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TESTIMONIAL – Why Compostable Packaging is a Competitive Differentiator for your Business: An Interview With Rooted Living

Whether you’re launching a new business or a new product, building out your supply chain is a critical part of your success. From picking the right materials to the right packaging and the most attractive label, every step along the journey is an opportunity to win over customers and create lifelong fans that will help grow your business.

Rooted Living is a plant-based snack company that doesn’t use any refined ingredients or plastic, so their products are good for your body as well as the planet. Their mission is to revolutionize the snack industry and make what’s ON the package as important as what’s inside, so they came to Source Green for a solution. In addition to seeking out durable shelf-stable packaging that was compostable both industrially and at home, they also required customizable solutions that would allow them to expand their line with new products and flavors. 

Today we’re chatting with Rooted founder Rachel Domb about her journey with Source Green, why she chose to use compostable packaging and how that decision has become the competitive differentiator for her business.

Tell us about your packaging journey and why sustainability is such a key focus for you.

Rachel Domb: I started Rooted Living when I was 19 because I was tired of making sacrifices every time I snacked. I’m a competitive runner and everything I ate was either packed with impossible to pronounce ingredients or wrapped in single-use plastic, a major environmental pollutant. It also became glaringly apparent that I wasn’t this problem didn’t just affect me, I could also see it affecting other students at my school and athletes on my teams. I’ve never seen myself as an entrepreneur, but because there is such a lack of sustainability within packaging, especially in the snack industry, that I knew I had to do something to make a difference.

Before I began looking for packaging providers, I did a lot of research around bioplastics because it was really important to me to create a product that didn’t have a negative environmental impact, but could still provide a good experience for consumers. The packaging needed to have a long shelf life, be sturdy enough to hold the granola, be compostable both industrially and at home and customizable so I could expand into other products outside of granola. It also needed to have a compostable zipper, which proved to be the biggest challenge because many companies only had plastic, which defeated the purpose. 

After going through 8 different companies to find the right fit, and being disappointed over and over again, I was introduced to Source Green. They not only answered my concerns and gave me valuable feedback that helped me improve my packaging, but they found the perfect solution for me.

"Source Green is not only informative, but they’re easy to work with and their designs are beautiful – I would 100% recommend them as the top place to go for good quality packaging."
Rachel Domb
Founder & Granolamaker

How are customers reacting to your products?

Rachel Domb: We’re working on featuring the compostable packaging more prominently on the packaging itself because it’s one of our key differentiators and something we’re hoping to revolutionize within the snack industry – being leaders in the fight against single use plastics. Our mission has gained us popularity not only with consumers, but also with stores and distributors. The fact that we use compostable packaging is the biggest point of difference for the company and is what pulls people in.

What products were you using before Source Green?

Rachel Domb: I did a lot of research around bioplastics to understand the options that were out there and went through 8 different companies trying to find the right fit. The packaging needed to have a long shelf life, be sturdy enough to hold the granola, be compostable both industrially and at home and customizable so I could expand into other products outside of granola. I also needed to have a compostable zipper and many companies only had plastic, which defeated the purpose.

After 3 failed attempts was introduced to Source Green, and everything has been so wonderful and easy ever since.

How has Source Green impacted your business?

Rachel Domb: Every company wants that personalized feeling of people working with and for you on the same mission, and I feel that 110% with Source Green. As a first time founder who is setting up my supply chain, it was important to me that I could work with a research – backed company who could provide me with the information my customers would be asking. It was also super easy putting my design on Source Green’s packaging and the end product looks amazing. Source Green is not only informative, but they’re so easy to work with – I would 100% recommend that as the top place to go for good quality packaging

"Not only did Source Green solutions exceed their expectations, but our research-backed advice and seamless ordering process made the buying experience easier than ever."
Rachel Domb
Founder & Granolamaker

What was the Source Green ordering process like?

Rachel Domb: Source Green has been so wonderful to work with! I have such a strong touch point and access to reliable information. It’s really important that everything that I’m doing is research-based & the ability to access information that Source Green has on their site is super important to me.

I read through a lot of their blog and article content before working with them, that really pulled me in and ultimately convinced me to work with them, and it’s been such an easy process.

Are you able to share your sustainable packaging story with customers?

Rachel Domb: We’re working on featuring the compostable packaging more prominently on the packaging itself because it’s one of our key differentiators and something we’re hoping to revolutionize within the snack industry – being leaders in the fight against single use plastics. 

Our mission has gained us popularity not only with consumers, but also with stores and distributors. The fact that we use compostable packaging is the biggest point of difference for the company and is what pulls people in. 

To learn more about Rooted Living, head over to their website. To get started on your packaging journey with Source Green, request a quote.

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