GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sustainability In The Wellness Industry Statistics

The wellness industry creates significant environmental harm despite making progress toward sustainability.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Consumer and Market Trends: 78% of wellness consumers prefer brands with sustainability certifications in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 2

Sustainable products grew 15% faster than conventional in wellness retail in 2022.

Statistic 3

64% of millennials would pay 20% premium for eco-friendly yoga gear in 2023.

Statistic 4

Awareness of greenwashing dropped purchase intent by 47% among wellness buyers in 2022.

Statistic 5

82% of Gen Z prioritizes carbon-neutral wellness brands in 2023 polls.

Statistic 6

Organic wellness market share reached 29% globally in 2022.

Statistic 7

71% of consumers boycotted non-sustainable spas post-2023 surveys.

Statistic 8

Demand for zero-waste wellness kits surged 33% in e-commerce in 2022.

Statistic 9

59% shifted to plant-based supplements for sustainability reasons in 2023.

Statistic 10

Wellness app users valuing green data centers grew to 66% in 2022.

Statistic 11

75% of high-income consumers seek B Corp certified wellness products in 2023.

Statistic 12

Vegan wellness snacks market expanded 28% due to ethical sourcing demand in 2022.

Statistic 13

68% reported higher loyalty to transparent supply chain wellness brands in 2023.

Statistic 14

Recycled material apparel influenced 54% of purchases in fitness in 2022.

Statistic 15

83% of parents choose sustainable toys for kids' wellness activities in 2023.

Statistic 16

Carbon footprint labels swayed 61% of supplement buyers in 2022.

Statistic 17

77% prefer local-sourced ingredients in wellness foods per 2023 data.

Statistic 18

Sustainable travel for wellness retreats booked 42% more in 2022.

Statistic 19

65% abandoned carts for non-eco shipping options in wellness e-shops 2023.

Statistic 20

Awareness campaigns boosted ethical CBD demand by 39% in 2022.

Statistic 21

Energy Efficiency and Emissions: Wellness facilities reduced energy use by 27% on average with LED lighting retrofits in 2023.

Statistic 22

Solar panels powered 42% of yoga studios in California in 2022, cutting CO2 by 1,200 tons annually.

Statistic 23

Gyms adopting heat pumps saw 35% lower heating emissions compared to gas boilers in 2023.

Statistic 24

Spa hot tubs with efficient insulation reduced energy consumption by 22% per session in 2022.

Statistic 25

Wellness retreats using biomass boilers emitted 48% less CO2 than fossil fuel alternatives in 2023.

Statistic 26

Smart HVAC systems in fitness centers lowered emissions by 19% through occupancy sensors in 2022.

Statistic 27

Wind energy supplied 31% of power to European wellness hotels in 2023.

Statistic 28

LED upgrades in meditation centers saved 1.5 million kWh yearly across 5,000 sites in 2022.

Statistic 29

Geothermal heating in spas reduced carbon footprint by 56% in Iceland facilities in 2023.

Statistic 30

EV charging stations at gyms offset 8,200 tons of CO2 from member commutes in 2022.

Statistic 31

Demand-response programs cut peak energy use by 24% in wellness chains in 2023.

Statistic 32

Aerobic wastewater treatment in resorts lowered methane emissions by 41% in 2022.

Statistic 33

Microgrids powered 17% of remote wellness camps emissions-free in 2023.

Statistic 34

High-efficiency motors in treadmills reduced gym energy by 29% fleet-wide in 2022.

Statistic 35

Green roofs on fitness centers decreased cooling needs by 33% in urban areas in 2023.

Statistic 36

52% of wellness apps optimized server energy via cloud efficiency in 2022.

Statistic 37

Passive solar design in new yoga halls cut heating emissions by 38% in 2023.

Statistic 38

Waste-to-energy plants processed 12% of spa organic waste, reducing landfill emissions by 2,500 tons in 2022.

Statistic 39

ISO 50001 certification led to 21% emissions drop in certified wellness firms in 2023.

Statistic 40

Variable frequency drives on pumps saved 1.8 million kWh in pools annually in 2022.

Statistic 41

The global wellness industry produced 2.8 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste from product packaging in 2022, contributing to 4.5% of total plastic pollution from consumer goods.

Statistic 42

Wellness spas worldwide consumed 15.2 billion liters of water annually for treatments and operations in 2023, equivalent to the yearly water use of 12 million households.

Statistic 43

The fitness equipment manufacturing sector within wellness emitted 450,000 tons of CO2 in 2022 from synthetic rubber production alone.

Statistic 44

Organic wellness supplements packaging accounted for 320,000 tons of non-recyclable materials discarded globally in 2023.

