Meal kit delivery services offer a convenient way to enjoy home-cooked meals. However, this convenience often comes with excessive and non-biodegradable packaging, raising environmental concerns. Fortunately, many companies are now prioritizing sustainability by minimizing their environmental impact through mindful packaging, efficient shipping, and reducing food waste.
Here’s a look at the top sustainable meal delivery services on the market, including some we’re testing ourselves to ensure they live up to their promises.
How We Picked the Most Sustainable Meal Delivery Services
When choosing the most sustainable options, we considered several factors:
- Commitment to sustainability: We looked beyond companies using recyclable packaging and prioritized those integrating responsible farming and sustainability into all aspects of their operations.
- Price: We balanced cost with quality to help you get the best value.
- Quality of ingredients: We favored companies that prioritize both sustainability and high-quality ingredients, often organic and seasonally sourced.
- Variety: We assessed how often menus change and how well each service accommodates different dietary needs.
Top Sustainable Meal Delivery Services
Sunbasket: Best Variety
- Type: Meal kit
- Dietary considerations: Gluten-free, Low-carb, Paleo, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Dairy-free
- Max meals per week: 5
- Shipping fee: $7.99
Pros: Locally sourced, organic ingredients; reasonably priced.
Cons: Can’t mix & match meal types; limited specifications for premade meals.
Sunbasket offers a wide variety, with both meal kits and fresh entrees available. While you can’t combine meal types, there’s plenty of choice. Each week, over 20 meal kit options and 13 premade options appear, catering to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bulk add-ons like organic chicken and Wagyu burgers are available. Sunbasket prioritizes sustainability, using at least 99% USDA-certified organic produce, eggs, milk, and yogurt. Seafood is sustainably sourced, and animal proteins come from farmers following animal welfare standards. All packaging is recyclable, sydney and biodegradable.
- Price: From $8.75 per serving
Purple Carrot: Best Vegetarian
- Type: Meal kit, Fresh entrée
- Dietary considerations: Gluten-free, High-protein, Soy-free, Low-calorie
- Max meals per week: 4
- Shipping fee: Varies
Pros: Meal kits & prepared meals; many gluten-free options.
Cons: Can’t mix & match meal types; prepared meals are limited.
Purple Carrot offers vegan meal kits and prepared meals. You can’t mix meal types in one box, but you can switch between types weekly. There’s a variety of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and “plantry” items. Purple Carrot uses recyclable plastics, cardboard boxes, and lines. While some packaging, like bubble liners and plastic wrap, isn’t widely recyclable, reusable gel packs are available. Most non-produce ingredients are organic.
- Price: From $11 per serving
Splendid Spoon: Various Meal Plan Options
- Type: Fresh entrée
- Dietary considerations: Gluten-free, High-protein, Soy-free, Low-calorie
- Max meals per week: 20
- Shipping fee: Free
Pros: Various meal plan options; on-demand boxes available.
Cons: Expensive with lower quantities; new meals are limited.
Splendid Spoon is a plant-based company offering a variety of meal plans, from breakfast-only to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On-demand boxes are available for those who don’t want a subscription. Most meals are lighter fare, like smoothies, soups, and noodle/grain bowls. Splendid Spoon uses a centralized distribution center and 100% recyclable packaging. Dry ice is used instead of gel packs to reduce waste and shipping efficiency. Since 2015, it has reduced its carbon footprint by 80%. All smoothie ingredients are 100% non-GMO and 95% organic.
- Price: From $8.75 per serving
Sunbasket: Best Variety
- Type: Meal kit
- Dietary considerations: Gluten-free, Low-carb, Paleo, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Dairy-free
- Max meals per week: 5
- Shipping fee: $7.99
Pros: Locally sourced, organic ingredients; reasonably priced.
Cons: Can’t mix & match meal types; limited specifications for premade meals.
Sunbasket offers a wide variety, with both meal kits and fresh entrees available. While you can’t combine meal types, there’s plenty of choice. Each week, over 20 meal kit options and 13 premade options appear, catering to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bulk add-ons like organic chicken and Wagyu burgers are available. Sunbasket prioritizes sustainability, using at least 99% USDA-certified organic produce, eggs, milk, and yogurt. Seafood is sustainably sourced, and animal proteins come from farmers following animal welfare standards. All packaging is recyclable, and biodegradable.
- Price: From $8.75 per serving
What Makes a Meal Delivery Service Sustainable?
No meal delivery kit is completely waste-free. However, choosing the right service can reduce your carbon footprint. Key factors to consider are:
- Excess Packaging: Minimize packaging and opt for recyclable, recycled, or biodegradable materials.
- Efficient Shipping: Look for climate-friendly insulation and lightweight cooling options like dry ice.
- Seasonality: Incorporating seasonal produce reduces environmental impact and increases variety.
- Organic Foods: Prioritize organic ingredients to reduce pollution and conserve resources.
- Animal Welfare: If the service offers animal proteins, ensure they’re sourced from farmers with high animal welfare standards.
Summary
Sustainable meal delivery services are not entirely waste-free, but they are making strides in reducing their environmental impact by minimizing packaging, using eco-friendly materials, and prioritizing seasonal and organic ingredients. By considering these factors, you can reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying convenient, home-cooked meals
