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By Jesse Laflamme
A question that we hear from time to time is: “I love your eggs and your commitment to animal welfare and the environment, but why do you use plastic egg cartons? Isn’t that worse for the environment?”
It’s an excellent question. We’ve all come to see plastic as bad. It’s derived from a non-renewable source (oil), it doesn’t decompose for a very long time, and these days, a lot of it is winding into the oceans (see Pacific Garbage Patch and Microbeads Pollution). So it’s understandable that it has a bad reputation.
On the other hand, the molded pulp cartons and the polystyrene foam cartons are not environmental bargains either, for many of the same reasons. So what’s a well-meaning person to do?
We asked Quantis, a Canadian research company specializing in environmental impact of products, to do a complete Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Egg Cartons for us in 2012.
Quantis looked across the raw material sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, and end of life/recycling aspects for RPET (our recycled PET clear package), virgin PET, Recycled Molded Pulp (RMP) and Polystyrene (commonly known as styrofoam). They scored that as a total Carbon/Climate Change footprint score based on all of those life stages. They also scored them on the basis of Human Health, Ecosystem Quality, and Resource Depletion measures.
The RPET carton that we use was determined to be superior, or vastly superior, to both the Molded Pulp and Polystyrene as a whole, and across all of the individual life stages, with the one exception that it had a slightly higher manufacturing impact than recycled pulp. It is worth noting that the worst option, was typically the PET plastic made from virgin plastic. That’s because of the high amount of fossil fuels required both as energy and raw material in its production. This is what large 2-liter soda bottles are made from (so think about that the next time you’re considering buying soda). We take the recycled material from those containers to make our cartons. The tri-fold PET also has an important consumer benefit in that it provides the best protection for the eggs while allowing you to see the unbroken eggs without opening the carton in the store.
Once used, our cartons can then be placed right back in the recycling stream for another trip through the system. Paper pulp can also be recycled. Styrofoam all goes to the landfill to wait for the end of time.
So in total, while we wish we could sell our eggs in wooden boxes or wicker baskets that were reused over and over, we feel as though we’ve arrived at the best possible solution we can for the time being. We ask that you always recycle your Nellie’s Free Range cartons after use and we can continue to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible. If you don't have access to a local recycling facility that accepts #1 plastics, our Take Back program is a great option. And thank you for bringing our eggs home in a reusable canvas bag as well.
I’m happy about the way you treat your hens, this is very important, But sad with your adherence to using plastics. I’m not concerned about carbon footprint, as carbon vital to life. But I am concerned with plastics in the food supply, and plastic pollution. So as much as I want to support your company, your eggs are a last resort if I can’t one of the many paper packaged, ethically raised eggs. I know I’m just one person, but I cook for a household of people and we put down a lot of eggs.
Hi Michael! We appreciate your concern for our environment! As a Certified B Corp, we put a lot of research into the life cycle of egg cartons, and found that RPET cartons are more earth-friendly and have a lower carbon footprint than traditional molded paper pulp cartons. We hope this helps explain our decision, but please let us know if we can answer any follow-up questions for you!
I just want to thank you for making humanely raised eggs affordable...my hope is that someday all animals raised for food will be treated with compassion and you guys are proof it can be done. Thank you for the suffering you have prevented ❤️
Hi Bonnie, thank you so much. We appreciate your kind words, and caring for happy and healthy hens!
I have found your eggs to be a quality almost to that of own home flock layers. Our girls are middle age - about 5 years. We still get eggs from them - almost 80/year each. How long do you keep your hens for laying and what happens to them at the end of their laying contract?
Hi Jan. We have put a lot of critical thought and research into the best way to address our hens at the end of their laying days. There are several options to consider. First, we could keep them ourselves. In order to feed and house our retired laying hens for the remainder of their lives, we estimate that the cost of a dozen eggs would be at least $12.00 at the shelf. We feel that this would not be affordable for our consumers. Additionally, it would prevent us from achieving our broader aim of building a sustainable business at a scale large enough to create meaningful change for the way laying hens are raised and treated in the U.S. The next option is adoption. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find a way to make this work either. We have found that there is some interest locally in adopting hens, but not nearly enough for us to move several thousand hens in time for a new flock to arrive. Our last option is for the hens to be sold for food. Even this option is not without difficulty because laying hens have far less meat than chickens raised for meat (broilers), which are bred specifically for that. Many commercial egg laying hens are simply euthanized and landfilled at the end of laying, and as farmers, that seems terribly wasteful to us. So, while we know some consumers will be unhappy to learn that our hens go on to be used for food, we do feel that it’s the most responsible thing to do. At the end of a flock’s natural laying cycle, we sell our hens to a number of poultry processors. These companies send trained and certified humane handling poultry crews to our farms to pick up the hens. At this point, the hens belong to those companies, but we have worked with them to ensure that our birds are going to acceptable follow-on markets. There are currently two main markets for our birds. One is live poultry markets, where consumers are able to select live birds for consumption. The other is US federally inspected processing plants that specialize in processing “light poultry,” including laying hens. These plants uses the latest technology to ensure the hens are quickly and humanely slaughtered. Over the years, the balance has shifted away from live markets towards processing plants as our farmer network has grown in regions with access to a “light poultry” processing facility. For consumers who want eggs from hens that are never slaughtered, we understand our eggs will not be a suitable option. We encourage these consumers to raise their own hens. While it’s important for us to continue to raise the bar on humane egg production, we also feel that it’s important to remember that over 85% of eggs consumed in the U.S. are produced in horrific caged environments. For those hens, their best day is the day when they are finally put out of their misery. We believe Adele Douglass, the founder of Certified Humane, said it best: “our hens only have one bad day.”
Wonderful and educational article! A friend saves her plastic egg cartons for me. I too work at pampering my hens and assuring they are safe and healthy. Where should I shop to buy RPET cartons! I’m a teeny local egg business in North Texas! I’m on Instagram (#cluckinbetterfarm) and on www.localhens.com (zip 75104) are you?
Hi Sandra, We use a carton manufacturer named Pactiv. They make our cartons from recycled water bottles. Pactiv doesn't have a direct inquiry line, but they do have a 'Contact Us' page listed. Here is that information: https://www.pactiv.com/Pactiv/About/Contact-Us/Sales-and-Products.htm Best of luck with your hens!
Thanks so much for this info! We ALWAYS buy your eggs because of how your company commits itself to humane animal treatment. We are so happy to learn that you also consider your environmental impact.
Hi MaryKay, we are so grateful for your support, thank you!
Hi,love your takeback program.In the past we have bought our eggs from local farms, and return the pulp containers to be at our small local store and sending the containers back to you. My nephew started Preserve using the same system, helping keep plastics out of our important OCEANS!
Hi Ned, we're so happy to hear that you and your family have also been furthering your environmental efforts! Happy holidays.
Buy your eggs all the time but I do find the carton to by quite flimsy. It has unexpectedly come open during checkout at the grocery store but also at home when removing the carton from the fridge.
Hi Jenn, thank you for leaving this comment. We appreciate this valuable feedback on our packaging. We will certainly pass this right along to the rest of the team!
How do I save 5 barcodes from your products and get one on you? I’ve searched the site but don’t see how to enter them.
Hi Barbara, we actually have recently changed that offer to Buy 10 Get 1 Free. To access this offer, you need to mail us your 10 barcodes: Nellie's Kindness Crew, 140 Buffum Road, Monroe, NH 03771. We look forward to receiving your envelope!
Our waste management company doesn't recycle them, and they don't take them at the recycling depot, either. At least we could use the pulp ones to start fires.
Thank you for the feedback Donya, we're happy to pass that along. If you'd like to find out more about our take back program, please don't hesitate to let us know!
I love your eggs but like others was concerned about your packaging, as I did not see the Recycle Triangle on the plastic container. I read through everything on your website and finally in a response to another customer I finally found the recycle symbol on the container. May I suggest you also place this info on your paper label — your B corporation logo is very easy to see. Do the same for recycling. I’d suggesting putting the #1 Recycle Triangle on the flap with the Earth Friendly Packaging information. This is where I expected to find it. And thank you for a great product.
Hi Sandi, thank you for the helpful feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along to our team too!
You guys are awesome!!!
Thank you, Brooke!
Thank you much for the consumer friendly background/information on this essential issue of plastic packaging. I've learned a lot that can be put to good use not only in our household but our broader community of family & friends. All well understood, and glad to see you opted for well sourced data (Quantis, 2012) to inform your ultimate packaging choice however, my concern revolves around the optics to the consumer of your eggs sitting in plastic on store refrigerator shelves. The packaging still screams (don't mind the hyperbole please!) "plastic" to, especially, uninformed consumers! I understand one can follow up on your packaging philosophy from the carton itself as I did, and hopefully others as well, but I think the clearest demonstration of your commitment to earth friendly packaging would be to package your much appreciated humane eggs in RMP. As you reported, however, the data don't support RMP over RPET so we won't be seeing your eggs packed in RMPs anytime soon! Hopefully consumers will take the time to educate themselves! Though you state that based on the Quantis data, RPET is superior to RMP, the issue of plastic production and use is a global environmental catastrophe that needs immediate, impactful remedy to the point of elimination of single use plastic for sure, greatly enhanced recycling capacity, and, most importantly, movement away from production of new plastic. The Plastic Free Foundation has established July as Plastic Free July month! We all need to do our part! I can at least be confident that Nellie's has done their plastic due diligence, has made the best plastic choice given the data, and that we as consumers can easily recycle the package our humane eggs are sold and enjoyed in! Thanks for your commitment
Hi Katherine, thank you for taking the time to read this article! We appreciate a thoughtful response like yours. We stay committed to educating our consumers and being transparent in our actions. Thank you for choosing free range!