Statistic 45

Yoga mat production contributed to deforestation of 8,500 hectares of rubber plantations in Southeast Asia in 2022 due to unsustainable harvesting.

Statistic 46

Wellness retreats generated 1.1 million tons of food waste yearly in 2023, with 65% from buffet-style meals.

Statistic 47

The aromatherapy oil industry released 28,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere in 2022 from extraction processes.

Statistic 48

Global sales of non-sustainable wellness apparel led to 750,000 tons of textile waste in landfills in 2023.

Statistic 49

Meditation app hardware like wearables contained 45 tons of rare earth metals mined unsustainably in 2022.

Statistic 50

Sauna manufacturing used 12 million cubic meters of non-FSC certified wood in 2023, exacerbating illegal logging.

Statistic 51

72% of wellness protein powders sourced palm oil linked to 15,000 hectares of rainforest clearance in 2022.

Statistic 52

The industry’s essential oils farming depleted 2.3 billion liters of groundwater in India alone in 2023.

Statistic 53

Wellness beauty products testing on animals indirectly supported 1.2 million animal displacements via habitat loss in 2022.

Statistic 54

Global wellness tourism flights emitted 3.5 million tons of CO2 in 2023 from short-haul trips.

Statistic 55

Non-biodegradable yoga blocks production released 18,000 tons of microplastics into oceans in 2022.

Statistic 56

85% of herbal teas in wellness used pesticides covering 45,000 hectares of farmland in 2023.

Statistic 57

Wellness gym construction utilized 9.2 million tons of concrete, producing 2.1 million tons of CO2 in 2022.

Statistic 58

The sector’s CBD extraction consumed 1.8 billion kWh of energy from fossil fuels in 2023.

Statistic 59

Discarded essential oil bottles contributed 56,000 tons of glass waste non-recycled in 2022.

Statistic 60

Wellness industry deforestation for bamboo products cleared 22,000 hectares in 2023.

Statistic 61

Sustainable Materials and Sourcing: 68% of wellness brands now use organic cotton for apparel, up from 42% in 2020.

Statistic 62

45% of yoga mats sold globally in 2023 were made from natural rubber sourced from certified sustainable farms.

Statistic 63

The wellness supplement market saw 52% adoption of Fair Trade certified ingredients in 2022.

Statistic 64

73% of premium spa products in Europe used upcycled botanicals for skincare in 2023.

Statistic 65

Recycled plastic constituted 31% of water bottle materials in fitness centers by 2023.

Statistic 66

59% of essential oils in wellness were Rainforest Alliance certified in 2022.

Statistic 67

Hemp-based fabrics in activewear reached 28% market share in the wellness sector in 2023.

Statistic 68

64% of protein powders shifted to pea and rice proteins from sustainable sources in 2022.

Statistic 69

Bamboo fiber towels in spas increased to 41% usage from regenerative farms in 2023.

Statistic 70

77% of CBD wellness products used organic hemp grown without pesticides in 2022.

Statistic 71

Mycelium leather alternatives comprised 19% of wellness bag materials in 2023.

Statistic 72

55% of herbal supplements sourced wild-crafted herbs from ethical foragers in 2022.

Statistic 73

Seaweed-based packaging for wellness snacks reached 23% adoption in 2023.

Statistic 74

49% of meditation cushions used kapok filling from FSC-certified trees in 2022.

Statistic 75

Algae-derived omega-3 in wellness capsules hit 37% market penetration in 2023.

Statistic 76

Recycled ocean plastic in fitness trackers reached 26% of casings in 2022.

Statistic 77

62% of ayurvedic products used GOTS-certified organic ingredients in 2023.

Statistic 78

Tencel lyocell fabrics in loungewear accounted for 34% of sustainable wellness wear in 2022.

Statistic 79

71% of superfood powders sourced regenerative agriculture farms in 2023.

Statistic 80

Jute-based yoga straps increased to 48% in eco-conscious brands in 2022.

Statistic 81

56% of wellness teas used compostable pyramid bags made from plant starch in 2023.

Statistic 82

Piñatex (pineapple leaf fiber) mats comprised 15% of innovative yoga products in 2022.

Statistic 83

63% of aromatherapy diffusers used FSC wood in 2023.

Statistic 84

Waste Management Practices: 81% of leading wellness brands achieved zero-waste certification for events in 2023.

Statistic 85

Composting programs in gyms diverted 67% of food waste from landfills in 2022.

Statistic 86

Recyclable packaging in supplements reached 76% compliance in EU markets in 2023.

Statistic 87

Spas implementing refill stations reduced single-use bottles by 92% in 2022.

