OCTOBER  I  2024

Athletic Greens, the global health company, has a clear mission: empower individuals to take control of their well-being while positively impacting the planet. As the company has grown, so has its dedication to sustainability, with initiatives focused on reducing environmental impact and making smarter, planet-friendly choices. At the heart of these efforts is Anna Edgren, AG’s first Director of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, who joined in 2020. In a conversation with Edgren, we explored how Athletic Greens is integrating sustainability into its business and why its partnership with Pachama, a carbon offset and forest protection organization, is so essential.

Athletic Greens has been committed to sustainable practices since its founding in 2010, but Edgren’s arrival marked a new era. “The first thing we wanted to tackle was becoming a carbon-neutral business,” she explains. AG achieved this milestone in 2021 through Climate Neutral certification. The certification process, tailored to companies like AG with predominantly Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions from supply chains), allowed AG to take decisive action. Climate Neutral’s accessible software helped estimate carbon footprints and gradually refine data collection, streamlining the process for AG.

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Edgren emphasizes that the company’s sustainability goals go beyond carbon neutrality. “We’re also focused on reducing plastic usage and increasing the use of recycled and eco-friendly materials in our packaging,” she says. The challenge lies in balancing sustainability with premium packaging that ensures the product’s safety and aligns with AG’s brand values.

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Looking ahead, AG is exploring longer-term goals, considering targets like Net Zero emissions or Science-Based Targets (SBTi) for 2030 or 2050. But instead of rushing to commit, the company is taking a thoughtful approach, ensuring these targets are achievable and aligned with their core mission.

In May 2020, Athletic Greens took a significant step by partnering with Pachama, investing in forest conservation projects as part of its broader climate action strategy. The company has since committed nearly $1 million toward projects like the Central Kalimantan Peatlands and the Borneo Peatlands, offsetting over 61,000 tons of CO2e in 2022 alone.

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Though AG initially considered agriculture-based carbon offsets to align with its health-focused branding, they found that forest conservation offered a more impactful and cost-effective solution. “We believe avoiding deforestation is the most significant contribution we can make,” Edgren explains. The company’s mission, which centers on individual health, naturally extends to planetary health. Partnering with Pachama, Edgren says, has made it easier to communicate these initiatives to both internal teams and customers.

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One of the standout projects AG supports is the Central Kalimantan Peatlands in Borneo. Originally slated for conversion into a palm oil plantation, this area is now a protected refuge for orangutans and countless other species, thanks to conservation efforts. Peatlands are known for their carbon-sequestering capabilities, holding up to 20 times more carbon than typical forests. Beyond carbon capture, the project contributes to the well-being of surrounding communities by supporting all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it a model for holistic, planet-first action.

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The focus on sustainability is just one part of its broader vision for the future. By taking bold steps like achieving Climate Neutral certification, investing in high-impact conservation projects, and continually improving its use of materials, AG is proving that businesses can grow while being stewards of the planet. For AG, this is only the beginning of a long-term journey toward a sustainable and healthier world. As Edgren puts it, “Empowering people to take ownership of their health means empowering them to protect the planet too. The two are inextricably linked, and it’s our responsibility to make a difference.”

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