The Future of Sustainable Cannabis Packaging 

In its 2022 Global Plastics Outlook report, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development found that global plastic waste had more than doubled from 156 million tons in 2000 to 353 million tons. 

People correctly recycled only 9% of that plastic waste. They incinerated 19%, sent 50% to sanitary landfills, and improperly disposed of the remaining 21% in uncontrolled dumpsites or open pits.. The mismanaged plastic waste was the largest single source of microplastic leakage, accounting for 88% of all plastic leakage. 

The microplastic waste that ends up in our ecosystems is a leading cause of pollution. It is estimated that the average person eats, drinks, and breathes between 78,000 and 112,000 microplastic particles each year. And the carbon footprint produced by the creation of those plastics is also quite significant. The OECD reports that plastics are responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycle.

As a growing industry, cannabis has some responsibility to ensure it does not unduly contribute to the microplastics pollution crisis. Using sustainable packaging for its consumable products is a great place to start. 

We’ve spotlighted 4 companies that are leading the way in sustainable cannabis packaging.. These pioneering brands are doing their part to lower the levels of plastic leakage the industry creates, and are paving the way for an earth-friendly future for the sector.

Coast Cannabis Co. uses recycled ocean plastics

Coast Cannabis Co., a New England-based edibles company, makes its gummies, chocolate bars, and vape cartridges “the wicked good way.” It uses fair trade, ethically grown ingredients, and avoids all artificial dyes and colorings.

In 2024, the company began experimenting with better ways to package its “better for you” products, launching its new recycled ocean plastics chocolate bar wrappers. 

“We began recovering ocean-bound plastics by organizing local beach clean-ups and partnering with Save The Harbor in Boston,” the company said in a statement. “Our decision to incorporate ocean plastic into our packaging materials reflects our dedication to fostering a more sustainable future. We recognize the urgent need to address plastic pollution, especially within the cannabis industry, and this initiative is a proactive step towards minimizing our environmental impact.”

Currently, the chocolate bars are the only Coast product that comes in sustainable packaging. Given the company’s commitment to the waterways and oceans of New England, we expect them to roll out sustainable packaging for their gummies and vape cartridges in the near future.

Calyx Containers Is Putting A Lid On Waste

Calyx Containers is a cannabis packaging company that specializes in compliance-ready options for everything from pre-rolls to edibles to concentrates. It’s also committed to minimizing its environmental impact.

In making its various packaging materials, Calyx Containers uses what it describes as mindful manufacturing practices. Its low-energy, low-emissions methods use less water than its competitors. It uses materials that can be recycled curbside (rather than those that need to be taken to a dedicated recycling facility, something the company says only 11% of Americans have access to) and has designed its lids to have zero plastic waste.

Additionally, Calyx makes all of its products domestically, which means it’s lowering its carbon footprint by reducing the amount of emissions created by shipping long distances. The company summarizes its overarching philosophy behind its practices this way: “The cost of doing business can’t come at the expense of our planet. We have a responsibility to each other to operate our businesses sustainability, protecting the environment for generations to come.”

Stone Road Is Earth-Friendly All The Way

Stone Road is a family-owned and operated cannabis brand located in Nevada City, California. Operating from “the conviction that cannabis is one of the planet’s great natural gifts to humans, and that all people should have access to the best of it,” the company grows its own strains of weed in on-site greenhouses.

These greenhouses are biodynamic and take up only half an acre of the 57-acre property. An artisan well, stretching 460 feet deep, waters all the plants across the remaining 56.5 acres of wild and untamed land.

This earthy attitude is reflected in the way Stone Road packages its various products. Currently, all of its packaging is 99% recyclable and is made from 100% post-consumer recycled goods. The company has also made it a goal to eliminate petroleum-based plastic from its packaging by the end of 2025.

On top of that, Stone Road is in the midst of developing a sugarcane-based biodegradable bioplastic that they will use to wrap their pre-roll boxes. “We are constantly looking for ways to lessen our footprint,” the company says, “at a price at which everyone can enjoy it.”

READ: Is Smoking Out of Plastic Harmful to Your Health

Sana Packaging Envisions A Circular Economy For Plastic

Another cannabis packaging company that specializes in sustainable, landfill-friendly products is Sana Packaging. The company’s guiding philosophy is that cannabis needs to transition away from using virgin petroleum-based materials to biobased, reclaimed, and recycled materials. Not only that, but these materials need to be reused or recycled in closed-loop systems or have adequate end-of-life plans like anaerobic digestion or composting.”

Its primary goal is to create a circular economy for plastics through designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. It uses materials like plant-based hemp plastic, reclaimed ocean-bound plastic, post-consumer recycled paper, and glass in all of its packaging options. 

Its jars, pre-roll holders, and vape cartridges are also all made in the US, meaning Sana’s distribution and shipping process has a lower carbon footprint than many of its competitors. This goes a long way in helping lower the industry’s overall environmental impact.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

While these packaging and cannabis companies aren’t the only ones opting for more sustainable solutions, they are some of the most innovative. Their success demonstrates that consumers care about how their weed impacts the planet, and that using eco-friendly packaging doesn’t have to be more expensive or difficult. As weed legalization continues and the cannabis economy grows, we can only hope that more brands will follow in their footsteps, ensuring we have a healthy, thriving planet to enjoy our smoke breaks on.