Statistic 88

Textile recycling programs in yoga studios reused 58% of worn mats in 2023.

Statistic 89

Wellness hotels cut plastic straws and bags, eliminating 1.4 million units per property yearly in 2022.

Statistic 90

E-waste from wearables recycled 44% through take-back schemes in 2023.

Statistic 91

Organic waste from juice bars composted at 83% rate in urban wellness cafes in 2022.

Statistic 92

69% of fitness centers banned polystyrene packaging in 2023.

Statistic 93

Circular economy models reused 53% of spa linens via industrial laundering in 2022.

Statistic 94

Bottle deposit schemes in wellness resorts recovered 91% of PET bottles in 2023.

Statistic 95

Food donation programs from retreats reduced waste by 74% pre-expiry in 2022.

Statistic 96

Anaerobic digesters processed 39% of gym cafeteria waste into biogas in 2023.

Statistic 97

Upcycled materials from product scraps made 27% of new wellness merchandise in 2022.

Statistic 98

88% diversion rate achieved in yoga festival waste management in 2023.

Statistic 99

Shredding and repurposing old towels saved 62,000 tons landfill space in spas in 2022.

Statistic 100

Digital receipts eliminated 1.2 million paper slips in wellness shops in 2023.

Statistic 101

Multi-stream recycling in fitness clubs hit 79% participation rate in 2022.

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While the wellness industry sells a dream of purity and self-care, the staggering reality is that it generated millions of tons of plastic, water, and CO2 waste last year, yet a powerful movement is emerging to transform it from within.

Key Takeaways

  • The global wellness industry produced 2.8 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste from product packaging in 2022, contributing to 4.5% of total plastic pollution from consumer goods.
  • Wellness spas worldwide consumed 15.2 billion liters of water annually for treatments and operations in 2023, equivalent to the yearly water use of 12 million households.
  • The fitness equipment manufacturing sector within wellness emitted 450,000 tons of CO2 in 2022 from synthetic rubber production alone.
  • Sustainable Materials and Sourcing: 68% of wellness brands now use organic cotton for apparel, up from 42% in 2020.
  • 45% of yoga mats sold globally in 2023 were made from natural rubber sourced from certified sustainable farms.
  • The wellness supplement market saw 52% adoption of Fair Trade certified ingredients in 2022.
  • Energy Efficiency and Emissions: Wellness facilities reduced energy use by 27% on average with LED lighting retrofits in 2023.
  • Solar panels powered 42% of yoga studios in California in 2022, cutting CO2 by 1,200 tons annually.
  • Gyms adopting heat pumps saw 35% lower heating emissions compared to gas boilers in 2023.
  • Waste Management Practices: 81% of leading wellness brands achieved zero-waste certification for events in 2023.
  • Composting programs in gyms diverted 67% of food waste from landfills in 2022.
  • Recyclable packaging in supplements reached 76% compliance in EU markets in 2023.
  • Consumer and Market Trends: 78% of wellness consumers prefer brands with sustainability certifications in 2023 surveys.
  • Sustainable products grew 15% faster than conventional in wellness retail in 2022.
  • 64% of millennials would pay 20% premium for eco-friendly yoga gear in 2023.

The wellness industry creates significant environmental harm despite making progress toward sustainability.

Consumer and Market Trends

  • Consumer and Market Trends: 78% of wellness consumers prefer brands with sustainability certifications in 2023 surveys.
  • Sustainable products grew 15% faster than conventional in wellness retail in 2022.
  • 64% of millennials would pay 20% premium for eco-friendly yoga gear in 2023.
  • Awareness of greenwashing dropped purchase intent by 47% among wellness buyers in 2022.
  • 82% of Gen Z prioritizes carbon-neutral wellness brands in 2023 polls.
  • Organic wellness market share reached 29% globally in 2022.
  • 71% of consumers boycotted non-sustainable spas post-2023 surveys.
  • Demand for zero-waste wellness kits surged 33% in e-commerce in 2022.
  • 59% shifted to plant-based supplements for sustainability reasons in 2023.
  • Wellness app users valuing green data centers grew to 66% in 2022.
  • 75% of high-income consumers seek B Corp certified wellness products in 2023.
  • Vegan wellness snacks market expanded 28% due to ethical sourcing demand in 2022.
  • 68% reported higher loyalty to transparent supply chain wellness brands in 2023.
  • Recycled material apparel influenced 54% of purchases in fitness in 2022.
  • 83% of parents choose sustainable toys for kids' wellness activities in 2023.
  • Carbon footprint labels swayed 61% of supplement buyers in 2022.
  • 77% prefer local-sourced ingredients in wellness foods per 2023 data.
  • Sustainable travel for wellness retreats booked 42% more in 2022.
  • 65% abandoned carts for non-eco shipping options in wellness e-shops 2023.
  • Awareness campaigns boosted ethical CBD demand by 39% in 2022.

