Our Commitment to Sustainable Natural Skincare
Since Lynn Kirkland founded The Herb Farm more than 28 years ago, sustainability has been at the heart of everything we do. As one of New Zealand's pioneering natural skincare brands, we have always believed that caring for the environment goes hand-in-hand with creating effective, high-quality skincare products.
Today, that commitment continues under the leadership of Managing Director Sarah Cowan, who has guided The Herb Farm since 2006. From our beautiful Ashhurst destination, where native trees, herbs, wildlife, and gardens thrive together, to our dedication to crafting 100% natural skincare, we remain deeply connected to the land that inspires us.
Sustainable Skincare Made with Purpose
At The Herb Farm, we never stop looking for ways to reduce our environmental impact. While sustainability has always been part of our DNA, we continually review our products, packaging, and manufacturing processes to ensure we're making genuine improvements for the planet.
Every decision is supported by research, testing, and careful consideration, allowing us to create natural skincare products that deliver exceptional results while minimising their ecological footprint.
How We Reduce Our Environmental Impact
Our commitment to sustainability includes:
- Using 100% natural ingredients across our skincare range
- Prioritising recyclable materials such as glass, cardboard, and aluminium packaging
- Growing many of our botanical ingredients onsite
- Formulating and manufacturing products at our Ashhurst headquarters
- Maintaining a transparent and local supply chain
- Continually reviewing our packaging and processes to identify further improvements
By growing, formulating, and producing many of our products onsite, we significantly reduce transportation emissions and maintain complete control over quality and sustainability standards.
Creating a Better Future
One of our core goals is to leave the world in a better condition for future generations. We are committed to making meaningful environmental changes rather than simply following trends or making claims that sound good on paper.
Transparency is important to us. We strive to communicate our sustainability initiatives honestly and clearly, and we welcome questions from customers who would like to learn more about our environmental practices.
We're proud to introduce our #FourChangesForThePlanet initiative, designed to help us create an even more positive impact.
Four Changes for the Planet
More Sustainable Product Packaging
We're continually improving our skincare packaging to reduce waste and resource consumption.
Our packaging improvements include:
Non-Frosted Glass Bottles and Jars
While frosted glass offers a beautiful finish, it requires additional processing and energy. Our move to clear glass reduces manufacturing impact while maintaining the premium quality you expect from The Herb Farm.
Recyclable Aluminium Lids
All jar lids are transitioning to aluminium with recyclable EPE foam inserts.
Benefits include:
- 100% recyclable materials
- Aluminium can be recycled infinitely without losing quality
- Reduced reliance on plastic components
- Lower overall environmental impact
Removal of Plastic Inserts
Our new packaging design eliminates the need for plastic jar inserts, further reducing waste and improving recyclability.
Helping Plant Native Trees in New Zealand and Australia
Every purchase from The Herb Farm now helps support native tree planting projects.
We've partnered with:
- Trees That Count in New Zealand
- Trillion Trees in Australia
Whether you shop online, visit our Ashhurst store, or purchase through one of our retail partners, your purchase contributes to restoring native forests and supporting biodiversity.
According to Trees That Count:
"Planting native trees is one of the most powerful actions we can take to combat climate change while protecting our landscapes, waterways, and forests for future generations."
By choosing natural skincare from The Herb Farm, you're helping support environmental restoration projects across New Zealand and Australia.
Return Your Empty Skincare Containers
As part of our commitment to a circular economy, we're encouraging customers to return their empty Herb Farm bottles and jars.
How it works
For every eligible container returned, you'll receive:
10 VIP points per item
Returned containers are:
- Cleaned and sterilised
- Repurposed as testers and samples
- Used in workshops and educational activities
- Responsibly recycled if they can no longer be reused
Where to Return Your Empties
Local Customers
Simply drop your clean empty bottles and jars into the collection receptacle at our Ashhurst store.
Customers Further Afield
You can courier empties to:
The Herb Farm
86 Grove Road
RD10
Palmerston North 4470
New Zealand
Please include your contact details so we can allocate your VIP points.
To minimise environmental impact, we recommend this option primarily for New Zealand customers.
Choose Box-Free Packaging
Many of our customers are looking for simple ways to reduce waste.
While our product boxes are fully recyclable and contain useful product information, some customers prefer to receive their skincare products without additional packaging.
Our box-free option allows you to:
- Reduce unnecessary packaging waste
- Minimise resource consumption
- Support a lower-impact purchasing choice
- Help reduce the overall demand for packaging materials
As more customers choose box-free orders, we can further reduce our use of paper, cardboard, and other resources.
Join Us in Making a Difference
At The Herb Farm, sustainability isn't a marketing initiative. It's a long-term commitment that guides every decision we make.
From natural ingredients and recyclable packaging to tree planting and circular beauty initiatives, we're continually working towards a more sustainable future.
Together, we can make a positive difference for our planet, one small change at a time.
Learn more about our #FourChangesForThePlanet initiatives here. and discover how your choices can help create a healthier future for generations to come.