I’ve liked your eggs, because of your hens’ free range situation and no use of hormones or antibiotics. However, I’ve decided to only use eggs in paper pulp cartons. I’m trying to go plastic free in all my purchases, so, sad to say, I won’t be purchasing your eggs anymore. I hope that there will be a change in the future with your packaging. Best regards, Jenny Falcon
Hi Jeanette, thank you for taking the time to pass along your helpful feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along to our team to let them know your thoughts!
I like what you say, but why isn't there are triangle with the number 1 in it so we know it can be recycled?
Hello Tom and Judy, thank you for the question. Typically our cartons are stamped with the number "1" inside the triangle logo, typically found near one of the egg cups. Please let us know if you need help locating it on your carton, we're happy to help!
I don’t understand the opposition to the use of plastic based on the extensive research you have done. Plus, you are helping to create a market for recycled plastic so we can reuse plastic instead of throwing it into landfills. This is huge given how little plastic is currently recycled. I see it as each carton is removing a piece of plastic trash from the landfill, reusing it, then putting it back. Seems pretty great to me.
Hi Nicole! We're so glad you see it that way too! We're so glad we could help provide some helpful information. Thank you for choosing free range!
Thanks for the information. I love your eggs but have been unhappy about the plastic. I feel better about it now. Long may your hens lay!
Hi there! We're so glad to hear our information was helpful!
Thanks for clarifying - but I think anything that can at least decompose in less than a century is far preferable. Why not switch?
Thank you for the feedback JP. While we don't have any plans to change our packaging and have started a take back program, we're most happy to pass your feedback along to our team. Thank you for reaching out.
TY for filling me in on the above- I was planning on writing t ask you to avoid the plastic
Hi Suanne, we're glad we were able to answer your questions and reassure you! Feel free to let us know if you have any other questions/concerns: [email protected]
Thank you for caring about life on this planet, from the hens to the people to the environment. I still believe that the plastic packaging is a problem. I know many - if not most- of these cartons are NOT recycled, and your philosophy is based on the theory that they will not get into the environment. PennEnvironment just published in their annual report that all Pennsylvania waterways sampled had micro plastics in them. We can do better. I will still buy your eggs and recycle the cartons, but PLEASE continue to look for more renewable ways to package the eggs. (P.S. The cartons make great paint trays for kids. I like to reuse the cartons, but then they can't be recycled. Ugh.)
We appreciate this thoughtful feedback Rebecca, thank you for reading with an open mind!
Light weight recycled plastics are no longer being recycled becasue as the local recycler here told me -- there is no market for them. So any talk about recycling the new plastic egg containers is not true. If there is a recycler accepting them please send me their contact information. Thanks
Hi Mark, if you or anyone you know can't recycle our cartons in your local recycling center, we urge you to check out your Carton Take Back program! You can find details on our website.
It seems you never considered hemp based packages I believe it would be the best choice for the Earth...Remember, it's not the Earth that will die, it's the PEOPLE ON IT that will!
As things are ever-evolving in the world, we will continue to explore the best option for our packaging. Materials such as hemp, rice, or similar others are all great in some ways and not so much in other. We feel like we're making the best choice we can right now, but will be continuously monitoring our option. We thank you so much for your feedback!
I've recently seen & used a lot of "biodegradable" or "compostable" clear plastic drink cups & utensils from consessions. Wouldn't that be an option for Nellie's? The egg create would still allow consumers to check the eggs without opening them & they'd arrive safely just like with the current recycled non biodegradable cartons
We feel that we’re making a good choice in reusing plastic, and we’re proud to have made that decision based on science over perceptions and assumptions. As we carry on with our constant research and testing of alternative options in search of the most sustainable and earth-friendly choice for our cartons, we thank you sincerely for sharing your concerns and honest feedback.
Hi! I work for a plastic packaging manufacturer and we love this blog post! Lots of science-backed information here. We would love to connect with whoever leads your sustainability efforts and schedule a time to discuss the plastic egg carton industry and compare notes on best paths forward. We hope to hear from you! PS This would NOT be a sales meeting. We are interested in learning more and understanding this industry better in order to become better educators ourselves.
Hi there! Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] and we're happy to pass along your message!
Most plastic is nor recycled. Local paper companies continue to replant forest land- 2 trees planted for every one cut. This keeps green areas free from development pressure. Wildlife flourishes in areas with young trees because the vegitation is lush from the added sunlight, and as a result food is abundant. This also adds jobs in our northern agrarian states. Cardboard also decomposes far faster. Our family enjoys your eggs, but not your plastic.... You are enabling plastic to appear responsible.
We hear you John, we are always reevaluating our packaging based on the changes in the world around us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and if you have any additional feedback, please feel free to leave it in this form which we use to gather consumer insights to inform future packaging innovation: http://fal.cn/NFRfeedback.
Love the comment of using a wooden box or basket. Nostalgia!!! Wish our coops and zero waste stores could go with a crate or nest of eggs for us to pick our purchases from!! Getting eggs from neighbors is working for me on both local and the zero waste side!!!
Hi David, We are looking at some innovative ways for consumers to buy eggs. For now, feel free to take advantage of our Takeback Program!
I like the plastic carton better than the paper. I believe your study that it is more environmentally friendly. I also find the eggs arrive in better condition and I have multiple uses for the cartons after the eggs have come out.
Hi Dale! We're so glad to hear that you're enjoying the cartons. Thanks for reusing them as well!
Please change your packaging to molded pulp/ cardboard containers. The plastic packaging is excessive and is not accepted for most plastic recycling. Thus it will take years to break down if that is even possible. This is the last time I will purchase your eggs as it does not make sense to continue to promote this packaging.
Hi Barbara. Thank you for the feedback about our packaging, we'll make sure to pass it along to our team as well. Please know that we do offer a take back program if you're having trouble recycling these cartons. It's important for us to ensure they are recycled again. Thank you
I am so impressed by Nellie's as a company. I have purchased your eggs for years but felt conflicted about the plastic packaging. I am so happy to learn about the rational behind this decision and about this amazing take back program! One question, should I remove the paper label and glue before nesting these cartons for shipment? Thanks!
Hi Rebecca! We're so glad you have been enjoying our eggs and we look forward to sending a prepaid label your way soon. As far as removing the paper, you're certainly welcome to. The paper itself is recyclable as well. Please let us know if we can answer any additional questions for you!
I live in Falls Church Virginia. Our recycling no longer excepts plastic food containers. Please consider switching to cardboard.
Hello Joanne, thank you for reaching out. We really appreciate hearing your thoughts and will make sure to pass them along to our team. In the meantime, we offer a takeback program available on our website if you're interested!
I appreciate the effort Nellie's has committed to finding packaging with the lowest enviornmental impact. However it can not be overstated that the overwhelming majority of all plastics do not get recycled and ultimately end up in land fills. The only environmental responsible packaging currently available is paper pulp for it is the only choice that is biodegradeable. We love your product but we believe Nellie's is not living up to its ideals, we will nolonger buy your product in plastic containers, thanks.
Hi Daniel, we appreciate the feedback and are happy to pass them along to our team. We think it is important to note that while pulp or cardboard may feel like naturally a better choice than plastic, but pulp and cardboard result in immense deforestation of our planet, which can cause loss of biodiversity. Additionally, pulp consequently releases large amounts of carbon, due to the nature of recycling, breaking down, and molding pulp. Recycling plastic reduces our global carbon footprint by stopping the creation of new materials and using what is already available to us. If you're at all interested in our take back program to ensure that your cartons are recycled, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and we're happy to send a prepaid label. Thank you again for the feedback, it helps us to know what our consumers are feeling when we make future packaging choices. We'll make sure to pass your thoughts on to our team.
I frequently buy your eggs and have noticed that there have been blood spots on ~25% of the egg yolks lately. I read on the internet that it is not harmful but they are aesthetically unappealing. It also mentioned that blood spots are sometimes due to a hen's stress during the laying process. Can you clarify why this occurs in Nellie's eggs? BTW, I happen to like your packaging because it seems to have fewer broken eggs than the pulp and styrofoam ones AND I don't need to open the carton to see if they are damaged. I also have recycled them for home and school use: paint cups for art projects, small candies for decorating gingerbread houses, etc. They are washable and stack nicely for reuse. Thank you.
We're so glad you've been enjoying our cartons, Yvette! As for the blood spots, you're completely right that these are safe to eat and that they can happen when a hen experiences stress while laying. Stress can look like many things: a disagreement with another hen, changes in weather or temperature, or even catching a cold. Most eggs with blood spots are caught during the candling process and discarded, but the darker color and thickness of our shells can lead to more blood spots slipping through the cracks. You're welcome to read more about blood spots on our blog here: https://bit.ly/3fEz9oh.
