Packaging
Most products come in glass containers. Shipping and retail boxes are not described in detail, but Malibu Apothecary pledges “eco-friendly packaging” for transport. Exactly what this means is not clear. The brand has nearly eliminated virgin plastic from its packaging, apart from small functional components.
Ingredient Sustainability
The brand’s reliance on plant-based ingredients and safe synthetics suggests a generally low environmental footprint. Key inputs like coconut oil, soy wax, and jojoba oil are renewable and biodegradable. Coconut and soy are common sustainable alternatives to paraffin – coconut wax in particular is often a waste product of coconut farming, and soy is farmed (ideally on existing farmland, though conventional soy agriculture can involve pesticides and GMO use). Malibu Apothecary doesn’t explicitly detail its soy or coconut sourcing, but the use of these materials already avoids the worst options (no palm oil or petro-wax).
Natural essential oils (citrus, herbs, florals) provide most of the fragrance notes, and these are generally sourced from cultivated crops (e.g. mandarins, bergamot, rosemary, jasmine) rather than rare wild-harvested plants. This avoids biodiversity risks that plague ingredients like endangered sandalwood or frankincense. Malibu Apothecary also steers clear of controversial ingredients such as non-RSPO palm oil. In fact, none of the sampled formulas contain palm-derived materials, heavy metals, or non-biodegradable microplastics.
The only notable synthetic ingredient found is Polysorbate 80 in the hand wash, used in a small amount to solubilize oils. Polysorbate 80 is a lab-made surfactant, but it is not considered environmentally persistent or highly toxic, and it biodegrades reasonably well.
Energy Use and Footprint
Malibu Apothecary is a small-scale producer with localized operations, which inherently keeps its energy footprint lower than a mass-manufacturer. All products are handcrafted in the brand’s Dallas studio, meaning production does not involve energy-intensive factory assembly lines or overseas shipping of unfinished goods. However, Malibu Apothecary does not yet provide any public carbon reporting or emissions data. There is no mention of measuring its greenhouse gas emissions or pursuing carbon offset programs (e.g. tree planting or renewable energy credits). The brand’s sustainability communications focus on materials and charity, with no transparency about manufacturing energy sources or CO₂ output.
Waste Management
In terms of production waste, being a small batch producer likely allows Malibu to produce on demand and avoid large volumes of unsold inventory (and the waste associated with overproduction). The founder’s story notes how the business grew carefully from hand-pouring in small spaces, implying an ethos of scaling responsibly. We do not have specifics on how they handle manufacturing scraps (like leftover wax or fragrance).
Business Model
Malibu Apothecary’s business model favors slow, intentional consumption over fast-paced churn. The brand maintains a curated product line centered on a core collection of scents and formats, rather than constantly releasing new trendy products. In practice, Malibu Apothecary offers mostly evergreen products (candles and matching perfumes in its signature coastal scents), with only occasional limited editions or seasonal releases. For instance, they have introduced a few seasonal destination candles (such as a wintery “Cannon Beach” scent) and special runs like the Iridescent Pink charity candle, but these are relatively infrequent and tied to purpose, not fleeting fads.
Moreover, Malibu Apothecary does not heavily push flash sales or discounts that would encourage over-buying. Its marketing seems to center on the brand story: travel, wellness, and conservation.
