Packaging
The company chose aluminum as its primary packaging material due to aluminum's infinite recyclability. Nearly all products now come in reusable, recyclable aluminum bottles or containers, and the brand is introducing larger size options for certain haircare products to reduce packaging waste per use. Additionally, to promote packaging circularity the company joined the Pact Collective recycling program: customers can return hard-to-recycle components (such as plastic pumps and sprayers) so they can be properly recycled instead of ending up in landfills. Still, details regarding shipping packaging are lacking.
Ingredient Sustainability
Overall, ingredients are highly sustainable. The formulas rely on botanical ingredients (plant oils, seaweed extracts, aloe vera, starches, clays, essential oils) that are renewable and biodegradable, with minimal use of synthetic or petroleum-derived substances. Notably, all fragrances are from essential oils rather than synthetic chemicals, and there are no microplastics, silicones, or non-biodegradable polymers. Many ingredients (aloe, coconut oil, shea butter, etc.) are certified organic, indicating they are grown without harmful pesticides and often sourced via sustainable agriculture. Captain Blankenship actively works with suppliers practicing regenerative organic farming and wild-harvesting.
Captain Blankenship also strives to be palm-oil free to avoid deforestation impacts; in fact, the only palm-derived content is a small component of a gentle surfactant in the shampoo, and even that is sourced as RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil.
Energy Use and Footprint
Most notably, the brand's products are manufactured in the U.S. at an organic-certified facility that runs on renewable energy. While the brand has not published a formal carbon footprint or carbon-neutral claim, it does participate in initiatives to mitigate climate impact (for example, it donates 1% of revenue to environmental causes that include climate action).
Waste Management
A core strategy is the use of deadstock and upcycled materials. The company actively prioritizes Beyond packaging waste (covered above), Captain Blankenship shows some awareness of reducing waste in its production and day-to-day operations, though concrete data is limited.
Business Model
Captain Blankenship's business model strongly encourages mindful consumption and long-term sustainability over short-term sales tactics. Captain Blankenship has deliberately kept a tightly curated product line focused on haircare essentials.
Mindful consumption is further reinforced through several of the brand's practices. For instance, Captain Blankenship is beginning to offer refillable or larger-size options for its products.