I love your eggs and appreciate your diligence in searching for the best packaging. However, recycling in the US is largely a myth. Only 9% of our plastic is actually recycled. Please reconsider paper pulp.
Hi Barbara, thank you for reaching out. As you may imagine, many factors go into our packaging but we certainly appreciate consumer feedback. If you have any additional feelings or idea, we would love to hear them! Feel free to email us at [email protected] Thank you!
Plastic quality degrades each time it is recycled and there is less demand and less of a market for plastic that has been recycled more than once. So I would think that a lot of your packaging ends up being single use packaging even if sent to a recycling facility. As a consumer I like seeing the end cycle of the waste I produce/buy. It feels better to throw my egg carton in my compost bin rather than put in the recycle bin and hope that it is actually recycled.
Hi Raimy, Thank you for sharing. Many factors go into our packaging but we certainly appreciate consumer feedback. If you have any additional feelings or idea, we would love to hear them! Feel free to email us at [email protected]
I strongly disagree that plastic is a better option. A great deal of research and reporting has been done on this, just check out the series "The United States of Plastic." Until Nellie's stops using plastic I will not be buying your eggs.
Your feedback is appreciated, Elvin and we will continue to look into alternative packaging options as part of our sustainability commitment.
Thanks for thinking of our environment and for all your great products.
Thank you Al! We are so grateful for consumers like you who leave a special spot in your home to our products!
Hi. I am a small homesteader who raises pastured chickens. That means they have a shelter house for bad weather, to roost at night and lay eggs in. But during the day they are free ranging a grassy field and small forested area on my property. Last year I had a large storm damage my coop house and fencing, and before I could make repairs something got in and destroyed my flock. I started buying your eggs as the best alternative to my own (looked and tasted like what I was getting before my massacre). However your eggs were the last one's I tried in the store because of your plastic carton. And as someone else pointed out 2 layers of plastic!. I tried a more expensive "free range" company before I picked up yours. I'm already in the process of rebuilding my own flock so I actually won't be buying your eggs much longer. I'm only on the website looking to see if there might be opportunity for my farm to join your flock and share great tasting, healthy eggs with everyone and happened to stumble across this feed. But I would like to know. I will look at the study you posted, but would echo the concern that you did research to support your bottom line. Most of America has limited access to recycling, and while your takeback program is a wonderful step in the right direction, it still doesn't seem good enough to me.
Hi Aimee, If you are interested in joining our flock of small family farms please feel free to send us an email at: [email protected] Be well!
Kathleen Standard made a strong point. So why store washed eggs in harmful "recycled" PET (still PET either way) that can leach into the washed egg when you have suggested much better alternatives like wicker baskets and wooden boxes that can be recycled for many uses other than carrying eggs? Also why wash the protective layer of the eggs then use a "mild" Chlorine solution (which ingredients are not disclosed with consumers, website, or packaging) which will leach into the eggs because the protective layer has been removed? That seems like a large price for the body to pay for so-called "free range" (aka recess) eggs.
Hi Abigaielle, we greatly appreciate your feedback and want you to know that we didn't make our decision to use our current packaging, lightly. There was a lot of research done and many tradeoffs weighed before deciding upon our cartons. Not only have we chosen to use these because they give post consumer recycled plastic another outlet but they also protect the eggs well during transport, among other benefits. These cartons, like many rPET water bottles, are safe for food and beverage storage, and therefore do not contaminate the eggs that are stored within them. The reason we wash our eggs before packaging them is first and foremost, because we are required to by law and would not be able to sell our eggs otherwise. We hope this helps clear up some of your current questions regarding our choice to use these cartons and want you to know we understand that our research does not end here. We will continue to look into other sustainable options.
We used to keep backyard free-ranged chickens for the delicious eggs and companionship. We no longer do but have found Nellie's eggs recently and so far are the best substitute - great product! Several of the responses from Nellie's on this topic are to the effect: "post-consumer recycled cartons are the best option we have found, as they require less energy to produce than even traditional pulp cartons." For me, and maybe others, when it comes down to more energy to produce a pulp carton vs. plastic ending up degrading our oceans and environment, I prefer the former packaging. Please consider which is the lesser of two evils when it comes to packaging. Thanks.
Hi there! Thank you for providing us with such thoughtful feedback. We will certainly take this into consideration as we continue to evolve our packaging.
There is such a problem with actually getting (R)PET recycled, though--there's so much of it, countries like China no longer want it. So is this *still* the best choice?
We greatly appreciate your feedback and will continue to consider all options. For now, our 100% post-consumer recycled cartons are the best option we have found, as they help take post-consumer recycled plastics out of the waste stream and require less energy to produce than traditional pulp cartons. For consumers that live in towns without this type of recycling, we offer a Takeback program available on our website!
Thank You Nellie’s!!! I wish every company would follow the Science and leave a kind footprint while reducing the global footprint. Any interest in making a vegan butter? I got excited when I saw your company now makes Humane friendly butter, but I do worry about the mother and calves so I use vegan butter but would love to switch back. Sorry off topic please feel free to email me on that. And Thank You again for your Kindness you have a costumer for life.
We appreciate all your kind feedback, Elaina. We don't have a vegan butter in the works just yet, but will make note of the interest.
Morning, all! I've read the reasons that paper pulp cartons aren't used, but I have to say that from a practical standpoint, the pulp are much more confidently sturdy than the PET currently used. I actually prefer to use pulp containers because they don't shift around and have had less likelihood of accidentally popping open during transport in a grocery bag over the years for me. TBH, I'd rather buy eggs that cost a little more if it's packed in a pulp carton than plastic. (I actually save used pulp cartons at home to transfer your eggs to if I don't have any other purchase options at the store.) If you can find a package manufacturer that can make one with a tab latch of some sort, that would be a game-changer. Thanks!
Hi Brian, we greatly appreciate your thoughtful feedback and will certainly keep this in mind.
Don’t believe it. I do believe that the cost of sorting plastics is so high and the value of “contaminated” recycled plastics is so low that many operations landfill or incinerate these products.
Hi Scott, For consumers that live in towns without this type of recycling, we offer a Takeback program available on our website!
What about the compressed cardboard that the “cheap eggs” come in?
In researching some of those molded pulp cartons, we found that these actually take more energy to produce than our recycled plastic cartons and, while they eventually will break down, they take a very long time to decompose under natural circumstances. That said, we do continue to research alternative materials for transporting (and protecting) our eggs.
Recycled paper / pulp is totally renewable and recycle-able and made from trees which regrow. Plastic is here forever. There is "plastic"made from bio degradable material. Greenstripe Eco products for example. Use plant based, not petroleum based "plastic"
We greatly appreciate your feedback and will continue to consider all options. For now, our 100% post-consumer recycled cartons are the best option we have found, as they require less energy to produce than even traditional pulp cartons.
It sounds like the study performed only looked at carbon footprint. This is problematic when approaching environmental issues as any objective study needs to look at the sum of all potential impacts. Additionally there are a lot of other really great ways to lower one's carbon footprint without resorting plastic. Does your company spend more or less by using RPET? If this research was done to support a financial decision then that is not objective research. Please make the Quantis study available to the public. I like what you stand for as a company but as a scientist, I have reservations about the methods and deductions used to back your decision. Look forward to hearing from you!
Hi Craig, thank you for your thoughtful comment. We certainly appreciate your questions and would be happy to share the full study with you. Please find the full report here: https://bit.ly/2S66WgD and don't hesitate to reach out if any further questions arise.
You all are the bomb.com. xxxxoooo
Thank you for your kind words, Diana!
Should you tear off the paper and recycle it separately? That's what I do.
Hi Dimitra, absolutely! The paper is best recycled by removing and recycling with like papers. Keep up the great work and thank you for recycling our cartons!
Can you please share more about why molded pulp doesn't work as a better option? Isn't it biodegradable in addition to using recycled materials? Also ..my county/state recycle #1 plastics but increasingly I hear that only a small percentage of plastics actually get recycled. How do I know if it really gets recycled? Which is why I will instead consider your Takeback program.. I've been a Nellie's customer for year but just really trying to examine how to eliminate all single use plastics so this is a purchase I'm looking closely at. Thank you for any additional information!
Hi Joanna, wonderful questions and we thank you for taking the time to reach out. Many think of molded pulp cartons as being better for the environment, however they take more energy to produce than our recycled plastic cartons and molded pulp cartons actually aren't as biodegradable as many think. Unfortunately, it would take several years for a molded pulp carton to actually break down. In terms of disposing of our 100% recycled plastic cartons, we understand recycling plastics has become tricky and hard to trust, which is why we created our carton take back program so we can ensure that the cartons that are sent back to us are being recycled into new cartons. We thank you for taking time to examine your options and learn more about the different cartons available and welcome you to reach out with further questions.
I live in Delaware, in a town where they do NOT promote or have recycling programs set up. I also live in an apartment complex so recycling is not easy. I like to buy paper or cardboard products for this reason. I can’t recycle your already recycled plastic without driving twenty minutes to a recycling bin. I wish you would use different packaging.
Hi Paris, we are so sorry to hear you have to go through such trouble to recycle our cartons. We offer a carton takeback program where we will pay to have you ship your empty cartons directly back to us, and welcome you to check it out here on our website.
