Gnarly Nutrition brings “superior recyclability” to sports nutrition with tin-coated steel cans
04 Oct 2021 --- Sports nutrition supplement specialist Gnarly Nutrition is transitioning to tin-coated steel cans, eradicating all plastic tubs from its products. The US-based company says the move is a first for environmentally sustainable packaging in the sports nutrition industry.
“Over the last 18 months, we’ve been trying to find a replacement for single-use plastic packaging that not only makes a substantial improvement in packaging sustainability but also maintains our high product quality standards,” says Gnarly chief procurement officer /chief operations officer, Shannon O’Grady.
“In addition to their superior recyclability, steel cans are also hermetic or airtight, thus setting the standard for shelf life and product integrity. This is Gnarly Nutrition’s first step toward responsible packaging and we’re in it for the long game.”
Gnarly Nutrition’s steel cans are US-made and began shipping to customers last month, with its Pre Workout energy and protein supplement and Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) products leading the transition.
Metal for nutrition
Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Gnarly says it aims to help customers achieve their health goals by providing clean and effective supplements to fuel progress.
Gnarly Nutrition’s vegan sports supplement in metal tins.Gnarly products are non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, NSF certified, and use only natural sweeteners and coloring. Aiming to help individuals reach their full potential, the company offers a full range of clean nutrition products and backs its commitment to high-quality products with a pledge to educate others about the benefits of functional nutrition.
The company’s full portfolio of Collagen Pro, Whey, and Vegan products will shift to the new metal packaging throughout autumn as inventory allows. Gnarly hopes its new packaging solution inspires other brands to join suit in reducing plastic waste.
Eli Kerr, Gnarly’s CEO, says: “We know our customers trust our quality and effective products, and we are focused on continuing to build a brand that we believe also resonates with our customers – which includes caring about the Earth and our impact on it.”
“These steel cans are just one step for Gnarly toward more sustainable solutions for our packaging. I am proud of our team and their vision to do something different, something better than what has 
According to Gnarly Nutrition, around 71% of steel packaging is recyclable.previously been done in the supplement industry. We are just getting started,” Kerr says.
Steel circularity
Gnarly Nutrition’s transition to tin-coated steel is inspired by the fact that steel has the highest recycling rate of any packaging material, with around 71% being repurposed compared to 8% of plastics, according to the company.
As the US lacks domestic recycling infrastructure, most recyclables are currently sent to landfills. Unlike plastic, steel can be recycled indefinitely with no loss of quality.
While Gnarly Nutrition’s plastic tubs have historically been made using recyclable high density polyethylene (HDPE), it indicates plastic can only be recycled one to two times before quality deterioration and microplastic contamination.
The majority of manufactured steel comes from recycled steel, reducing the amount of iron ore, limestone and coal being mined. In addition, steel is often and easily pulled from landfills due to its magnetic properties.
This year, the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL) shared four pillars for its 2025 vision for recycling.
- Optimizing separate waste collection
- Establishing a scrap quality standard
- Collecting and sorting steel closures
Designing for recyclability
APEAL identifies these four key areas as “critical” drivers to prevent steel packaging from being diverted from recycling streams and wasted.
By Louis Gore-Langton
