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Key Takeaways:

  • Thrive Market works well for people who may not have easy access to natural or organic food stores, since they deliver to all the contiguous US states.
  • The annual membership works out to about $5/month, and the site is a more cost-effective way to shop for multiple items, including pantry staples, beauty and hygiene products, and pet and baby supplies.
  • Thrive offsets shipping emissions through Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and for their plastic shipping materials, they purchase plastic recovery credits through rePurpose Global to cover usage. All orders are shipped via TRUE Certified Zero-Waste Fulfillment centers. 

In the small Colorado mountain town where I live, I try to grab all my fruit and produce from the local farmers’ markets, then supplement with other necessities from the grocery store. Luckily, we’re not far from a natural grocer filled with purpose-driven, health-conscious brands. We also have a small zero-waste shop that sells refillable floss, soap bars, and bulk shampoo and conditioner. 

“Thrive Market ships to residential and commercial addresses in the contiguous United States… [It] is also carbon-neutral.”

Though I love supporting the local shops in my town, driving around from store to store can be a challenge. During the winter months, snow and icy roads add to the adventure of grabbing groceries — not to mention the impact of my carbon footprint from driving. 

This is what excited me most about trying Thrive Market — a unique online one-stop shop that offers a wide range of organic pantry staples, clean beauty essentials, nontoxic home supplies, pet products, and even baby necessities. 

Thrive Market ships to residential and commercial addresses in the contiguous United States, and shipping rates vary by order. Shipping emissions are offset through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and they purchase plastic recovery credits through rePurpose Global to cover the usage of plastic packaging materials. All orders are shipped via TRUE Certified Zero-Waste Fulfillment centers. 

“Because there are over 6,000+ products to choose from on the marketplace, this step is important in curating what you need most.”

To start shopping, you must first sign up for a membership. The process is simple and affordable with annual and monthly options, though most users opt for the annual membership, which works out to about $5/month. After you sign up, the website walks you through a series of questions to personalize your shopping experience. Because there are over 6,000+ products to choose from on the marketplace, this step is important in curating what you need most.

Although their interface is well-organized (you can filter by diet, ingredients, and even search for products from B Corp companies), I still felt overwhelmed by the vast selection. I decided to focus instead on shopping for products from Thrive’s own label. I also added a few items to my cart from new brands I’d never heard of. 

First was the Wild-Caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon ($38/1.5 lbs). It can be hard to find quality fish in the mountains, so this was a must for my cart. Thrive sources seafood only from sustainable, environmentally conscious fisheries. 

A variety of maternity and baby care products, including nursing pads, nutrition bars, wipes, supplements, cream, and other health essentials, arranged on a wooden surface.

Next, I shopped for products to support me in my postpartum journey. I love that Thrive Market carries a wide range of pre- and postnatal supplies, such as washable nursing pads ($13.99/6-count) and organic, dairy-free nutrition bars from a woman-owned brand ($21.99/6 bars). I also grabbed some rose essential oil from Aura Cacia ($8.36/.5 fl oz) to help with labor, and my favorite face tonic from Ursa Major ($25.20/6.7 fl oz) for self-care during the postpartum period.

Other necessities I added to my cart: Compostable, BPA-free food scrap bags ($5.99/2 rolls), plastic-free floss ($1.79/55 yards), Molly’s Suds plastic-free dish soap bar ($5.39/4 oz), LastSwab reusable Q-tip made from recycled ocean waste plastic ($12.99), and (re)Zip BPA-free reusable food storage pouches ($17.99/5-count). All these products are home essentials I know I will use daily to keep my house feeling clean and conscious.

My Thrive order arrived in two shipments; the first was the frozen salmon. I didn’t love that this shipped separately (though I understand why), nor did I love the amount of shipping material used to keep the salmon frozen. The fish was also inside a plastic bag, and each piece was individually wrapped in plastic. We ended up having a lot of waste to throw away.

“I didn’t love that this [order] shipped separately…nor did I love the amount of shipping material used.”

When my second shipment arrived, I was hoping for less waste — this one included my pantry and home essentials. Unfortunately, while the products were all very organized inside the box, I was once again surprised by the amount of packing material used. Even though most of it was compostable or recyclable, each beauty product was packed inside plastic baggies. 

That said, the brand has shared with us that their boxes are made with 30–50% recycled content and include 100% recyclable and reusable materials. Your box will always arrive via ground shipping, too, as it emits 84% less CO2 than air shipping. Most boxes contain 12+ items, as opposed to one or two per box.

I did love that the box included a message about Thrive Market’s values, though, and that the name of the person who packed the shipment was handwritten on the first fold of the packaging. The products are also wonderful, and I’m excited to use them. My favorite so far is the Thrive Market floss. It’s minty fresh with organic mint and coconut oil. The floss is made from a unique nylon material that expands, helping you use less floss.

A partially open cardboard box with green flaps, showing an arrow and the text "Packed With Love By: Angel" on the top.
Open box with brown packing paper inside; the lid displays the text "Our Community is committed to making healthy living easy and affordable for every family.

Overall the experience was fun, and I’d recommend Thrive Market for anyone who may not have access to natural or purpose-driven grocery stores. Especially when it comes to accessibility, Thrive makes it possible for more people to experience ethical and sustainable brands — from cleaning products and groceries to hygiene and wellness staples.

“Especially when it comes to accessibility, Thrive makes it possible for more people to experience ethical and sustainable brands.”

Courtney Jay Higgins is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a BA in Visual Communications from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is the founder of Coincide, a subscription-based yoga platform focusing on inclusive, sustainable yoga rooted in ancient Eastern practices and spirituality. Her 10+ years of experience in yoga include a 200-hr YTT certification in a Hatha-based yoga practice and a certification in prenatal yoga. She has been featured in Shoutout Colorado, Voyage Denver, and Cora’s Blood & Milk. Since 2017, she has been reviewing sustainable fashion, natural makeup, organic wellness, and safe pregnancy products for The Good Trade’s readers.