Hi - I like so many others in this comment thread, love your eggs and your humane treatment of your hens. However, the article notwithstanding, I hesitate to buy your eggs because of the plastic packaging (not one but two!) plastic layers. I’m sure you’ve looked into this but what about compostable materials like those used for eating utinsils? Thanks for your humane treatment of the animals in your care - it is much appreciated.
Hi Roberta, we thank you for your thoughtful response. We've put a lot of research into different sustainable packaging solutions and currently, our 100% post consumer recycled plastic cartons are one of the most sustainable solutions available for egg cartons, with a carbon footprint even less so than traditional pulp cartons. We will continue to do our part in researching alternative options.
I also feel guilty about buying eggs in plastic and am glad to find that they are recycled cartons, although there is still the chance of them not being disposed of responsibly. I suggest you make your carton information more noticeable on the outside of the package where consumers will see it while making their choice in store. Even a little note that the carton is made of recycled bottles and should be recycled again. That would have made the decision easier for me!
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Tina. I will make note of this suggestion so we can take this into consideration for future packaging updates.
I read what you had to say about packaging however I still feel you should get away from plastic. Please use a biodegradable package. I want to continue to buy your eggs but won't be able to unless something changes.
Hi Jen, Thank you for this valuable feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to learn about our packaging and will continue to keep the environment in mind when we discuss our packaging in the future.
Sorry, your argument does not hold water with me. The fact is most plastic is not recycled, despite the best efforts of the end user and their earnest community recycling programs. Please discontinue the use of the plastic cartons and use paper pulp cartons instead. They may indeed take more energy to produce, but they will NEVER end up on a beach on the other side of the planet.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Hi Nellies, thanks for your superior quality eggs. For the last several years I’ve been buying eggs from a friend who raises hens and have gotten spoiled with tasty fresh eggs with orange yokes. When I can’t get eggs from her I buy your eggs and I send my empty cartons to her to reuse or I just recycle them. Thank you for your commitment to the health & well being of your hens, the environment and selling a quality product.
We can't thank you enough for your kind words, Cathy. This means so much to us and reinforces why we do what we do. We hope you enjoy our eggs for years to come.
Hi Nellie I often buy your eggs because I like the cage free aspect. I am currently writing a paper on on EPS and wonder if the Quantis study might be made available so could use/cite some of the data?
Hi John! We're absolutely happy to send a copy of the study to you. Feel free to drop us a line at: [email protected] Thanks!
I hesitated to buy your eggs because of the packaging, but caved because I couldn’t find the eggs I usually buy (local eggs packaged in molded pulp which I compost). After checking your website I feel a little less guilty. Thanks for the info and I’m glad I can recycle this packaging.
Hi Kathryn, we really appreciate you taking the time to hear us out and learn more about why we use the packaging we do. It's certainly not something we we think lightly about, as we are dedicated to protecting our planet however we can. So glad you found this helpful.
I came to this page to find out why you use plastic and in reading other responses, I found out that you do not use organic feed. Your product is not organic then! I will no longer be buying these eggs
Hi Lynn, that's correct. While our eggs are Certified Humane Free Range they are not USDA Certified Organic. This is because the supplemental feed our hens have available to them in addition to the food they forage for on pasture, is not made of all Certified Organic ingredients. If you're looking for an egg that has all of these qualities and is also organic, we recommend our sister brand, Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs.
I appreciate finding this information on your website. I was looking for a contact to voice my concern on the matter. Although I love what you and your free range farm stand for, will not feel comfortable buying the eggs in plastic. For this reason I tend always to reach for the more biodegradable option. I hope someday you will package differently so I can feel good about buying your brand. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for this valuable feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to learn about our packaging and will continue to keep the environment in mind when we discuss our packaging in the future.
I am happy to read of you sensitivity to the environment, but if your egg cartons are recyclable, why isn't the emblem for recycling stamped on the container. I searched. Did I miss it?
Hi Yusty, we appreciate your question and your concern for the environment as well. There should be a small recycling symbol with a number 1 in it on the back of each of our cartons.
Love love love your eggs. So sad I can’t buy them because you refuse to get rid of the plastic.
Hi Patricia! Thanks very much for the feedback. It sounds like you may already be aware of the reason we use our recycled packaging, that we're using recycled water bottles that are out in the environment and are keeping it out of the waste stream. We appreciate your feedback and will make sure to pass it along to our team.
I love your Jumbo fresh brown Grade A free range eggs. I just bought a dozen yesterday at a Whole Foods Market in Wall Township, NJ. I also read a NY Times article yesterday (Food section by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt) stating the date eggs were packed, in most parts of the country, can be 30 days after the eggs were laid, and the "sell-by" date on the carton can be another 30 days after the packaged date. The eggs I purchased yesterday (April 15, 2020) have a "Use By" date of May 14th. My question to Nellies - what is the typical "laid date" and "packaged date" of your eggs in connection to the "use by" date? Is the packaged date on your package? Thank you.
Hi James! Yes, our eggs do have what is called a julian date on the package. This is typically a 3 digit code near the packaging information. Our guess is your carton may have an 090 or something similar to that date. Which means your eggs were likely packaged around the end of March. Typically our eggs are given a 45 day window from when the eggs are packaged until the use by date. We'd be happy to look into this further if you'd like to reach out to us via email at: [email protected] Thanks!
Do you feed your hens GMO corn?
Hi Barbara! While we can guarantee that we do not use Glyphosate in our grain sourcing for our Nellie’s Free Range Eggs, however the grain is not considered organic, so we cannot guarantee that they are free of all synthethic pesticides or GMOs. Please feel free to send us an email at [email protected] if you'd like to chat more about our hens' feed!
What about the well being of male chicks, who may have no commercial value as male roosters?
Hi Marla, thanks so much for this question. Although we do not have our own hatchery or breed any of our own hens, we are sensitive to the issue of male chicks and are actively investing in technologies that we hope will help result in a humane long-term solution. You can find out more about these efforts here on our blog: http://fal.cn/Vnzf. You can also send us an email at [email protected] if you'd like to chat about this further. Thanks again for reaching out!
Thank you for your Earth consideration. I am wondering if it is not worth doing another study as that one was 8 years ago. In that time recycling has been reduced and many plastic containers end up in the oceans. I am still wondering why the paper pulp containers would not be more Earth friendly if they are recyclable or at least more biodegradable. If you are able I would appreciate an answer. But thanks again for the awareness.
Hi Carol, thanks so much for your comment! While this study was performed in 2012, few details have truly changed in the time since then that we believe would change or disprove these results. While the current recycling systems have certainly changed, the results from this study proved that our cartons still had the smallest environmental impact even if they're not recycled and instead thrown into the landfill (though we always encourage reusing and recycling!). While paper pulp containers are compostable, the resources and energy required to make them were found to be a major factor when measuring environmental impact. Please feel free to send us an email at [email protected] if you'd like more details about this study!
My household loves your product and your commitment to animal welfare and health and also to the environment by using recycled materials. Just a thought, it may be a new cutting edge technology to help change the way things are packaged to consider looking into the possibility of using containers made from mushroom components. This is biodegradable resource that is renewable and could have a beneficial use to helping with the plastic pollution crisis we are currently facing. Thank you!
Thank you for the feedback, Chelsea! We'll be glad to pass this along to our team. Thank you for sharing!
If your PET package was guaranteed to be recycled, I would agree, but since most is not, I'd think the recycled pulp, which is at least biodegradable, would be the option of choice. I do love your eggs but had been hesitant to continue to buy them because we try to use as little plastic as absolutely possible. We've been living in Austria and have gotten accustomed to orange yolks!
Hi Tracy, thank you for reaching out about our eggs and cartons. We love those orange yolks too! As far as recycling goes, we are aware that some people may unfortunately be unable to recycle our PET cartons at their local facility. That's why we launched our takeback program, which means we are 100% dedicated to ensuring your empty cartons are being responsibly recycled after you've enjoyed the eggs inside. Please feel free to email us at [email protected] for more information!
Can you please send me a copy of this study?
Hi Meredith! We would be happy to send you that article. Would you mind sending us an email to: [email protected] Thanks!
I stopped buying Egglands Best because of the new plastic packaging. It is not easy to handle and each time I have broken eggs before getting them home. No matter the recycle program, I am losing money while you are not. Thank you for the great eggs of my past. I
Hi Christine. We're sorry to hear that you are encountering some broken eggs with some broken eggs in your cartons. We'd be glad to take a look into the issue, it may be the handling once the eggs leave our farm. If you would not mind sending us a message to: kindn[email protected] We'd be glad to check into it.
Can you please send me a copy of the study that determined that the Carbon footprint of the plastic containers is less than that of the pulp ones. I would like to be informed so I can apply the same analysis to other packaging. Thank you for being so thorough in your analysis.
Hi James! We would be glad to do so. Would you mind sending us an email to: [email protected] Thanks!
Thank you! I purchase your eggs (I’m vegan, but my family is not) because of the ethical way your chickens are treated. I was concerned about the packaging, so thank you for easing my mind on that. I’m also glad you have a take-back program.
Hi Lee! We're so glad we could help ease some concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out any time!
So why don't the cartons have a recycle #1 stamped on them. They recycle #1 in my area but how is the recycler to know for sure it's PET?
