Sustainability can feel like a big, abstract concept—but at its core, it’s about finding ways to live that help protect the planet for future generations. At Thrive Market, we believe in making small, mindful choices that add up to a meaningful impact. Whether it’s reducing waste, supporting regenerative farming, or shopping with the environment in mind, there are a number of ways to measure—and support—sustainability in your everyday life.
Here are a few key areas that help measure sustainability.
1. Consider the Carbon Footprint
One of the most widely recognized ways to assess sustainability is by measuring carbon footprint, the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product. Everything from how your food is grown to how it’s shipped can influence your carbon footprint (and once you understand that, you can work to lower yours!)
How to support it: Look for brands committed to carbon-neutral practices or climate-positive initiatives. At Thrive Market, we’ve offset 100% of our brand emissions, including shipping emissions, since day one and continue to evaluate our supply chain to identify new opportunities for improvement.
2. Account for Packaging Waste
Single-use plastics and excessive packaging contribute heavily to landfill waste and pollution. Measuring sustainability means looking at how much waste a product generates throughout its lifecycle, including how it’s packaged and whether that packaging is recyclable or compostable.
How to support it: Choose products with minimal or recyclable packaging, and reuse or recycle whenever possible. At Thrive Market, the boxes we use to package your orders are made with 30-50% recycled content, and the packing paper and tape we use are 100% recyclable. You can also shop with sustainability in mind by using our Plastic Neutral or Plastic Free filters to find products that align with your values.
Related Products:
- Thrive Market Reclaimed Plastic Trash Bags: Made from 100% reclaimed plastic, including post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and plastic scraps left over from manufacturing, these trash bags help to utilize excess plastic.
- Thrive Market Organic Apple Cider Vinegar: Packaged in a glass bottle, this ACV is a great example of a shelf-stable staple with plastic-free packaging.
3. Track Water Usage
Water is a vital, finite resource—and sustainable practices aim to reduce excessive water use, especially in agriculture. Measuring sustainability in this area means looking at how much water is required to grow, process, and transport food or products.
How to support it: Supporting brands that use water-wise farming practices or invest in water conservation can make a difference. At Thrive Market, we prioritize sourcing from brands that follow sustainable farming practices, including regenerative agriculture, which helps improve soil health and water retention.
Related Products:
- Thrive Market Organic Lentils: Lentils are a relatively low-water crop and a sustainable source of plant-based protein.
- Thrive Market Organic Quick Oats: Oats generally require less water to grow compared to many other grains and are a versatile, whole-grain pantry staple.
4. Invest in More Conscious Farming Practices
While organic farming grows crops without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, regenerative agriculture takes it a step further by actively improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and capturing carbon from the atmosphere. Measuring sustainability here means looking at how farming practices support ecosystems, soil, and the long-term health of our planet.
How to support it: Look for products that are regenerative organic certified or made with ingredients from farms that use regenerative techniques. These include practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, and rotational grazing. At Thrive Market, we champion regenerative agriculture by sourcing from brands and suppliers committed to these practices and offering a regenerative shopping filter, making it easy to shop for products that support soil health and climate resilience.
Related Products:
- Thrive Market Regeneratively Grown Organic Coconut Oil: This coconut oil is made from coconuts grown with regenerative practices like mulching that reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere & enrich the soil.
- Kettle & Fire Regenerative Chicken Bone Broth: This non-GMO bone broth is made with premium ingredients sourced from regenerative farms, including pasture-raised chicken, veggies and herbs.
5. Seek Out Third-Party Certifications
Third-party certifications can be useful tools for understanding a product’s environmental impact. Labels like USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Fairly Traded, and Regenerative Organic Certified offer transparency into farming practices, ingredient sourcing, and labor standards.
How to support it: While certifications aren’t the only indicator of sustainability, they can help guide more conscious choices. Thrive Market makes it easy to filter by values like Regenerative, Sustainably Farmed, and Plastic-Free so members can shop with confidence.
Related Products:
- Thrive Market Regeneratively Grown Organic Breakfast Blend Coffee: This coffee is both USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified, meaning it supports both environmental and social sustainability.
- Thrive Market Regeneratively Grown Organic White Quinoa: A regenerative option for those looking to support climate-smart agriculture.
Making Sustainability Measurable (And Meaningful)
Sustainability isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Measuring the impact of our everyday choices can feel empowering, especially when we focus on the areas we can control. From choosing climate-conscious ingredients to reducing packaging waste, every small step supports a more sustainable future.
Want to dive deeper into the world of sustainable shopping? Explore our guide to plastic-free living, or learn more about how Thrive Market became a Certified B Corporation.
Share this article
Thrive Market
Wholesome products. Wholesale prices.