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 our hero ingredients’ journey from source to supplements and discover how we go beyond to bring you traceable, responsibly-made supplements that support your wellbeing while honouring your values.

Supplements shouldn’t cost the earth: Our commitment to sustainable sourcing

As a B Corporation-certified supplement brand, our responsibility goes beyond formulation. We are committed to sourcing ingredients as sustainably and ethically as possible, ensuring quality and transparency while protecting the ecosystems they come from.

As part of this commitment, we carefully choose who we work with by assessing their sustainability practices and carrying out Human Rights and Environmental risk assessments on our main suppliers. All of our suppliers must sign our Code of Conduct - we then assess them using three additional metrics:

+ Proven environmental & social certifications 

+ Proven product certifications 

+ Supplier screening questionnaire

If a supplier falls below our standards, we pause our partnership until they implement the necessary improvements.

These sustainability standards guide which ingredients we source. In the next section, we follow our ingredients' journey to the jar as we explore how this works in practice.

From source to supplement: Our ingredient origins

Type I Collagen

Our hero product, True Collagen, is responsibly sourced from European cattle, which adhere to some of the world's highest farming standards. This contrasts with collagen derived from cattle raised in some regions of South America, where deforestation of tropical rainforest has been linked to certain cattle farming practices. The origin of our collagen also means that the material does not have to travel as far, reducing the overall environmental impact.

For our Wild Collagen, we use free-swimming, wild-caught fish certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This globally recognised certification ensures fish are sourced responsibly, with practices designed to protect marine biodiversity and prevent overfishing.

Both bovine and marine collagen are by-products of the meat and fish industry, so we are using material that would otherwise be discarded.

Type II Collagen 

Our Noble Collagen supplements contain Type II collagen, sustainably sourced from chicken sternum cartilage. This involved a low-temperature extraction process that preserves the natural collagen structure, ensuring exceptional quality while aligning with our environmental commitments. By recovering a material that would otherwise go to waste, we also support a more efficient supply chain while reducing food industry waste.

Our supplier for Noble Collagen shares our commitment to doing business responsibly. Dedicated to reducing their carbon emissions by 75% by 2030 - in alignment with the EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy's aim for climate neutrality by 2050 - they hold both EcoVadis and Sedex membership, independently verifying their environmental and social performance. It's the kind of partnership that gives us confidence not just in the quality of the ingredient, but in the integrity of the entire supply chain.

Our vegan True Omegas+ supplements are sustainably sourced from algae, a plant-based source of omega-3, and seabuckthorn, a plant-based source of omega-7.

For many years, fish oil has been the go-to source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, we know now that algae provide an excellent, eco-friendly alternative to fish oil. Here's why:

+ Faster production: Algae can be cultivated into nutritional oils in just 25 days, compared to the 24 months needed for fish oil production. This shortens supply chains and reduces environmental impact. 

+ Higher potency: Algae-derived omega-3 provides a direct source of EPA and DHA, without the need for conversion. This makes them more efficient to transport and easier to incorporate into your daily ritual. Lighter to travel = lighter on the planet.

 + Marine-friendly: Algae cultivation doesn't disrupt marine ecosystems or deplete fish stocks. It's grown in controlled environments free from pollutants, using clean water-based extraction methods without harmful solvents.

By choosing to make our sustainable omega supplements with algae over fish, we're helping safeguard our oceans for future generations.

We also use seabuckthorn, another remarkable plant known for its ability to thrive in harsh climates. More than just resilient, seabuckthorn actively improves the environment around it. By enhancing soil health and boosting nitrogen levels, it helps to create healthier ecosystems wherever it grows.

The extraction process is just as impressive. Our supplier uses a closed-loop system that recycles carbon dioxide (CO2), a byproduct of industrial processes, instead of relying on harmful solvents. This method not only minimises waste but also prevents oxidation with low-temperature methods, ensuring the fatty acids retain their full potency. It's a win for your health and the environment.

Marine Magnesium

The marine magnesium that we use in True Nightcap, True Hydration and True Creatine+ is extracted from sustainably harvested red algae from the Irish Sea - a naturally abundant and renewable source that requires no mining, no synthetic processing, and leaves no lasting mark on the ecosystems it comes from. 