We're sorry you had difficulty locating the recycling symbol, Gary, but there is a #1 symbol on the inner top layer of the carton, in the center of one of the eggs cups. If you still can't find it, or have any additional questions, please feel free to send us an email and we'd be happy to assist you.
So, what "#" are these cartons for recycling? Trying to determine if I can add to my recycling. Thank you.
Hi Felicia! Our cartons are considered a #1 container, so most juice boxes, water and soda bottles can be recycled with them. Thanks for reaching out!
Thank you for the explanation. Am still not understanding why molded pulp (what pulp? paper?) is not superior as it can be soaked with water and included with food waste in composting processes. Good eggs! Like knowing that what our family eats comes from humanely-treated animals. And, I also wonder why would chickens be fed vegetarian feed? Aren't they insect-eaters?
HI Janet. The study that was conducted counts for the fossil fuels used during the lifecycle of the cartons themselves. From the heating and molding of the pulp, etc. We'd be glad to send a copy of the study if it might be of interest. As far as the feed, you're absolutely right. Hens are omnivores and they love bugs and worms. The vegetarian grain they receive is required to have no animal byproducts or fillers, so it must be vegetarian based. We're thankful that our hens get the best of both worlds, grain with no fillers and outdoor forage for bugs and worms. Let us know if you have any additional questions!
We live in a rural area that does not recycle these containers. While I loved your eggs, I cannot continue to buy your eggs. Also aren’t chickens omnivores? Why the vegetarian feed?
HI Cindy, thank you for the feedback. We actually have a take back program now available and are happy to pay to get the cartons back for recycling. If you'd like to take part, please send us an email to: [email protected] and we'll be glad to get that to you. Our hens are free range, and you're absolutely right that chickens are omnivores. The grain is considered vegetarian because of no animal byproducts being allowed in the grain here in the US. But our girls absolutely like to peck around for bugs and worms at their leisure. Thanks for reaching out and providing some helpful feedback!
I would love to send your egg cartons back to you in mail for you to reuse them. There are all very clean and be reused without washing them.
HI there! That sounds wonderful. We'd be glad to send a prepaid label your way. Could you send us a message to: [email protected] ? Thanks!
My town will no longer recycle plastics other than bottles (it's the shape not the material that's the problem). I used to give the cartons to a seller at the local farmers' market but he says people won't buy eggs in plastic cartons from him (maybe I should pass along your research to him). Please send me info on your takeback program
Hi Lucy! We're happy to get a prepaid label your way for these cartons. Would you mind sending us an email to: [email protected] ? Thanks!
I love your eggs but I feel guilty every time I buy them because of the plastic packing. It’s good that you took the time to research about the best option, but as I read the comments I see it’s not working for the vast majority. Have you thought about containers in the supermarkets that sell your product, so shipping them back would be easier?
HI Marta. Thank you for reaching out. Having cartons at the store is a consideration, but due to distribution requirements and grocery store space, we have not found a way to make that work. We are happy to send a prepaid label your way to get the cartons back and ensure their recycling. If this sounds okay, please send us a message to: [email protected] Thanks!
I couldn't find a PET recycle logo on your packaging so I wasn't sure if it would be accepted at my transfer station in Hancock, NH.
Hi Rita, our cartons are a #1 plastic and should be accepted at any transfer station that accepts #1s. We hope this helps!
recycling plastic isn't an option in most towns.. it gets tossed away and there isn't an "Away" anymore. this is a bad idea.
Thanks for sharing your concerns, Joy, We recognize that the global recycling industry is quickly changing and we are always reevaluating our carton choice in light of these changes which is why we started a takeback program where customers can return cartons to us free of charge so we can make sure they are recycled properly. If you'd like more information on this program, feel free to email us at [email protected].
I love Nellie's and for the most part, they are the only eggs I buy. Unfortunately, I just learned that my local recycling facility will no longer accept RPET containers; it is now considered trash. Quantis should probably update their research, as quite a bit has changed in the recycling world since 2012. Most countries no longer want America's trash. So, I'm back to buying eggs at the local farm or molded pulp cartons...
Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected], Cheryl? We'd love to share the details of our takeback program with you so that you can continue to have access to recycling.
Nellies free range eggs are the Best Ever. I use to have my own laying hens, until the wild critters took over. I was so happy when I tried your eggs and saw the dark colored yoke. It's been a long time since I've been able to finds eggs like this. I hope my local Shop Rite keeps selling them.
Hi Margie! Thanks so much for your kind words. We're thrilled to hear that you're enjoying our eggs! We'll let the girls know that they are doing a fantastic job (and the farmers too!)
Thanks for the education of the topic of your packaging. Thankfully I live in an area of curbside recycling. My first concern is Certified Humane though. Thanks,
Thanks for the feedback, Ann! We're glad to hear that you are able to recycle the cartons where you are! We agree, the care of our hens is also very important.
Thank you for explaining your use of plastic containers. I love Nellie's eggs, but the plastic bothered me, enough so that I have been saving my cartons for re-use as seedling starters - yes, I planned to punch slits in the bottom of each cup, and then use the tops as a tray to catch the water. FYI - they also work as containers for beads and other small crating supplies. Anyway, for a number of reasons, I haven't done any garden work for a couple of years, and so have a small mountain of Nellie's cartons that I've grown tired of seeing. After reading the comments here, I see that you have a take-back program, which is great, and which I plan to utilize. However, two questions/suggestions: 1. Is there no way you can re-use the cartons we send to you, just as they are? Perhaps that would be too difficult, as you'd have to somehow ensure they are clean, and washing them may not be an option. But have you thought about such a system, which would eliminate some of the carton manufacturing? 2. How about a linked blog post with suggestions (from you and from customers) on how to re-use the containers, such as the two uses I mentioned? I'm sure there are lots of creative ideas out there! (Apologies if you already have this - I haven't yet looked through your whole site.)
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and great questions, Anna. We're thrilled to hear that you plan on participating in our takeback program - just send us an email when you're ready to get started! To answer your first question: unfortunately, due to federal food safety regulations, we are not permitted to reuse our cartons. However, as reusable packaging becomes more prevalent, it's definitely something we're looking into! We absolutely love your idea about sharing ways to reuse our cartons for crafts, storage, etc. We have a few blog posts on our website, but we plan on posting many more in the weeks to come! You can check those out here: https://www.nelliesfreerange.com/blog.
I've just read many of the comments regarding pulp/RPET egg cartons. It seems to me that the difficult part of the question between choosing pulp over RPET is the overall carbon footprint - both pre- and post-production. I agree that RPET is an attractive solution to shipping your eggs, but I'm also mindful of my local recycling policies. Very little of the plastic waste in my area is actually recycled and a pulp egg carton does eventually decompose in a landfill. No matter the front end carbon footprint required to manufacture pulp cartons, it remains a fact that if your RPET cartons aren't being recycled, they are adding to the problem of plastics. Thank you for your willingness to address the issue of plastic and to do what you believe is best for our planet. It is a confusing issue which bears continued study.
Hi there, Susan! Thanks for your comment. We offer our take-back program so we can make sure that all of our cartons are recycled responsibly. Unfortunately, the pulp cartons actually will not break down at all in a landfill because it's an anaerobic environment and they will not biodegrade without oxygen. We will be sure to keep up with all of the current research on these issues now and into the future.
Thank you. Unquestionably the best eggs in my supmarket.
Hi Nadine! Thank you so much for your loyalty and praise of our eggs. We're proud to produce the highest quality eggs out there!
I am curious on where you get the recycled plastic from? Do you manufacture them yourself or an outside manufacture? What country do the plastics come from and where are they manufactured. I try my hardest to follow all of the recycling rules about clean plastic. I would prefer the paper pulp
Thanks for your great questions, Melinda! Our carton manufacturer purchases their plastic from multiple sources (we unfortunately don't have access to a list). Because we aren't creating the cartons ourselves, we don't access the recycled plastic directly, but our carton manufacturer holds their suppliers to high standards and works with those who share their commitment to producing the highest quality products with sustainability in mind. The PET and RPET that they purchase typically gets melted down and molded into the pieces that make up our carton.
I am glad I looked you up, as I was ready to quit buying your wonderful eggs due to the plastic. Now I can continue to enjoy them.
Hi Carole! We're so glad to hear that you found our blog as well. We're thrilled that you can now feel great about buying our eggs and doing the right thing for the environment.
Because paper pulp cartons can be composted and actually break down, I would still choose paper pulp cartons over plastic any day, regardless is RPET or PET. Furthermore, I would do without eggs all together if it meant styrofoam cartons. I used to buy your product religiously until I became aware of the plastic problem. I am sad I can no longer ethically buy your eggs because of the plastic. RPET doesn't matter. Not buying plastic. I truly miss your organic eggs. Maybe market a line in paper pulp? Please? I would market the crap out of that for you for free, along with every person I come into contact with on social media.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Derwanna. It certainly is something to think about. We'll be sure to pass your thoughts on to our team for future consideration. Thank you for the feedback!
1. The nation as a whole is struggling with finding places to recycle plastics. 2. People in general are lazy and or busy and just dont or wont take the time to mail back cartons to you, free or not. I am sure you are finding that. I hope you will consider working on a different option for your egg containers.
