In 2018, Point Loma entrepreneur Jared Koett founded a start-up biodegradable pill bottle company. Four years later, that initial offering has evolved into Invert, a cutting-edge company providing sustainable alternatives to replace traditional plastic packaging.

“Now we are in the forefront of making sustainable products as an answer to single-use plastics,” said green inventor Koett, pointing out that “the average claimed shelf-life of a supplement is two years or less, while the traditional plastic packaging it comes in lasts up to 450 years. There is a need for packaging that sufficiently protects your product, but breaks down in a (much) shorter period of time.”

Invert containers and lids have been tested by independent laboratories for food grade and USP-published standards for drug substances, drug products, and dietary supplements. The containers are coated to protect against the elements. First, a non-toxic chemical is introduced during manufacturing, bonding to the paper fibers and giving them resilience to water. And, a wax-coating is applied to the outside walls of the container giving them an added barrier of protection.

The closures, or lids, are currently made from cork, with aluminum and bioresin options soon to be offered. The result is a container-closure system that withstands light and moisture. When combined with supplements that are formulated to remain stable, the overall package and contents are protected from the outside world.

“I thought, ‘Why not start out with something small like a pill bottle?,’” said Koett about his earlier sustainable container, which made him realize there was a marketplace – and real potential – for the expansion of sustainable packaging.

“Then, little by little, we tore back the layers, looking at what not only was in the market now but what applications could come from recycling craft paper, essentially Amazon boxes, which are widely abundant worldwide,” said Koett noting, “It (recycled paper packaging) is not tied to the volatility of oils or resins, like plastic bottles are. It does not compete with agricultural land because it is post-consumer recycled (upcycled) paper. There are no trees harmed because it is paper that has been used by the consumer and is getting a second chance. We are taking that old paper that has been set aside, and finding a new purpose for it.”

Invert is made from renewable resources, and is being employed in a recycling market that is generally underutilized. Koett noted that in 2018 according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the recycling rate of the most widely used plastics was approximately 30% or less. That rate, by 2022, had dropped to just 9%. Conversely, Koett pointed out corrugated boxes (the main feedstock of Invert containers) and aluminum are recycled at rates of 96.5% and 65%, respectively.

Invert has also teamed with a leader in the clean label movement, PureNSM, a company committed to delivering high-quality, pure sustainable products to its customers. Koett noted Invert is a natural extension of PureNSM’s mission to create the best possible product experience in a sustainable way.

“Why can’t there be packaging sufficient to protect the product, but which breaks down in a fraction of the time, that is friendlier to the environment?” asked Koett adding, “That is what we set out to do. That is the balancing act with Earth-digestible packaging systems.”