Packaging

Its current packaging system includes recyclable aluminum bottles across select shampoos and conditioners, plastic bottles made from a minimum of 30% post-consumer regrind (PCR) plastic across the classic collection, and refill pouches that use 73% less plastic and 62% less energy to produce than equivalent 1L bottles. Aluminum is favored here because it is indefinitely recyclable without quality loss, and the refill pouches divert significant plastic waste from landfills.

The brand has stated a goal to reach 100% PCR content across all plastic packaging as feedstock becomes available. 

There are still some gaps. The refill pouches themselves are not currently recyclable because of an inner barrier layer used to protect the formula's stability (only the caps can be recycled), and most styling and aerosol products (gels, curl creams, finishing sprays, hairsprays) remain in conventional plastic or pressurized cans rather than refillable or compostable formats. There is also no plastic-neutral, plastic-negative, Cradle to Cradle, or FSC certification carried at this stage, and the brand has not launched home compostable or fully circular packaging options. 

Ingredient Sustainability

AG Care's formulas are marketed as 98% plant-based and naturally derived across the classic apple cider vinegar collection.  Several of the plant-derived ingredients used sit in the most sustainable tiers: jojoba oil (drought-tolerant, perennial, low-input), aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, oat kernel extract, calendula, chamomile, rosemary, sage, hemp seed oil, and abyssinian (crambe) seed oil are all relatively low-impact crops when responsibly farmed.

A few ingredients across the product line carry meaningful sustainability concerns. Shea butter is sustainable when wild-harvested from West African cooperatives but becomes problematic at scale without certification; the listing notes "organic" but no Fair Trade or community-sourcing certification is provided. 

Coconut oil appears in the Boost conditioner without RSPO or organic-monoculture-free verification, which matters because conventional coconut monocultures degrade soil and biodiversity. Argan oil, even when sourced ethically, faces ongoing pressure from high global demand. The styling lines lean more heavily on synthetic and petrochemical inputs. The brand does not currently carry COSMOS, Ecocert, or organic certification across the range, and there is no overall transparency framework for ingredient origin or supplier traceability beyond what is highlighted on individual products. 

Energy Use and Carbon Footprint

AG Care does not publish a measured carbon footprint, a climate target, a renewable energy commitment, or third-party verified emissions data. The brand is working toward B Corp certification (which would require Scope 1 and 2 emissions disclosure), but that certification has not yet been awarded. 

There are some lower-carbon practices worth noting: production is vertically integrated and kept entirely in-house at the Vancouver facility, which reduces transport emissions and supplier complexity, and the refill pouch system reduces the embodied energy per unit of product shipped. The shift from large plastic bottles to lighter refill pouches also reduces shipping weight and fuel use across the supply chain. 

Waste Management

AG Care has built a functional refill ecosystem and is actively designing for resource efficiency. The 1L refill pouch program for shampoos and conditioners is the centerpiece: pouches use 73% less plastic than 1L bottles, take 62% less energy to produce, and one pouch refills a PCR conditioner bottle up to 4.2 times.

Aluminum bottles are indefinitely recyclable, and PCR plastic bottles are made from a minimum of 30% recycled content. The brand provides clear consumer disposal instructions on its sustainability page and encourages customers to rinse, dry, and reuse bottles repeatedly. Production happens in a single facility, which simplifies waste management on that side as well. The gaps preventing top-tier scoring are that the refill pouches themselves are not yet recyclable, the refill program does not extend to styling products, and there is no buyback or take-back program for empty bottles.

Business Model

AG Care's business model leans strongly toward slow, intentional consumption. The brand has maintained an evergreen, salon-grade product range for over 35 years rather than chasing trend cycles, and many of its hero products

New product launches are infrequent and tend to be reformulations or limited-edition refill formats rather than trend-driven additions. The brand encourages longer use cycles by offering refill pouches and aluminum bottles designed to be reused indefinitely, and its marketing focuses on hair-type fit and long-term hair health rather than impulse buying. Some occasional promotions and discounts do appear and the brand is sold through large retailers like Ulta.