Hi Anita. We hear your concerns. We hope the U.S. will take a stand and find good ways to recycle plastics domestically. We have found that consumers are utilizing the take-back program and we always will do our best to promote reusing and recycling of our cartons. To be environmental stewards we must be conscientious and care enough to sort our items appropriately. We do appreciate your feedback and will consider it as we continue to redesign our packaging.
Thank you for your excellent, humane product! Is it safe to eat the eggshells? I have been researching supplementing my calcium intake with ground up egg shells, and Nellie's eggs are certainly the type of high-quality eggs I want, but I'm wondering about any processing done to the shell (chlorine?) and if it is safe to consume. Thank you!
Hi Audrey! Great question. Yes, you can eat the shells after boiling them in water. We wash our egg shells with a mild soap and chlorine solution. Our sister brand has a great blog post about sanitizing and grinding up the shells for consumption: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/blog/diy-eggshell-calcium-powder. We hope this helps!
After all the cons I’ve observed concerning plastic, most of all the particles that are filling our oceans and interfering with sea life, and the accumulation of non biodegradable trash of all sizes, I am against the use of one-use plastic containers. Most folks do NOT recycle plastics, especially in rural areas.You are passing to the consumer the responsibility of dealing with the plastic. I also do not mind opening a carton to check my eggs, to do my part, haha.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Stephanie. It certainly is something to think about. We'll be sure to pass your thoughts on to our team for future consideration. Thank you for the feedback!
I love the packaging. It protects the eggs. I dont think I've ever seen a broken egg in your packaging. Plus I believe that most people go out of their way to recycle something that's plastic or as the styrofoam ones they may just throw in the trash. Going to the grocery today to pick up more of your eggs. And they are simply better tasting to me. Thank you
Thank you for your support and kindness Deborah. We're so happy to hear that you appreciate our recycled packaging and your positive thoughts about folks recycling. We feel it is extremely important to recycle, so much so that we introduced our take-back program for folks who may not be close enough to a recycling center. Thanks for your support!
This is interesting to read, and we like your eggs. But in our city, your plastic cartons are not recyclable while the cardboard/pulp egg cartons are. We cannot recycle any clamshell type plastic carton because it messes up the recycling machines, and if we add them to our recycling, our whole load will be thrown out.
Thank you for sharing your concerns, Janet, and we appreciate you taking the time to read through out post. In response to some facilities no longer accepting our cartons, we have started a takeback program where you can ship the cartons back to us free of charge and we will take care of properly recycling them at our home farm in New Hampshire. If you'd like us to get you set up with a shipment, please send us an email at KindnessCre[email protected] and we would be more than happy to do so.
Thanks for placing your explanation of the packaging on the website. The fact that you cared enough to investigate for your selves and made an informed decision says a lot to me about your true commitment. I would like to know more about who makes the packaging for you and the source of the recycled content. In today's world of recycled material and the difficulty that waste collectors are having finding vendors to utilize the commodities they produce, it is refreshing to know that there are companies like Nellies that will do what is right (as well as a good business case). For that reason, I will continue to seek out Nellies eggs when I shop. I look forward to your response regarding the source of material and manufacturer for your packaging. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Dave. Our cartons are manufactured by Pactiv, and we're proud to work with a company that puts so much thought into their sourcing of materials. Please don't hesitate to send us an email at [email protected] if there's any other information we can provide!
Would you take them back? I'd love to recycle them over to you. Is that possible?
Hi Maribel! Absolutely we're able to take back the cartons. Please send us an email to: kindness[email protected] and we can get a prepaid label to you!
I'm on a mission to find healthier foods that are organic and non-gmo. While at Hannaford I browsed the eggs to find the best option. I decided to give Nellie's a shot because there are no added hormones, no antibiotics, certified humane,they are free range, and the price was reasonable. I was a little concerned about the packaging though. ( I have just read through the comments here and your explanation of why the company chose it so I feel a little better). I have to tell you I love your eggs! The shells are thick so I know your birds are eating a healthy diet. Thank you for your commitment to your birds and your customers. Keep up the good work!
You are so very welcome, Morgan! We are so happy you've found us and we sincerely thank you for taking the time to read through our blog and our decision-making process behind our current carton selection. If you do have any additional questions regarding our packaging, please do let us know and we thank you so much for you support of our happy hens!
Many places like my town have eliminated recycling for all but #2 plastic now, so thats why i'm here at your site reading about your cartons. We can NO LONGER recycle any plastic here in Maine. NO doubt it's happeneing everywhere, according to teh guy at my dump. So, any suggestions about the packaging ?? We need better options.
Hi Catherine! We have a carton takeback program and would love for you to participate. If this is of interest, please send us an email at [email protected].
Thank you for addressing this issue. I've just come across your product and would gladly pay the higher fee if it means a more humane environment for the animals. However, the plastic really disappointed me and I considered finding another company because of it. Like many in the comments, I do not have a way to recycle the plastic since it's not accepted in my area. However, I'm happy to see that you offer an alternative for those of us without the resources to properly recycle them. I hope going forward, that you will be able to include that information on your containers so that everyone knows about this without having to dig through comments on this page to find out about the program. Otherwise, countless people are throwing these plastic containers in the trash, or just looking elsewhere for a more Eco-friendly alternative.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and suggestions, Kristin. We are currently working on getting this information - including the details of our takeback program - front and center on our website this year. We'll also be sure to include it right on our cartons in the future!
There is no more recycling available for plastics except #2. The plastic gets buried or burned. See the NY Times article from April 16,2019 (Science Section) "Beware of Disruptive Chemicals" as to problems with plastic, especially #3, #6. and #7 (no number plastic). That said, yours is the only eggs I buy. They taste great and have the Humane Society seal. BUT If I get the option to buy eggs in paper cartons that have the seal, I will switch. Thank you for being kind to the chickens.
We hear you, Joyce, and while we do have a significant number of customers who are still able to recycle their cartons at their local facilities, for customer like you who don't have access to recycling, we have started a carton takeback program where our customers can ship their used cartons back to us, free of charge, so we can ensure they are recycled properly. If you'd like us to get you set up for a shipment or any more information on how to participate in this program, please feel free to email us at Kindnes[email protected] and we'd be happy to set you up.
That may have been true but now plastics are not accepted at our recycling in southern N. J. Many of us are struggling with decisions to accomplish zero waste. I will only buy in glass or cardboard these days. Sorry you are out of the loop.
We completely understand your concers, Audrey, and that is why we have started a carton takeback program where our customers can ship their used cartons back to us, free of charge, so we can ensure they are recycled properly. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. If you'd like any more information on how to participate in this program, please feel free to email us at [email protected] and we'd be happy to provide any additional information you'd like.
I will no longer eat any eggs except Nellies. When it says ‘ExtraLarge’ on the carton, I know I am getting good sized eggs with sturdy shells and a fresh taste. I am really happy that the hens are truly free range. I don’t mind paying a little extra for your eggs - they’re worth every penny ! I wish all farm animals were treated as well as your hens. Thank you for putting out such a good product ! This is the first time I have ever contacted a business to let them know how pleased I am with their practices. Keep up the good work and thank you !
We are so honored by your kind words, Mary, and we can't thank you enough for taking the time to share your thoughts. We truly love our hens, and it warms our hearts to hear from our customers who not only love our eggs, but appreciate all the work and care that it takes to raise them humanely. Thank you again for supporting our happy hens!
Thank you for using recycled plastic in your packaging.
You are very welcome, Anna! We consider it an important part of our role as a certified B corporation. We really appreciate you reaching out to us, and thank you for supporting our happy hens!
Curtous to know how your eggs are processed. Many suppliers spray a light coating of mineral oil, which seals pores and lengthens self life. How are yours processed?
That's a great question, Nell! Per FDA regulations, we wash our eggs with a gentle organic soap, then sanitize them with a mild chlorine solution. This unfortunately removes the cuticle, but is required of all commercially produced eggs.
Any chance of you reusing our cartons? A program to send back?
Hi Mike! While we're not able to take back the cartons and reuse them, we are happy to say that we have a recycling program! Please send us a message and we can send you a prepaid label to get those cartons back: [email protected] Thanks!
Still think paper carton would be better...love your eggs, but trying to eliminate as much plastic as possible. Paper doesn't have the problem of the life of plastic, now that many cities are cutting back on recycling, would u consider or reconsider your carton?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Judith, and we are always looking to improve our cartons based on the changing environment around us. The reality of landfills is that, unfortunately, they are places to store trash, regardless of the base material, as the compacted, anaerobic environment doesn't really allow for any decomposition regardless of whether our cartons would be made of paper or plastic. As such, the life of most materials becomes somewhat equal in that environment. Again, we are always continuing to reevaluate our packaging, and we invite you to share any additional feedback on this form we use to gather consumer insight, and inform further innovation: http://fal.cn/NFRfeedback. Thank you again sincerely for sharing your concerns.
Thank you for this information. I had no idea that paper pulp was harmful for the environment. Also, can I simply put your containers in my recycling bin? I so very much appreciate your kind treatment of the hens!
We appreciate you taking the time to read through our post, Jackie, and there are certainly pros and cons to each type of material, but we do our best to make a well-informed decision focused on environmental impact. As long as your recycling company accepts #1 plastic (which is the most accepted type), you can absolutely just put our cartons in the bin with your other recycled items. Thank you for doing your part to care for our planet!
