Environmental Regeneration, Biodiversity, & Sustainable Packaging

Regeneration begins beneath our feet, in the soil that holds memory, resilience, and the quiet work of renewal. At Gaia Herbs®, we treat the land as a living partner, not a resource. Every season, we learn from its rhythms, restore what it gives, and return more than we take.

In 2024 and 2025, we strengthened this partnership through regenerative organic farming, careful soil stewardship, and our first-ever biodiversity assessment. We also laid the groundwork for a composting system that will recycle our spent plant material, our largest source of waste, back into nutrient-rich soil.

Lush green landscape with a winding road and misty mountains in the background

Environmental Regeneration

  • 269 acres of our farmland re-certified Regenerative Organic at the Silver level.
  • 75 acres were cover cropped in winter, up from 64 in 2024 and 51 in 2023, so none of our fields remained bare.
  • 8% soil organic matter (above target); increased from 6% in 2023, showing improved farm soil health.
  • A total of 115,510 pounds of herbs were harvested sustainably during 2024 and 2025.
  • 34 different medicinal herb crops grown in 2024 and 2025.
  • 120 lbs of seed saved for future planting.

“All life on the farm, from the diversity of tiny microbes beneath our feet to the red-tailed hawks gliding overhead, must have the ability to thrive to maintain an ecological balance. By understanding how we fit into this ecosystem, we are better able to design agricultural systems that generate life, foster connectivity, and promote ecosystem functionality."

"The regenerative organic practices that we use help to continue the Gaia Herbs® legacy of stewardship and respect for the land.”

- Zach West, Farm Operations Manager

Circular By Nature

Our operational waste diversion from landfill continues to improve as we move toward a more circular system. One where waste is continually reused or recycled within our operations, minimizing what ends up in landfills and maximizing resource efficiency.

In 2024, 26% of our operational waste was diverted, up from 21% in 2023 (mainly due to increased reuse and expanded recycling).

We are creating a more circular system for our farm and operations. After getting regulatory approval and the necessary permits, we can now compost our used plant material right on our farm. We’re planning to build an on-site composting facility that will turn our spent herbs, making up 80% of our operational waste, into compost to enrich our fields, effectively connecting cultivation with renewal.

“Decreasing our operational waste is ongoing, hands-on work. The team culture at Gaia Herbs® values accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and I’m excited to keep building more efficient, less wasteful operations as we move forward.”

- Mark Carland, Director of Operations

Sustainable Packaging & Product Integrity

Our commitment to protecting the purity and potency of our herbs long after they leave our farm ensures you experience them at their finest.

We reaffirmed our commitment to glass, which preserves product integrity while reducing plastic use and waste.

Other Sustainable Packaging Initiatives Include:

  • Removing secondary cartons, saving 72,000 lbs of material by 2026.
  • Eliminating plastic neck bands, saving 1,500 lbs of plastic annually.
  • Simplifying labels for clarity, consistency, and herbal storytelling.


See What’s Changing in our Packaging

Farm

Biodiversity in Balance

In 2025, we completed our first biodiversity assessment using the Cool Farm Tool (CFT) Biodiversity Module, marking an important step toward quantifying how our farm practices support wildlife and ecosystems. The Cool Farm Tool is a science-based, evidence-informed assessment platform that quantifies how management decisions on farms contribute to biodiversity through four main components and eleven species group categories.

Scores are generated from farm-specific inputs on practices and habitat features and are designed to be used as a baseline for measuring change over time rather than as an absolute "good/bad" score.

What the Cool Farm Tool Measures

The tool awards points for wildlife-friendly actions and habitat provision across:

  • Farmed product diversity
  • Farming practices
  • Small natural habitats
  • Large natural areas

It also provides species group scores showing relative support for things like woodland birds, grassland flora, beneficial insects, and aquatic organisms. These scores let us see which wildlife groups benefit most from our current practices, but they are not direct species counts or ecological monitoring data.

Biodiversity Scores (2025 Baseline):

Farming Practices

74%

Large Habitats

86%

Small Habitats

57%

Farmed Product Diversity

47%

Aquatic Habitats

1%

We scored especially high for support of woodland birds (71%), grassland flora (73%), and beneficial invertebrates (64%), all of which are vital to soil and ecosystem health.