Consumer and Market Trends Interpretation

Wellness has officially become a green game where brands must authentically prove their eco-credentials or watch their sustainably-minded customers—and their carts—abandon them faster than a downward dog in a plastic-filled studio.

Energy Efficiency and Emissions

  • Energy Efficiency and Emissions: Wellness facilities reduced energy use by 27% on average with LED lighting retrofits in 2023.
  • Solar panels powered 42% of yoga studios in California in 2022, cutting CO2 by 1,200 tons annually.
  • Gyms adopting heat pumps saw 35% lower heating emissions compared to gas boilers in 2023.
  • Spa hot tubs with efficient insulation reduced energy consumption by 22% per session in 2022.
  • Wellness retreats using biomass boilers emitted 48% less CO2 than fossil fuel alternatives in 2023.
  • Smart HVAC systems in fitness centers lowered emissions by 19% through occupancy sensors in 2022.
  • Wind energy supplied 31% of power to European wellness hotels in 2023.
  • LED upgrades in meditation centers saved 1.5 million kWh yearly across 5,000 sites in 2022.
  • Geothermal heating in spas reduced carbon footprint by 56% in Iceland facilities in 2023.
  • EV charging stations at gyms offset 8,200 tons of CO2 from member commutes in 2022.
  • Demand-response programs cut peak energy use by 24% in wellness chains in 2023.
  • Aerobic wastewater treatment in resorts lowered methane emissions by 41% in 2022.
  • Microgrids powered 17% of remote wellness camps emissions-free in 2023.
  • High-efficiency motors in treadmills reduced gym energy by 29% fleet-wide in 2022.
  • Green roofs on fitness centers decreased cooling needs by 33% in urban areas in 2023.
  • 52% of wellness apps optimized server energy via cloud efficiency in 2022.
  • Passive solar design in new yoga halls cut heating emissions by 38% in 2023.
  • Waste-to-energy plants processed 12% of spa organic waste, reducing landfill emissions by 2,500 tons in 2022.
  • ISO 50001 certification led to 21% emissions drop in certified wellness firms in 2023.
  • Variable frequency drives on pumps saved 1.8 million kWh in pools annually in 2022.

Energy Efficiency and Emissions Interpretation

The wellness industry has discovered that caring for the planet is the ultimate act of self-care, slashing energy bills and emissions with smart tech and renewables so that our downward dogs and downward-facing dogs don't cost the Earth.

Environmental Impact Metrics

  • The global wellness industry produced 2.8 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste from product packaging in 2022, contributing to 4.5% of total plastic pollution from consumer goods.
  • Wellness spas worldwide consumed 15.2 billion liters of water annually for treatments and operations in 2023, equivalent to the yearly water use of 12 million households.
  • The fitness equipment manufacturing sector within wellness emitted 450,000 tons of CO2 in 2022 from synthetic rubber production alone.
  • Organic wellness supplements packaging accounted for 320,000 tons of non-recyclable materials discarded globally in 2023.
  • Yoga mat production contributed to deforestation of 8,500 hectares of rubber plantations in Southeast Asia in 2022 due to unsustainable harvesting.
  • Wellness retreats generated 1.1 million tons of food waste yearly in 2023, with 65% from buffet-style meals.
  • The aromatherapy oil industry released 28,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere in 2022 from extraction processes.
  • Global sales of non-sustainable wellness apparel led to 750,000 tons of textile waste in landfills in 2023.
  • Meditation app hardware like wearables contained 45 tons of rare earth metals mined unsustainably in 2022.
  • Sauna manufacturing used 12 million cubic meters of non-FSC certified wood in 2023, exacerbating illegal logging.
  • 72% of wellness protein powders sourced palm oil linked to 15,000 hectares of rainforest clearance in 2022.
  • The industry’s essential oils farming depleted 2.3 billion liters of groundwater in India alone in 2023.
  • Wellness beauty products testing on animals indirectly supported 1.2 million animal displacements via habitat loss in 2022.
  • Global wellness tourism flights emitted 3.5 million tons of CO2 in 2023 from short-haul trips.
  • Non-biodegradable yoga blocks production released 18,000 tons of microplastics into oceans in 2022.
  • 85% of herbal teas in wellness used pesticides covering 45,000 hectares of farmland in 2023.
  • Wellness gym construction utilized 9.2 million tons of concrete, producing 2.1 million tons of CO2 in 2022.
  • The sector’s CBD extraction consumed 1.8 billion kWh of energy from fossil fuels in 2023.
  • Discarded essential oil bottles contributed 56,000 tons of glass waste non-recycled in 2022.
  • Wellness industry deforestation for bamboo products cleared 22,000 hectares in 2023.

