Sustainable Packaging

No Plastic, Just Paper and Metal

Packaging is the first interaction we have with a product, and too often it is plastic. Van the Man Wonder Balm uses recyclable/reusable metal tins; tree-free compostable labels with recycle-compatible adhesive; and unbleached, biodegradable parchment paper – no plastic at all!

After you’ve opened the package, the parchment paper and labelling can go in the compost or recycling bin. Once the balm is all used up, the tin can be recycled – or reused in any number of creative ways. We encourage our customers to share their stories of how they’ve put their empty tins to good use. 

Van the Man Wonder Balm’s metal tins are made by Independent Can, a nearly century-old company with deep roots in Baltimore, MD, and a strong commitment to the sustainability of its products.

The labels that adorn Van the Man Wonder Balm tins are from Pure Labels, a Chicago, IL-based firm built on the idea of eco-friendly sustainability. Pure Labels produces a number of different labels that meet the values they espouse, but we chose to go with those made of compostable sugarcane fiber. A complete understanding of why this choice is the most sustainable is available on the company’s website, but suffice it to say: it makes use of an abundant waste product from sugar production to create a beautiful label.

In designing the packaging for our handmade balm, we sought out solutions that eschew plastic entirely, promote sustainability, and create an esthetic consistent with our overall ethic: “It’s all good!”