But we can’t recycle plastic any more! China won’t take it. Please consider something else! I really want to keep buying your eggs!
That's a great point, Bill, and we are constantly re-evaluating and improving our packaging based on the changing environment around us, while also looking out for any new innovations that become available. We still feel good about our efforts to reuse materials that are even more likely to be headed for the landfill now than ever, but again, we'll continue to always look for new and better options for both people and our planet in the future. Thank you so much for sharing your concerns, and I’ll be sure to share them with my team.
Won't buy your eggs because of the plastic. Is it recyclable, yes, but it is the worst kind of plastic. Now that China is not accepting our plastic waste it highlights the problem, and the conception it is good for the environment. Go back to carton. Then I'll buy your eggs.
Hi Pamela, thanks for taking the time to reach out to us. We appreciate your feedback very much and want to make sure we pass it along to our team. If you may have time, would you consider filling out our short feedback form about our cartons? We'd greatly appreciate it! Here's a link to the form: https://bit.ly/2TYLmgJ Thanks!
I buy your eggs because they are "free range". Walmart doesn't sell them, so I have to go to Winn Dixie to get them. My problem is your plastic cartons. They are sometimes difficult to open. Today, when I attempted to open a new carton, I cut my finger on the edge of a sharp corner.
We're incredibly sorry to hear this, Andrea. Do you mind sending us an email at kindnesscre[email protected] so that we can look into this right away?
Very educational... and it shows you care about the environment as well as being kind to your chickens.
We absolutely do, Sue, and we really appreciate you recognizing that! As a B-Corporation, we make sure that all of our decisions are based not just on what's best for our business, but also the planet, our communities, and of course, our hens!
Our recycle only takes # 1 or 2 bottles with a neck. Is there somewhere in northern Minnesota that takes your cartons? I’m in Hibbing, mn
Hi Peter, we encourage you to call any local transfer stations and see if they take our #1 plastic cartons. If not, we encourage you to participate in our takeback program - feel free to email us at [email protected] for the details!
Love your eggs and the care that you give to your hens as well. Though we recycle your containers, i am not sure if they end up being "recycled" now that plastics are no longer being accepted overseas for processing. Time to rethink the cartons?
We hear you, Brian, and we are always reevaluating our packaging based on the changes in the world around us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and if you have any additional feedback, please feel free to leave it in this form which we use to gather consumer insights to inform future packaging innovation: http://fal.cn/NFRfeedback.
Thanks for the information. Just out of curiosity I see two symbols on the bottom of your cartons, a circle-U, which I assume means "Kosher," , and a circle-A. I have no idea what that symbol means
Thanks for taking the time to read about our cartons, Paul! The first symbol is indeed a kosher certification. The other symbol that you're seeing indicates that the eggs are grade A.
I find that the plastic is too flimsy and that I cut myself frequently on those razor sharp edges. The eggs are great and thanks for explaining the difference between cage-free and free range. I have also inspected the eggs in the store but they cracked on the way home. I still prefer carboard as I am unable to recycle and feel the paper still would decompose better.
Thank you for this incredibly helpful feedback, Debbie. We're so sorry that hear that our carton has failed you a few times, and we'd be happy to replace some of these purchases for you. If this is of interest, please send us an email at [email protected].
Very good information! I love your eggs, but was concerned about the packaging. I hope for a better solution in the future however and remember the days that we reused all of our containers at the local farm. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words, Kim. We agree that this isn't a perfect solution and we're grateful for folks like you who help us strive to find an even better one!
I love your eggs; can't eat eggs at our local diner, for e.g., anymore because the taste is really off. Scrolling through these comments on your packaging, I'm still wondering what the labels are made from as I'm never sure how to deal with them in my recycling process.
We're so glad that you're loving our eggs, Gayle! The labels on our cartons are made from recycled paper and don't have to be removed from the carton before you toss it in the recycling.
I am disappointed to find that you defend the use of plastic as environmentally responsible. I often find that being forced to decide on an alternative opens the door to a better way. Since I learned that Nellie’s is committed to plastic containers, I have found a local egg farm where I can purchase eggs. It is the only responsible choice I can make as a consumer.
We completely understand your concern, Joseph, and we thank you for supporting your local farmers. We're proud to have made a decision backed by research, and although we do hope for a day when the production of new plastics comes to a halt, we feel we're doing our part in reusing the water and soda bottles that are already in the waste stream.
Hey Nellie's! I love that you researched the best possible solution (for the time being) for packaging your eggs, and we love your eggs! Have you looked into bulk deliveries, and having customers pack their own into reused cartons? Our local co-op (the Brattleboro food co-op in Vermont) does this with another local egg producer, but those eggs are from hens that are not free range. We'd love a company to offer free range eggs in bulk packaging that we could package ourselves. Another great option is a reusable box that we buy for a deposit (like the milk man model) that then gets returned to you. These are the ways of the future, yes? See Loop's new experiment/trial business model: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/01/business/loop-reusable-packaging-mission-ahead/index.html Thank you!
We love these ideas, Liz! We'll definitely look into bulk purchasing in the future. Thanks for your insight!
I came to this website to learn if your packages can be recycled. I am glad to learn they can be, but I wish there were a “number” on them so people wouldn’t have to research this.
We're so glad that this information helped, Laura! Our cartons typically have a triangle (recycling symbol) with a #1 in the center stamped right in the plastic on some of the "cups" inside the carton and on the very bottom of it. The symbol can sometimes be tough to find, so we'll definitely pass your feedback along to the rest of the team to see if there's a way to make it more visible.
Oh my gosh! I feel so bad for all of you at Nellie's having to deal with all these negative comments. What I've learned over the past 30 years owning my own business, is you cannot make everybody happy. Some people just like being unhappy, and will complain about everything. I think you are doing a wonderful job; taking something negative, like plastic, and doing something positive with it. Keep up the good work! Now about your eggs; they're the best!! The yolk is nice and big and orange, which proves your chickens are free-ranging outside. My biggest concern is how inhumanely chickens are being treated in commercial farming, I won't support them. So in closing, thank You and the Hens, for giving consumers like me, an excellent product! God bless all of you!!
You just made our day, Ann! Thank you so much for your kind comment and wonderful feedback. We're always open to hearing new ideas, because we're firm believers in learning and improving whenever we can. We really appreciate your commitment to supporting humane practices and free range farms like ours!
Well I don't know but in the past month I have purchased 2 packets of the 18 count brown eggs and while I inspected them carefully in the market for broken eggs and didn't see any I found each packet did have 2-3 cracked eggs when I went to use them at home later on. Did I do it? Did the store? Who knows. But I rarely have this issue with the cardboard boxes, they seem to cushion the eggs better in my opinion. They weren't broken to the point of tossing them in the trash, I poured a few drops of water on them and let them sit and they came unstuck from the plastic. Don't know if it's considered safe but I scrambled them and didn't get sick or die.
We're so sorry to hear that you've had some cracked eggs, Chris. It's tough to say for sure, but our best guess is that these were hairline cracks that allowed some of the egg white to seep out, dry, and adhere the shells to the carton. We never recommend consuming cracked eggs because they're vulnerable to outside bacteria. If you don't mind sending us an email at [email protected], we would love to send you a couple coupons so that you can get your next few cartons on us.
Who makes the carton and what is thier source of post consumer plastic?
Thanks for your question, Tom! We work with a company called Pactiv to produce the cartons, and they source recycled materials from all over the world actually, so there's no one specific location we could point to. If you'd like to look into their company a bit more, please feel free to have a look through their website (https://www.pactiv.com/Pactiv.htm), and feel free to reach out with any other questions you may have!
Hello. I came to your website to read about your plastic cartons. As an individual who never uses plastic water bottles or straws I am sorry to see your eggs in plastic cartons and although I understand you believe they leave a smaller carbon imprint, I won’t be buying your eggs in the future until you use paper cartons. Thank you for such a great egg.
Hello Dorothy, thank you for taking the time to reach out to us. We understand that for many people, plastic may not be a first choice, but we feel (and studies have shown) that we're doing right by reusing what is unfortunately already out there. Our new take-back program is going a step further to make sure these cartons are not being dumped into our environment and are being recycled and reused instead. We hope that there will be less plastic in future years, but while it's out there we're doing our best to ensure it is being reused rather than tossed in the garbage. We would be happy to send a copy of a research study that showed the comparison of our RPET cartons beside pulp cartons if it might be of interest. Thank you for the heartfelt feedback, we will make sure to pass it along to our team.
I'm not overly concerned about environmental impact of most thing thever Earth is resilient and will take care of itself. The last concern I have is for this packagin I feel like most people that go to the effort of buying your products will be the type that make sure it gets recycled. I myself see it as a superior package and I intend to save a few to reuse as I sometimes buy farm direct and they use the paper boxes which are not very good protection.
Hi Tony, we're thankful for your message and are glad to hear that you are recycling as well as reusing the cartons. Thanks for the feedback and for supporting our small family farms!
I wish I could agree with the trifold plastic egg carton. There's no viable recycling system for all our plastic. I may just remove eggs from my diet. Hate to give up Nellie's eggs, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I want my kids to inherit this planet and be able to exist.
We completely understand your sentiments, Sharon. Like you, we want to see a world where no new plastic is being manufactured. Right now, our cartons are taking plastic water bottles out of the waste stream, and in our view, that's at least a small victory as we all work towards a plastic-free society.