Environmental Impact Metrics Interpretation

In pursuing our personal well-being, we appear to have created a world so profoundly unwell that the very industries built to help us feel better are now a leading cause of the anxiety they promise to cure.

Sustainable Materials and Sourcing

  • Sustainable Materials and Sourcing: 68% of wellness brands now use organic cotton for apparel, up from 42% in 2020.
  • 45% of yoga mats sold globally in 2023 were made from natural rubber sourced from certified sustainable farms.
  • The wellness supplement market saw 52% adoption of Fair Trade certified ingredients in 2022.
  • 73% of premium spa products in Europe used upcycled botanicals for skincare in 2023.
  • Recycled plastic constituted 31% of water bottle materials in fitness centers by 2023.
  • 59% of essential oils in wellness were Rainforest Alliance certified in 2022.
  • Hemp-based fabrics in activewear reached 28% market share in the wellness sector in 2023.
  • 64% of protein powders shifted to pea and rice proteins from sustainable sources in 2022.
  • Bamboo fiber towels in spas increased to 41% usage from regenerative farms in 2023.
  • 77% of CBD wellness products used organic hemp grown without pesticides in 2022.
  • Mycelium leather alternatives comprised 19% of wellness bag materials in 2023.
  • 55% of herbal supplements sourced wild-crafted herbs from ethical foragers in 2022.
  • Seaweed-based packaging for wellness snacks reached 23% adoption in 2023.
  • 49% of meditation cushions used kapok filling from FSC-certified trees in 2022.
  • Algae-derived omega-3 in wellness capsules hit 37% market penetration in 2023.
  • Recycled ocean plastic in fitness trackers reached 26% of casings in 2022.
  • 62% of ayurvedic products used GOTS-certified organic ingredients in 2023.
  • Tencel lyocell fabrics in loungewear accounted for 34% of sustainable wellness wear in 2022.
  • 71% of superfood powders sourced regenerative agriculture farms in 2023.
  • Jute-based yoga straps increased to 48% in eco-conscious brands in 2022.
  • 56% of wellness teas used compostable pyramid bags made from plant starch in 2023.
  • Piñatex (pineapple leaf fiber) mats comprised 15% of innovative yoga products in 2022.
  • 63% of aromatherapy diffusers used FSC wood in 2023.

Sustainable Materials and Sourcing Interpretation

The wellness industry's "self-care" mantra has officially extended to the planet, with brands scrambling to swap synthetics for everything from organic cotton and mycelium leather to seaweed snack wrappers and recycled-ocean-plastic fitness trackers, proving that feeling good is now inextricably linked to doing good.

Waste Management Practices

  • Waste Management Practices: 81% of leading wellness brands achieved zero-waste certification for events in 2023.
  • Composting programs in gyms diverted 67% of food waste from landfills in 2022.
  • Recyclable packaging in supplements reached 76% compliance in EU markets in 2023.
  • Spas implementing refill stations reduced single-use bottles by 92% in 2022.
  • Textile recycling programs in yoga studios reused 58% of worn mats in 2023.
  • Wellness hotels cut plastic straws and bags, eliminating 1.4 million units per property yearly in 2022.
  • E-waste from wearables recycled 44% through take-back schemes in 2023.
  • Organic waste from juice bars composted at 83% rate in urban wellness cafes in 2022.
  • 69% of fitness centers banned polystyrene packaging in 2023.
  • Circular economy models reused 53% of spa linens via industrial laundering in 2022.
  • Bottle deposit schemes in wellness resorts recovered 91% of PET bottles in 2023.
  • Food donation programs from retreats reduced waste by 74% pre-expiry in 2022.
  • Anaerobic digesters processed 39% of gym cafeteria waste into biogas in 2023.
  • Upcycled materials from product scraps made 27% of new wellness merchandise in 2022.
  • 88% diversion rate achieved in yoga festival waste management in 2023.
  • Shredding and repurposing old towels saved 62,000 tons landfill space in spas in 2022.
  • Digital receipts eliminated 1.2 million paper slips in wellness shops in 2023.
  • Multi-stream recycling in fitness clubs hit 79% participation rate in 2022.

Waste Management Practices Interpretation

It seems the wellness industry is finally stretching beyond the yoga mat, with brands now bending over backwards to prove that true mindfulness includes not trashing the planet.

Sources & References