At a glance
Boveda is the Minnesota-founded company behind patented two-way humidity-control packets used for cigars, instruments, food and, beginning in 2007, cannabis. Its cannabis line is now branded Vivi: in January 2026 the company announced that Boveda for Cannabis would become Vivi while retaining the same formulation and performance. Boveda remains the company and tobacco-facing brand; Vivi is the current cannabis-facing name.
Founders and 1997 origin
The company traces its origin to a collaboration among retired General Mills chemist Dr. Albert Saari, packaging specialist Robert Esse, and cigar enthusiasts Sean Knutsen and Tim Swail. Saari developed the saturated-salt humidity concept, Esse helped identify a water-vapor-permeable membrane, and Knutsen and Swail helped commercialize the product. The business began in 1997 as Humidi-Pak and later adopted Boveda, a Spanish word associated with a vault.
Sean Knutsen is identified by the company as chief executive officer. The four contributors above are the founders named in Boveda’s current corporate history; this profile does not collapse their distinct chemistry, packaging and commercialization roles into a single-inventor story.
How two-way humidity control works
A Boveda or Vivi packet contains a saturated solution of purified water and salts inside a vapor-permeable membrane. In a properly sealed container, it can either release or absorb water vapor as conditions move away from the packet’s labeled relative-humidity target. The product requires no activation. The company advises replacing a packet when it has become rigid rather than soft and pliable.
This is storage technology, not remediation. A humidity packet cannot make contaminated, spoiled or moldy cannabis safe, sterilize a container, restore lost cannabinoids, or substitute for compliant packaging. Packet contents are not edible, and consumers should follow the current package directions and use the correct packet size for the amount being stored.
Cannabis products: Boveda becomes Vivi
Cannabis users historically encountered Boveda in 58% and 62% relative-humidity versions. The legacy range included Size 1 for up to one-eighth ounce, Size 4 for up to one-half ounce, Size 8 for up to one ounce, Size 67 for up to one pound, and larger commercial formats. These are product-size names and capacity guidance—not packet weights or promises that every container will reach an exact reading.
In 2026 Boveda created Vivi as the dedicated cannabis brand. The corporate FAQ calls the line “Vivi Fresh,” while the launch announcement uses “Vivi Cannabis.” The important consumer takeaway is the same: cannabis packets may now carry Vivi branding even though the underlying company and two-way humidity technology come from Boveda. Buyers should consult Vivi’s current catalog for live sizes and availability.
Patents and safety documentation
Boveda publishes a patent notice that includes U.S. Patent Nos. 8,748,723; 10,055,781; and 10,201,612, along with other issued and pending rights. The company also publishes safety data sheets for its product families. Patent ownership establishes protected technology; it is not a regulatory approval or evidence that cannabis stored with a packet is safe to consume.
What Boveda does—and does not sell
Boveda is not a cannabis cultivator, dispensary or infused-product manufacturer. It supplies humidity-control packaging to consumers and commercial operators. Its broader catalog includes products for cigars and tobacco, musical instruments, food and other moisture-sensitive goods. For cannabis shoppers, the relevant comparison is with other accessory and storage brands, not with flower or concentrate producers.
How to use this profile
Confirm whether the packet is labeled Boveda or Vivi, match the size and humidity target to the current manufacturer instructions, use an appropriately sealed container, and replace hardened packets. Avoid unsupported claims that any humidity packet increases potency, reverses degradation or guarantees preservation. The defensible benefit is controlled moisture exchange within the limits of the labeled product and storage environment.
Availability and licensing
Availability changes by market and date. Use the official site or store locator for current inventory, and for regulated cannabis products confirm the licensed seller and manufacturer in the jurisdiction where the item is sold.
Awards and recognition
Awards mentioned in this profile are historical snapshots tied to a particular year, category and entry. They do not certify every current product, and the reviewed source list should not be treated as an exhaustive award ledger.