingredients in smoothies and wellness shots are 100% non-GMO and 95% organic. For other meals, Splendid Spoon prioritizes the Dirty Dozen. Price: From $8.75 per serving Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: Save $20 on each of your first three orders Example Meal: -Sweet potato buddha bowl -Harissa roasted eggplant Sustainability & Quality: Purple Carrot is working to limit its environmental impact by sourcing from farmers in different areas and swapping out plastic packaging for more sustainable options. The company currently uses mostly recyclable plastics, as well as cardboard boxes and lines, but there are some things—like bubble liners and plastic wrap—that your community may not currently recycle though. If your area doesn’t recycle the gel packs included in each box, they are reusable. Most non-produce ingredients you’ll find in your box—like beans, nut milks, tofu, and vegan cheeses and yogurts—are also organic. Price: From $11 per serving Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: Get $20 off your first four boxes and free shipping on your first order.
