Where Do Our Ingredients Come From? Our Path to Sustainable Sourcing

At Ancient + Brave, our products embody our philosophy: science-backed and inspired by ancient wisdom, created with deep respect for the natural world.

Follow the journey of our key ingredients from source to supplement and discover how we go above and beyond to create traceable, responsibly made supplements that support your well-being while honoring your values.

Supplements Shouldn't Come at the Expense of the Planet: Our Commitment to Sustainable Sourcing

As a Certified B Corporation, our responsibility goes beyond formulation. We are committed to sourcing ingredients as sustainably and ethically as possible, ensuring quality and transparency while helping protect the ecosystems they come from.

As part of this commitment, we carefully choose who we work with by assessing their sustainability practices and conducting human rights and environmental risk assessments for our key suppliers.

All of our suppliers are required to sign our Code of Conduct. We then evaluate them using three additional criteria:

+ Recognized environmental and social certifications

+ Recognized product certifications 

+ Supplier screening questionnaire

If a supplier falls below our standards, we pause our partnership until the necessary improvements have been made.

These sustainability standards guide every ingredient we source. In the next section, we'll follow the journey from source to supplement and explore how this commitment comes to life.

From Source to Supplement: Our Ingredient Origins

Type I Collagen

Our hero product, True Collagen, is responsibly sourced from European cattle that adhere to some of the world's highest farming standards. This differs from collagen sourced from cattle raised in certain regions of South America, where some cattle farming practices have been linked to tropical rainforest deforestation. Sourcing our collagen closer to home also helps reduce transportation distances and overall environmental impact.

For our Wild Collagen, we use free-swimming, wild-caught fish certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This globally recognized certification helps ensure fish are sourced responsibly using practices designed to protect marine biodiversity and support healthy fish populations.

Both our bovine and marine collagen are by-products of the meat and fishing industries, allowing us to repurpose materials that might otherwise go to waste.

Type II Collagen 

Our Noble Collagen supplements contain Type II collagen sustainably sourced from chicken sternum cartilage. A low-temperature extraction process helps preserve the collagen's natural structure while supporting ingredient quality and aligning with our environmental commitments. By recovering a material that would otherwise go to waste, we also help support a more efficient supply chain while reducing food industry waste.

Our Noble Collagen supplier shares our commitment to responsible business practices. They are working to reduce carbon emissions by 75% by 2030, in line with the EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy's goal of climate neutrality by 2050, and hold both EcoVadis and Sedex membership, independently verifying their environmental and social performance. It's the kind of partnership that gives us confidence not only in the quality of the ingredient, but also in the integrity of the entire supply chain.

Marine-Sourced Magnesium

The marine-sourced magnesium found in Triple Magnesium and True Hydrate is derived from sustainably harvested red algae from the Irish Sea, a naturally abundant and renewable source that requires no mining or synthetic processing.

Unlike conventional magnesium, which is often extracted through energy-intensive industrial processes, this approach works with nature to provide a highly bioavailable source of magnesium while helping minimize environmental impact.

Organic Ingredients: From Soil to Ritual

Across our range, many of the botanicals, adaptogens, and functional ingredients we use are organically sourced, and that's no accident.

From the cacao in Cacao + Collagen, to the matcha in Matcha + Collagen, organic certification is something we actively prioritize when selecting both our ingredients and the suppliers behind them.

Organic farming avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, working with the land rather than against it. This matters to us for two reasons. First, it helps protect the ecosystems our ingredients come from, including the surrounding soil, wildlife, and waterways. Second, it helps preserve the integrity of the ingredients that end up in your daily ritual.

This commitment to organic sourcing reflects a broader principle that guides everything we make: the quality of an ingredient begins with the conditions in which it's grown. Ancient traditions understood that the land, the plant, and the person are deeply connected. We bring that same philosophy to our formulations today, combining modern science with timeless wisdom and a deep respect for nature.

Reducing Our Packaging Impact

Packaging is another important part of our sustainability efforts. We carefully consider every detail, from functionality to environmental impact, to help reduce our footprint wherever possible.

All of our paper and cardboard packaging is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, meaning it comes from responsibly managed forests.

To help preserve the quality and potency of our supplements, we package many of our products in amber glass jars that are reusable and infinitely recyclable. Where possible, we also offer recyclable refill pouches to help reduce packaging waste.

Final Thoughts

At Ancient + Brave, sustainable sourcing isn't simply something we talk about. It's a core part of who we are and how we do business.

From sourcing ingredients to designing our packaging, sustainability plays an important role in every decision we make. We believe exceptional products and responsible practices go hand in hand, allowing us to support your well-being while caring for the planet that provides the ingredients we rely on.