Integrating the Cool Farm Tool with On-Farm Insights

We see the Cool Farm Tool as a framework for structured reflection and tracking rather than a standalone evaluation. To strengthen the value of our baseline, we’ve paired the tool with on-the-ground biodiversity observations at the Gaia Herbs® Farm, including a comprehensive bird inventory conducted in partnership with the Transylvania County Bird Club. Across our farm, observers recorded over 100 distinct bird species, including:

  • Raptors & aerial species: Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk
  • Water-associated species: Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Killdeer
  • Songbirds & forest edge specialists: Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Eastern Phoebe
  • Common grassland and sparrow species: Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco
  • Other notable species: Blue Jay, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Common Grackle, European Starling, White-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, House Finch, House Sparrow, American Pipit
Two birds perched on pink flowers in a field with a blurred background
Bee on a purple flower with a blurred green background

To strengthen our approach:

  • Use the Cool Farm Tool annually to chart trends in biodiversity-supportive practices.
  • Integrate with ground-truth observations, such as repeat species surveys and long-term ecological monitoring, so that metrics reflect real ecological change.
  • Prioritize on-farm habitat enhancements that both improve tool scores and produce visible ecosystem results

Examples of farm habitat enhancements are:

  • Creating or expanding ponds that increase amphibian and wetland bird sightings.
  • Planting or expanding native hedgerows and structural habitat that enhance pollination and support diverse bird communities.

This combination gives us a richer, more strategic picture than either method alone.

Biodiversity at a Glance

Farther from center = biodiversity support

What it means: Variety of crops and plant varieties grown.
Why it matters: Greater diversity generally supports more insects, birds, and resilient ecosystems.
How to read it: Higher scores signal a wider mix of crops and varieties.

What it means: On-farm practices that benefit biodiversity (e.g., cover crops, reduced chemical inputs).
Why it matters: These practices protect soil health, wildlife, and water quality.
How to read it: Higher scores indicate stronger adoption of biodiversity-friendly methods.

What it means: Hedgerows, field margins, and pollinator strips.
Why it matters: These habitats provide habitat connectivity, food, and shelter.
How to read it: Higher scores show a greater presence of these features.

What it means: Large conservation areas like woodlands or meadows.
Why it matters: These support many species and landscape-scale biodiversity.
How to read it: Higher scores mean a more protected habitat.

What it means: Open areas with grasses and wildflowers.
Why it matters: These areas are especially important for pollinators and birds.
How to read it: Higher scores mean more grassland or wildflower-rich habitat.

What it means: Trees, shrubs, and wooded edges.
Why it matters: Woody areas provide nesting, shade, and food for wildlife.
How to read it: Higher scores mean more tree- and shrub-based habitat.

What it means: Earthworms, fungi, microbes, and other soil life.
Why it matters: Healthy soil biology supports nutrient cycling, water retention, and plant health.
How to read it: Higher scores reflect stronger soil life support.

What it means: Ponds, streams, wetlands, and water features.
Why it matters: These are essential for amphibians, aquatic insects, and water quality.
How to read it: Lower scores indicate fewer water features and potential areas for enhancement.

What it means: Birds that rely on trees and forests.
Why it matters: These birds indicate healthy woodland ecosystems.
How to read it: Higher scores mean better support for forest-dwelling birds.

What it means: Birds that depend on open fields and meadows.
Why it matters: Many grassland birds are declining due to habitat loss.
How to read it: Higher scores mean safer habitat for these birds.

What it means: Beneficial insects like pollinators and natural pest controllers.
Why it matters: They support healthy plants, crops, and ecosystems.
How to read it: Higher scores mean stronger support for beneficial insects.

What it means: Plants that grow in or near water.
Why it matters: They support water quality and aquatic life.
How to read it: Higher scores mean healthier water-based ecosystems.

Why Biodiversity Matters For Herbal Potency

When herbs grow in living ecosystems, they produce a more diverse range of phytonutrients - the natural compounds that support human health. Healthy landscapes create more resilient plants, and resilient plants create more resilient people.*

*(Loreau et al., 2002; Isah, 2019)

“When we care for biodiversity, we strengthen the life force of our herbs - and, in turn, the people they help to heal.”

- Ashley Walgren, Sustainability and Impact Manager

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