Unlike conventional magnesium, which is typically extracted through energy-intensive industrial processes, this approach works with nature rather than against it, delivering a highly bioavailable form of magnesium that's as gentle on the planet as it is effective for the body.

MCT Oil

Our MCT oil is sourced from coconuts - never palm oil. Palm oil production has been widely linked to deforestation, habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, so this is a line we won't cross. Coconut-derived MCT oil offers a cleaner, more responsible alternative, and combined with our careful supplier selection, you can be confident that what's in your bottle hasn't come at the expense of the planet.

Brave Tinctures 

When it comes to sustainable sourcing, our tinctures were no exception. 

Soil health underpins plant nutrient density, microbial diversity and ultimately the quality of what we consume, but modern agricultural systems can leave the soil depleted.

The herbs and botanicals used in our mushroom tincture range come from a biodynamic farm. Much like organic farming, biodynamic practices reject synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, prioritising soil health, animal welfare and regenerative agriculture. But biodynamic farming goes a step further. It views the farm as an interconnected ecosystem, operating in harmony with natural rhythms.

In the case of our supplier, they use a closed-loop system -  utilising leftover plant material, mixed with manure, to make a high-quality, nutrient-rich compost that they then use to enrich the soil for the next crop. 

Not only does this practice mean a better crop, but healthier soil actually encourages deeper carbon storage, better structure for breathability and drainage, laying the foundation for better, healthier plant growth. 

Brave Ancestral Protein

Processed protein powders can come at the cost of a higher environmental footprint, so when we created Brave Ancestral Protein, our responsibly made protein powder, we looked to by-product beef protein sourced from grass-fed cattle in Sweden. The protein is primarily derived from beef bones, repurposing nutrient-dense materials that might otherwise be discarded.

We have also included freeze-dried liver and kidney powders, which are true nutrient powerhouses. As by-products of the meat industry, using them is not only nutritionally brilliant — it's a more sustainable choice that makes use of what would otherwise go to waste and supports a more efficient, nose-to-tail supply chain. 

Sourced from pasture-raised Irish cattle and produced without added hormones or unnecessary antibiotics, this product honours the traditions of our ancestors, while helping to address the growing protein gap in modern lifestyles.

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 and Cacao + Chaga, to the matcha in Matcha + Collagen, the coffee in Coffee + Collagen, the ashwagandha in True Ashwagandha, and the herbs and botanicals that form the foundation of our Brave Tinctures - organic certification is something we actively seek out when choosing our ingredients and the suppliers behind them.

Organic farming rejects synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, working with the land rather than against it. This matters to us for two reasons. First, it protects the health of the ecosystems our ingredients come from - the soil, the surrounding wildlife, the waterways nearby. Second, it protects the integrity of what ends up in your jar. Healthy soil produces nutrient-dense plants. Nutrient-dense plants make better, more potent supplements. The two are inseparable.

This commitment to organic sourcing reflects a broader principle we hold across everything we make: that the quality of an ingredient is only as good as the conditions it was grown in. Ancient traditions understood this intuitively - that the land, the plant and the person are connected. We bring that same understanding to our formulations today, grounding modern science in the wisdom that has always known: nature, when respected, gives its best.

Reducing our packaging impact

Another important aspect of our sustainability efforts is packaging. We consider every detail - from aesthetics to environmental impact - doing everything we can to ensure our products' transit has as little environmental impact as reasonably possible.

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

To preserve our supplements' potency, we use amber glass jars that are reusable and infinitely recyclable. Where possible, we offer recyclable pouch refills. After their first delivery, subscribers are switched to these refill pouches to reduce packaging waste.

Final thoughts

At Ancient + Brave, sustainable sourcing is not just something we say we do. A key part of who we are as a company is our commitment to the planet and to doing business responsibly.

Sustainability is a key factor in every decision we make - from sourcing ingredients to designing packaging - balancing product efficacy with environmental stewardship, because for us, the two go perfectly hand in hand.