SALT LAKE CITY, UT (October 1, 2021) — Gnarly Sports Nutrition, the makers of clean, effective, and great tasting sports nutrition supplements, is proud to announce that they will be transitioning all of their product packaging from plastic tubs to highly recyclable tin coated steel cans. As the first sports nutrition brand to utilize steel cans, Gnarly is spearheading a movement in sustainable packaging within the supplement industry.
Gnarly Nutrition’s transition to tin coated steel is inspired by the fact that steel has the highest recycling rate of any material, with around 71% being repurposed compared to 8% of plastics. As the US lacks domestic recycling infrastructure, most recyclables are currently sent to landfills. Unlike plastic, steel can be recycled indefinitely with no loss of quality. While Gnarly Nutrition’s plastic tubs have historically been made using recyclable HDPE plastic #2, plastic can only be recycled one to two times before it starts being broken down further beyond recyclability and with concern of microplastic creation. The majority of all new steel manufactured comes from recycled steel, helping greatly reduce the amount of iron ore, limestone, and coal being mined. In addition, steel is often and easily pulled from landfills due to its magnetic properties.
“Over the last 18 months, we’ve been trying to find a replacement for single use plastic packaging that not only makes a substantial improvement in packaging sustainability but also maintains our high product quality standards,” says Gnarly CPO/COO, Shannon O’Grady. “In addition to their superior recyclability, Steel cans are also hermetic, or air tight, thus setting the standard for shelf life and product integrity. This is Gnarly Nutrition’s first step towards responsible packaging and we’re in it for the long game.”
Gnarly Nutrition is proud to announce that their sleek, durable steel cans are USA-made. Their first steel cans will begin to ship to customers on September 30, 2021, with their Pre Workout and BCAA products leading the transition. Collagen Pro, Whey, and Vegan products will shift to the new, more sustainable packaging throughout the fall as inventory allows. Gnarly hopes that their new packaging solution inspires other brands to join suit in reducing plastic waste.
Eli Kerr, Gnarly’s CEO, says “We know our customers trust our quality and effective products, and we are focused on continuing to build a brand that we believe also resonates with our customers – which includes caring about the Earth and our impact on it. These steel cans are just one step (albeit a giant one!) for Gnarly towards more sustainable solutions for our packaging. I am proud of our team and their vision to do something different, something better than what has previously been done in the supplement industry. We are just getting started.”