Plastic 'berg chokes Indonesian river A crisis of plastic waste in Indonesia has become so acute that the army has been called in to help. www.bbc.com Your plastics are not recycled in Key West, Florida we are a very vulnerable chain of islands and must do everything to protect our future from becoming like Indonesia. PLEASE HELP by making compactable cartons.
Hi Diane, we thank you for the article. We know it's not a perfect solution in a changing world, but we're doing our best to keep abreast of this unfolding issue. Because our cartons are made from recycled materials rather than new plastic, we do feel that some blame should be placed on these companies that are making the plastic to begin with. If they didn't create it, we would not be able to use it for our cartons. We do have some good news on this forefront. We have introduced a recycling program for consumers who are unable to recycle the cartons in their communities. Please send us a message at [email protected] and we'd be glad to get that information to you and get those cartons back. We are thankful for your message.
But plastic NEVER decamped and is now in our food chain. Plastics were sent to China for recycling but now they are no longer taking plastics. Please start using recycled cardboard Never Styrofoam. I’ll have to stop buying your eggs until you make the change. I hope you do and SOON.
Hi Diane, We really appreciate your insight and thoughtful suggestions. It's true that this is a complicated issue for which there is no perfect solution (yet). We are always open to change and as we continue keeping up with the global and national recycling industry, we'll keep carbon footprint, accessibility of recycling, and all these other important factors in mind. Thank you for the article and feedback.
I came to your website to address this. Thank you for sharing. Perhaps you will sell your eggs in bulk so those of us interested in further reducing our waste can simply refill the sturdy plastic containers you’ve equipped us with..? I would sure love that! Mallory from Sacramento
Hi Mallory, thank you for the feedback. We are always open to change and as we continue keeping up with the global and national recycling industry, we'll keep carbon footprint, accessibility of recycling, and all these other important factors in mind. Thank you for the suggestion!
First of all, thank you for being here and for offering a sane alternative to the inhumanity of factory farms. We always recycle the cartons and you should know that I always inspect the eggs despite the clear carton. I think all we can do is the best practice and change as that changes. Again, thank you for all you do - we love your eggs and the hens, too!
Thank you for your support David and Marian!
We do recycle our cartons. However, I find myself reaching for the ones that come in paper more often as I can compost that. At my local store, milk is sold in glass that we must pay a deposit on and then get it back when we return the bottles. I assume there is not a practical way to do a similar thing with eggs?
Hi Sarah, this is something we've been thinking about for a long time, especially as we continue striving for the most sustainable option for our cartons. Unfortunately, FDA and USDA food safety standards prohibit this type of reusable container for commercially-produced eggs at this time - but that doesn't mean we won't consider something like this if regulations change in the future!
Thanks for taking the time to explain all this. Lately (Dec 2018) I am seeing reports of so much recycling ending up in the garbage because there aren't enough companies that will take the recycled goods for re-use. So it's great that you're taking on recycling from your customers - but I don't know that this is an answer to the problem. With this in mind and considering the article above - it seems the most sensitive packaging would be the recycled pulp. Have you considered switching to that type of carton. I'd much rather have to open a carton to check the eggs than worry about whether the carton is going to end up in landfill or worse. This is an ever evolving issue I know. Thank you!
We really appreciate your insight and thoughtful suggestions, Peggy. It's true that this is a complicated issue for which there is no perfect solution (yet). We are always open to change and as we continue keeping up with the global and national recycling industry, we'll keep carbon footprint, accessibility of recycling, and all these other important factors in mind.
Good night can I get some coupons please thanks
Hi Helena! You can find our promotions and coupons here: https://www.nelliesfreerange.com/promotions-and-coupons.
I must admit I was concerned about the plastic that winds up in the ocean. I met a lady from New Zealand who studies oceanographic environment and she says do not not use sea salt, because it has microscopic plastic molecules. Aside from the plastic carton, what about the full color printing inset, which is printed on both sides. The panel on the side is the only marketing billboard that faces the consumer when the package is on the shelf. The top panel is practically useless, but has a lot of ink coverage. Where is this printed? Printing ink is nasty stuff. I'm sure your printer uses water-based ink, but there's still pigment involved. Your design has a lot of high saturation colors. It's something to think about, since you are concerned about the planet.
Thank you for these thoughtful questions, Carole. Our carton inserts are printed in a few different facilities, but we can tell you that all of the ink is food grade. We love being able to showcase our farmers and their beautiful homes on our cartons, but we completely understand your concern about ink usage. We'll be sure to pass your feedback along to the rest of the team for consideration as we continue changing and updating our carton design.
We are not able to recycle PET molded cartons where we live (northern Virginia). We are told that any molded PET that is put in recycling bins end up at a landfill since our recycling is sent to a Pennsylvania MRF. Do you know what molded PET can't be recycled? We are also told to put all molded plastics into the garbage as it will stay local and be burned in the incinerator to create electricity and steam. I suppose that's better than ending up in a PA landfill, no?
Hi Greg, we're so sorry to hear that you aren't able to recycle our cartons in your area. #1 plastics (like our RPET cartons) are one of the most widely-accepted types, but this can change from county to county and state to state. We'd be happy to take our cartons off your hands and ensure that they get recycled and are kept out of the waste stream. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]?
Unfortunately we are no longer able to recycle your plastic cartons in the Cleveland area. I am told it’s because there are no more buyers (China) for this type of plastic. However, I will save these plastic trays and reuse them as little greenhouses for starting seeds in the spring. Another re-use suggestion you may want to add to your website. Plenty of how-to links searchable on-line.
That's a fantastic idea, Carol. We have a carton takeback program in the works, so if you're at all interested in mailing those cartons back to us, please send us an email at kindnesscrew@nelliesfreerange.com and we'll see what we can do to help!
also seems recycled molded pulp (RMP)is sourced from materials that are definitely and easily recycled --but for your purposes-- they are opaque
Thanks for the additional feedback, Mike! I'll make sure to pass along to our team here.
where is the recycle number on the plastic carton ''right back in the recycling stream'' we have multiple choices at our door step do they go in with the bottles and cans? or with the paper? or with the organics in other words your advice is nice but not specific but appreciate the effort and education hope you will get back to me - not optimistic \but we buy the eggs
Hi Mike! Typically the carton is stamped into the plastic itself, in the middle piece that is egg shaped, that goes over the eggs in the carton. Typically there is a stamp with a "1" inside of that. #1 cartons are recyclable with juice containers, soda containers, salad containers, and more. It is the most widely recycled plastic here in the United States. Hope that helps!
I had to look up online to see if the cartons could be recycled. How come they aren't stamped with the recycle triangle???
Hi Benny! Typically the carton is stamped into the plastic itself, in the middle piece that is egg shaped, that goes over the eggs in the carton. Typically there is a stamp with a "1" inside of that. #1 cartons are recyclable with juice containers, soda containers, salad containers, and more. It is the most widely recycled plastic here in the United States. Hope that helps!
Trying your eggs today !! I haven't been buying lately because cage free doesn't mean a thing ... guess because of the cost I'll eat less eggs but that's okay too .. happy the hens are happy too 😊 I rescue animals and go cat TNR, down in New Orleans
Hi Diane! We're happy to hear that you are enjoying our eggs but understand they may cost a bit more than cage free farms. We hope you'll take a peek on our promotions page for some coupons and offers which may help with this. Thanks for doing what you do to help rescue animals in need!
I love your eggs and what your company stands for! I will continue to buy your eggs no matter what, but every time I attempt to print the 1.50$ coupon sent to my email it won’t allow me to do so, and says I’ve already printed my limit?
Thank you, Beth. We're honored to have your support of our small family farms!
Your research is enlightening and your efforts at sustainability are much appreciated. As someone who has purchased eggs from family or small farm stands where cartons are re-used, I wonder if it would be feasible for you if users were to return your egg cartons at the stores so they could be picked up by your drivers, and reused.
Your kind words mean a lot to us, Barbara. Although we unfortunately cannot reuse cartons due to food safety regulations, we have a "take-back" program launching very soon. This program will allow folks like you to save up their cartons and mail them back to us. From there, they will be used by our carton manufacturing facilities for new products. Though it's by no means a perfect solution, we hope that this program will continue to keep our cartons out of landfills as much as possible!
Thank you for all the care and concern you’ve shown in this matter.
Thanks for taking the time to read about the thought and research behind our decision, Kathy!
I love your eggs and packaging principles, however each time I purchase the 18 egg carton, there are always1-3 broken eggs. This is not visually apparent, but each of those 1-3 are stuck to the bottom of the cell. This has never happened with the 12 egg carton.
We're so sorry for any frustration that our 18-count cartons have caused. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected] so that we can look into this and get you a few replacement cartons?
I do sustainability work for the packaging industry. Thank you for looking beyond the easy option and assessing many variables when choosing your egg carton material. One of my sayings is that in sustainability, your gut instinct on what to do is almost always wrong. Most people go with their guts. Thank you for going deeper than that and being analytical.
This comment means so much to us, Mickel. We recognize that the sustainability discussion is too often dominated by opinions and assumptions, so it was incredibly important to us to carry out some real research before making a decision. Thank you for supporting our efforts!
Carton Take Back Program
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