The word “sustainable” is used so often in marketing, it’s hard to know which brands are all talk and which are taking real action. At GoMacro®, environmental impact is considered in every decision, from packaging and ingredient sourcing to the way they power their headquarters. Here’s how they’re setting the standard for planet-friendly practices within the nutrition bar industry.

Renewable Energy

Since 2018, GoMacro has been powering their Viola, Wisconsin production facility with 100% renewable energy using a combination of 844 rooftop solar panels and renewable energy credits (RECs) generated through regional wind farms.

In 2020, they took things a step further and began covering the additional costs of purchasing wind RECs for the entire Village of Viola. Now, through this unique partnership, all homes, schools, and businesses in the community where GoMacro is headquartered are 100% renewably powered at no additional cost to residents.

Waste Reduction

100% of GoMacro’s food scraps are donated to local farmers and organizations that can utilize the materials, while bars that become unsellable due to small errors like imperfect wrappers, are donated to food pantries throughout the Midwest.

Production materials like gloves, hairnets, cardboard, and nut butter pails are recycled, which diverts over 385 tons of waste from landfills annually!

100% Recyclable or Compostable Packaging

About 28% of waste from the average household is from packaging, and while some of that is recyclable, an estimated 91% of packaging materials end up in landfills or the environment. This is a particular challenge for food companies that use special packaging materials to keep shelf-stable products fresh and safe.

To lead the way in combatting this issue, 100% of GoMacro’s packaging is recyclable or compostable. Cardboard sleeves and multipack cartons can be recycled in a curbside bin, while MacroBar® wrappers can be collected and mailed to TerraCycle® for free. 12-count MacroBar trays are made with hemp pulp, which can be placed in your home compost pile or, in some areas, collected by a compost pickup service.

Sustainable Sourcing

It’s hard to know where the ingredients in your food came from, much less how they were grown. But GoMacro only works with suppliers whose values and commitment to quality match their own. All suppliers must meet their high standards when it comes to producing ingredients that are Certified Organic, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Kosher, Non-GMO, and of course, taste delicious. They also look for vendors with excellent sustainability programs in place and those that treat their growers and employees fairly.

One great example of this commitment in practice is the Equal Partner Direct Buying Program created by GoMacro’s chocolate supplier, Agostoni. By ensuring fair prices for cocoa, improved working conditions, clear work contracts, equipment and financial support, and education to help improve quality and sustainability standards, Agostoni’s business model goes above and beyond Fair-Trade standards. This generates social, economic, and environmental benefits for the growers who supply their cocoa.

Not only does this result in bars that are better for you, but also supports suppliers who are doing things the right way and creating a healthier planet. Learn more by checking out GoMacro’s Responsible Sourcing page.

Better is Bigger

GoMacro is on a mission to spread awareness for a balanced, plant-based lifestyle – not only for personal health, but for the health of the planet. The little steps and small tweaks can create big progress in our homes, our communities, and our planet.