SUSTAINABILITY
Our Initiatives
Fighting Food Waste
In 2025, we were able to divert 82% of food waste from our production facilities away from landfills.
Our nonprofit partners
Sometimes we have leftover ingredients that we won't use. We donate as much as we can to nonprofit organizations that support families facing food insecurity—or recycle them to keep them out of landfills.Our customers
When customers use our pre-portioned ingredients, they’re saving green while being green. And to fact-check ourselves, we have the research to prove it.
Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
Renewable energy sources
We source 100% of our electricity consumption from renewables. Plus, we’re covered by renewable energy certificates (RECs) whenever direct purchasing isn’t available.
Ongoing innovation
There's always more we can do to improve our energy efficiency—whether it be retrofitting LEDs in older facilities, monitoring equipment to minimize refrigeration leaks, or installing more rooftop solar arrays—and we're committed to continuously seeking energy-efficient solutions to minimize our environmental impact. See our impact in Newark, NJ.Shorter supply chain
Unlike traditional supermarkets, HelloFresh makes fewer stops between the producer and our customers. We also prioritize domestic suppliers and often buy directly from the source to further reduce emissions. Minimizing food miles is part of what we do every day!Managing Climate Risk
In compliance with CA SB 261, we have evaluated the climate-related financial risks and opportunities that may impact our operations and value chain. Our findings highlight the steps we are taking to strengthen long-term resilience in the face of severe weather and natural hazards.
Packaging With a Purpose
Recycling
While we have worked hard to reduce packaging (76% of our packaging materials by weight are fully recyclable via curbside collection frameworks across the US.) and the amount of plastic in our boxes, we know we have a lot of work to do. We're always developing innovative solutions to promote sustainability without sacrificing food quality and safety.
Customized box sizes
Our proprietary Box Fit algorithm determines the most efficient box size and ice levels per order. This way, delivery vehicles can carry more boxes, which means fewer carbon emissions per box.
Prioritizing recycled content
By partnering with strategic suppliers who have pushed the limits on recycled content in corrugate and rigid plastics, 36% of our packaging (by weight) uses recycled or reused content.
Protecting our produce
Some produce like zucchini and cucumbers need extra care to protect them from damage in transit, so they may arrive wrapped in plastic. This can actually reduce food waste, resulting in lower CO2 from the landfill waste. While we still have work to do, our Packaging team is always evaluating opportunities to reduce packaging through right-sizing initiatives and other emerging innovations. Just 1.5 grams of plastic can extend a zucchini’s shelf life between 3 and 15 days!
Food Waste Spotlight: Feed it Onward
HelloFresh has officially joined the EPA's Feed it Onward initiative, reinforcing its mission to reduce food waste and get fresh, nutritious ingredients to communities in need. Feed It Onward connects food donors with communities in need while reducing the environmental impact of food waste in landfills, focusing on: Waste Prevention (data-driven forecasting to minimize surplus before it happens), Food Recovery (partnering with donation networks to redirect surplus food to local communities), and Circular Solutions (keeping food out of landfills and back into the ecosystem). Learn more here
How to recycle HelloFresh packaging
Ice packs
How to recycle HelloFresh packaging
How to recycle plastic
How to recycle HelloFresh packaging
How to recycle insulation
How to recycle HelloFresh packaging
How to recycle boxes and separators
How to recycle HelloFresh packaging
How to recycle meal kit bags
Other resources
What's been on our plate lately
To create more awareness about food insecurity among families and children, HelloFresh commissioned Hunger Matters for Families: a national survey to better understand the importance of access to nutritious food during school breaks.
Want to dig into the details of our sustainability initiatives? Please see the Non-Financial Report section of our Annual Report 2025 (pp. 134-211).
To better understand our environmental impact, we commissioned a third-party sustainability consultancy to examine our meal kits' end-to-end lifecycle footprint. Check out the results.
Our Partners
