Beauty products generate over 120 billion packaging units per year, which are difficult to recycle or compost. Instead, opt for sustainable beauty products with natural and eco-friendly ingredients in their formulation.
Create a low-waste beauty regimen that reduces environmental impact while freeing up bathroom counter space! Here are a few key pointers:
Rethink your packaging.
To reduce waste from beauty routines, consider packaging alternatives and the materials they use. But beauty brands must go further than simply choosing eco-friendly materials; they should ensure their products are ethically sourced, manufactured without slave labor, and their production methods don’t contribute to harmful emissions from factories. This will have a ripple effect on everyone in their industry.
Estimates suggest that an estimated 120 billion beauty packages are manufactured each year, yet only 9 percent are recycled, and even less are refilled or reused, leading to most of them ending up in landfills or being incinerated, further contributing to environmental pollution. But changes are underway!
Consumers increasingly prioritize cosmetics that contain minimal plastic ingredients and packaging, creating an opportunity for natural and organic beauty brands as well as more mainstream skincare and makeup companies to join this movement. Many are now offering refillable containers as well as reusable makeup brushes and applicators. In addition, many are cutting back on unnecessary packaging for products while making their processes more sustainable.
Look for products packaged in glass, stainless steel, or aluminum, as these materials are more resilient to upcycling processes and long-term use, helping reduce plastic pollution in our environment. This will keep more waste out of landfills.
Consider purchasing packaging that is biodegradable and compostable, as this will reduce your carbon footprint significantly. However, you must ensure that any paper or cotton items, such as towels and makeup wipes, do not contain synthetic fibers like polyester or rayon or silicones like dimethicone and phenyl trimethicone, which microorganisms cannot break down in composting systems, preventing them from polluting landfills or waterways.
Noting a brand’s sustainability practices is also vitally important. Consider its ingredient sourcing practices, its partnerships with ethical suppliers, and whether or not they guarantee slave-free production and cruelty-free products.
Some beauty brands, including EOs, Lush, and Garnier, have partnered with TerraCycle to recycle their packaging. Other well-known brands, such as Kiehl’s and Origins, provide drop-off locations for customers to return empty containers. However, be wary of claims of zero waste; any leftover material could potentially contaminate other recyclable plastics or end up in landfills or waterways if not properly sealed and disposed of.
Look for refills.
Walk down any beauty aisle, and you’ll see an overwhelming number of plastic-wrapped products, many boasting “natural” claims. However, the issue extends beyond packaging: an annual production of over 120 billion beauty packages leads to only 9 percent recycling, resulting in most of them ending up in landfills or taking centuries to decompose in ocean environments. Therefore, it is crucially important for people to understand how their habits impact our environment.
As more consumers become aware of how our makeup and skincare choices can harm the environment, eco-friendly options have emerged to reduce waste. Refillable beauty products offer one effective solution: simply refill as soon as your product runs out to reduce packaging waste, as well as one-time purchases like sample sachets or cotton pads.
Look for sustainable or recycled packaging, such as glass, aluminum, and paper, when purchasing refillable beauty products. Furthermore, buy from brands that support recycling programs or offer their own send-back scheme to ensure they’re contributing to a greener future.
Another simple beauty hack is switching out single-use items for reusable versions. Instead of using plastic poufs for applying cleanser, try switching them out for something like a washcloth or bamboo brush. Also, look for products with low water footprints; manufacturing some cosmetics uses up an enormous amount of water!
As part of your beauty routine, remember to regularly clean your brushes, sponges, and makeup palettes. This helps to maintain their health while also protecting them from germs and bacteria. Furthermore, applying powder blush or bronzer to the skin with tissue dampened with 70% alcohol can extend its shelf life—this waste-reduction technique will save you money in the long run! Plus, doing it regularly means you won’t have to replace products so often!
Rethink your ingredients.
When looking to reduce waste in your beauty routine, start with ingredients. Many products contain synthetic chemicals like parabens and phthalates, which may harm the skin. Instead, opt for natural products without parabens and phthalates; cruelty-free brands may use plant oils and non-GMO ingredients in their formulas instead; some companies have even removed all synthetic components completely!
Beauty products often produce other forms of waste beyond packaging, including formula testers or unsold items that become unsold on store shelves or warehouses. Therefore, an increasing number of companies are finding innovative solutions to cut beauty waste—for instance, UpCircle Beauty, which repurposes food company surplus into skincare and makeup products like mandarin peel toner (using over 8,000 mandarin peels!) or 350 tons of used coffee grounds (for its eye cream).
Reduce beauty waste by buying less overall. Either use what you already own before adding more, or opt for multifunctional items that serve multiple functions. For instance, replacing disposable cotton pads with washable reusable ones available at most grocery stores can significantly cut down on waste in your beauty routine; these reusable pads can be used for toner application, makeup removal, and applying skin products!
Opting for eco-friendly packaging options like glass and ceramic containers, or switching from plastic-free containers to eco-friendly alternatives like bamboo tubes and cardboard boxes, can also reduce the use of plastic in beauty routines. Many brands now offer these eco-friendly options; check online or at your favorite brand to see if any are available to you.
Although recycling is important, investing in durable, high-quality beauty tools that last will also minimize your environmental impact and save you money over time. For instance, selecting brushes with detachable bristles can lower replacement needs, while purchasing glass or ceramic containers can help eliminate plastic waste in the future.
Rethink your routine.
With new innovations in zero-waste beauty coming out on a regular basis, making your skincare and makeup routine eco-conscious is easier than ever. By making just a few tweaks to your beauty cabinet, you can turn it into an eco-conscious collection focused on natural ingredients and thoughtful packaging.
Refillable beauty products are an amazing eco-friendly innovation that helps reduce plastic pollution in landfills and incinerators each year. Many beauty brands now provide refill options either through online ordering or store pickup, enabling consumers to restock their favorite products without spending a lot of money buying a whole new bottle. Not only is this beneficial for the planet, but it’s also a budget-friendly way of keeping your beauty bag full.
When shopping for zero-waste cosmetics, it’s essential to look for multipurpose products that can serve multiple functions at the same time, for instance, toner, makeup remover, or lip and cheek stain. This will significantly reduce both plastic packaging and product requirements.
Another effective way to decrease waste is to switch out single-use items for reusable ones. For instance, swap out those plastic exfoliating pads for soft, washable cloth exfoliators; choose natural facial cleansers in glass bottles rather than plastic tubes; opt for cotton pads you can wash instead of disposables; Check ingredient lists for products containing chemicals that never biodegrade, such as silicones (found in most makeup, skincare, and haircare products) and parabens, which never completely biodegrade.
Eliminating unnecessary packaging is critical, but it’s equally important to monitor products nearing their expiration dates and prevent their disposal. Every day, thousands of beauty products end up going into landfills due to being past their sell-by dates. We can easily avoid this wasteful practice by monitoring the shelf life of each product and using it before its expiration dates arrive.
Keep an eye out for beauty products that are also ethical. Selecting cruelty-free items is always wise, but purchasing eco-friendly options from brands supporting fair trade, charitable initiatives, and fair trade programs is another way to give back while shopping for skincare and makeup. Credo, a mindful beauty organization, closely collaborates with brands to enforce strict sustainability guidelines.
