How do we package our products with health and the environment in mind?
At Forest River, we treat packaging choices as a tangible element of quality protection and responsibility. In the face of ongoing changes affecting the planet, our approach to packaging is designed to rationalize the use of raw materials and energy, reduce losses, and support environmentally responsible choices. Good packaging should maintain product stability, optimize usability, and facilitate recycling. This approach applies to both capsules and extracts.
Plant-based HPMC capsules
We use plant-based, vegetarian capsules made from HPMC, which are suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets and certified Kosher and Halal. They are free from preservatives, allergens, and GMOs. From an environmental perspective, the key advantage is that a stable capsule helps rationalize consumption and minimize losses. When the dosage form is resistant to common issues affecting hygroscopic and oxidation-sensitive raw materials, the product is less likely to lose its properties due to moisture or quality degradation over time. This is why HPMC is a particularly good choice for hygroscopic and oxidation-prone ingredients. In practice, this translates into a lower risk of batch disposal, a negligible number of complaints, and less wasted raw material.
Another important factor is the manufacturing standard. The capsules are produced in compliance with NSF GMP standards and are non-irradiated and GMO-free. This supports quality predictability and reduces the risk of unnecessary waste resulting from technological instability. It also extends capsule stability to up to five years, which is environmentally significant, as longer technical stability of packaging helps reduce losses throughout the supply chain.
Violet biophotonic glass
Extracts are particularly sensitive to light, and protecting them from light is one of the simplest ways to reduce product waste. Violet biophotonic glass is described as a filter that blocks radiation considered detrimental to product quality while allowing selected wavelengths to pass through, including portions of UVA and infrared light. This selective profile is intended to support longer preservation of quality in natural products.
From an environmental standpoint, three effects are especially important. First, reduced product loss. In comparative tests, this type of glass provides better storage quality than other glass types, plastic, or aluminum, and extended shelf life can be achieved without the use of preservatives. When an extract retains its properties for longer, it is less likely to be poured out or discarded, which directly reduces waste and the pressure to manufacture additional batches.
Second, reusability. Glass can be washed and reused, and once it reaches the end of its lifecycle, it is recyclable. The ability to reuse and recycle is a core element of sustainable choice. In practice, this means the packaging can outlive a single product and does not have to become waste immediately.
Third, reduced unnecessary transport and production. Every product discarded due to quality degradation represents wasted energy from production, packaging, and logistics. Extending shelf life and stability is one of the most underestimated forms of environmental action because it works at the source. Instead of managing waste at the end of the process, it reduces waste generation in the first place.
Summary
We choose HPMC capsules for their purity and stability, which help reduce product losses during storage. We select violet biophotonic glass because it selectively filters light, supports longer product quality, reduces waste, and additionally offers packaging that can be reused and recycled.
