This year, being stuck inside a lot more than usual, we’re starting to discover a renewed appreciation for the beauty of nature and our Earth. We are reminded that the outside world is precious and magical. Beauty brands are recognizing this as well with their commitments to making more sustainable brand choices.   Whether it’s regularly donating to environmental causes, taking steps to provide less wasteful packaging, or using sustainable ingredients, in recent years the beauty industry has made great strides in reducing its environmental impact. While we still have a long way to go, you can feel good knowing that brands are doing more to make better choices when it comes to sustainability.   In honor of Earth Day, here are some eco-conscious brands and brands that are giving back to environmental causes to help you be more environmentally-friendly when making beauty purchases:  

Aether Beauty

Aether Beauty’s eyeshadow palettes are sustainably packaged. With the removal of eyeshadow pans and elastic, the paper palettes are fully recyclable and zero-waste. The brand also uses natural and non-toxic sustainable ingredients.  

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Alba Botanica

By using only botanically-based, 100% vegetarian ingredients, Alba Botanica consistently "does beautiful" by reducing its environmental footprint whenever possible.  

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Alder New York

Alder New York is a vegan skincare and haircare line based in Brooklyn. The brand’s founders Nina Zilka & David J. Krause are longtime best friends who have worked in the beauty and design industry together for the past 11 years. Everything Alder New York makes is vegan and cruelty-free, locally manufactured, and ethically made. From travel-friendly sizes to synergistic formulas, everything they make is designed to be efficient and —above all—enjoyable. For every $100 spent on their website on 4/22, the brand is planting one tree in New York State where the company calls home.  

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Artis

Makeup sponges and brushes that easily deteriorate are bad for the environment, which is why Artis, the one-of-its-kind brush line, is the perfect solution to combating wastefulness in your makeup routine. Incredibly long lasting, Artis brushes are durable and cut down on waste even more when using their Brush Cleansing Foam and Brush Cleaning Pad in lieu of disposable wipes.  

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Avalon Organics

Avalon Organics believes in using certified-organic ingredients from trusted sources that are safe, effective, and conscious of the greater good. This means no GMOs, no parabens, no synthetic fragrances or colors, and products free of sulfates! All Avalon Organics shampoo and conditioner formulas are now Environmental Working Group Verified, which means the product avoids EWG’s ingredients of concern, is committed to full transparency, and operates under good manufacturing practices. They are Leaping Bunny-certified, vegan, and biodegradable!  

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Aveda

85% of Aveda’s packaging for skin care and haircare products is made from 100% recycled materials. Learn more about Aveda’s commitment to responsible packaging here.  

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Bathing Culture

San Francisco-based bath and body brand Bathing Culture is designed for the adventurous, the design-driven, and the sustainably-minded. Founded by childhood friends Tim Hollinger and Spencer Arnold, the duo was searching for a non-toxic body wash that could hold up to their active lifestyles. Enter Bathing Culture: an homage to the joyful act of bathing and its centuries-old influence uniting cultures around the globe and across generations.   While it was an admittedly expensive investment for a young brand, Spencer and Tim have pledged to use #NoNewPlastic —from their packaging to shipping materials. They're one of the few companies to use bottles made from 100% pre-existing recycled material sourced locally in California. Every day is Earth Day at Bathing Culture! The carbon neutral brand makes it an ongoing mission to plant one native plant or tree for every five gallons sold of their biodegradable, organic Mind & Body Wash. Bathing Culture also also just launched Mind & Body Wash Home Refill Kits, so you can save on packaging.  

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The Better Skin Co.

The Better Skin Co. focuses on clean, multi-tasking formulations that mix natural and organic ingredients boosted with a bit of science. All of The Better Skin Co. products are Vegan, Paraben Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free and made in the USA. From April 20-24, Better Skin Co products will be 25% off on TheBetterSkinco.com and Amazon. (Use code ED2020 on Thebetterskinco.com) For every product purchased, The Better Skin Co. will donate one tree to American Forests in your name.  

THE BETTER SKIN CO.

Beauty Heroes

The “Living Lighter” box from Beauty Heroes is a sustainable supply kit packed with natural beauty and home products in elegant, reusable and biodegradable packaging that will seamlessly ease you into a new way of living. Along with helping to minimize your personal approach to a more conscious lifestyle, Earth Day and every day, Beauty Heroes is proud to feature forward-thinking brands that are planet-positive and give back to the communities that sustain them in a meaningful way.  

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Burt’s Bees

Burt’s Bees is committed to making the world a little greener and a little cleaner. The brand has a policy of sending zero waste to landfill. Each month, employees diligently volunteer to check over 200 recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy bins, ensuring everything is sorted properly. Burt’s Bees has also outfitted its facilities with energy-efficient lighting, resource management software, and efficient production equipment. You can read more about Burt’s Bees commitment to sustainability here.  

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Clairol Natural Instincts

The new packaging is eco-friendly by removing unnecessary printing, PVC plastics, and cutting down production and shipping to save energy. The new quick rinse formula also cuts down on rinsing time to save water!  

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C’est Moi

C’est Moi products are clean, gentle, effective, Vegan, Cruelty Free, Hypo-Allergenic, Dermatologist Tested, made with natural & organic ingredients and do not contain any Synthetic Fragrances, Parabens, Phthalates, Sulfates, Mineral Oil, Silicone or Dyes. From April 13-26, all EWG-verified skincare & color-cosmetics products from C’est Moi will be 20% off on Cestmoi.com with code SPRINGCLEAN. All C’est Moi items purchased on Amazon between April 22-April 30 will be 15% off.  

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Coola 

Coola is committed to improving the health and safety of our communities, waterways, and habitats through responsible ingredient sourcing and sustainable packaging year-round. Through the various sun care, skincare and sunless tan offerings this innovative brand utilizes sustainable ingredients while working to reduce waste and increase recyclability. Currently over 75% of the brands product packaging is fully recyclable, with the goal of increasing that number to 100% by 2023.  

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Davines

Davines makes it part of their mission to create packaging that is as environmentally friendly as possible. You can read more about the steps they take here.  

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Eminence Organic Skin Care

Eminence Organic Skin Care is the first skin care brand to plant 10 million trees. The brand plants a tree in a developing country for every product purchased. The company is a Certified B Corporation, which means it’s committed to business practices that benefit the planet and make a lasting impact on the world. Through its Forests For The Future initiative, and in partnership with global tree-planting organization Trees for the Future, Eminence has planted trees in developing countries worldwide.  

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eos

eos is an active member of the Global Shea Alliance (GSA)—a non-profit industry association that promotes industry sustainability, quality practices and standards, and demand for shea in food and cosmetics. Also a part of GSA’s Sustainability Working Group, eos products support the use of Shea from registered cooperatives in West Africa, as well as assist in the development of sustainable practices and women’s empowerment by providing a critical source of jobs and income for women Shea collectors.   Additionally, Eos is partnered with TerraCycle, the global leader in recycling complex materials, to make recycling eos products less complex while substantially reducing the amount of waste contributed by the products.  

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Goldfaden MD

The dermatologist-founded, plant-powered skin care brand has established their business with the earth in mind, making major strides in reducing their carbon footprint by eliminating or transitioning. The brand utilizes packaging that contains over 70% of recycled plastics and are 100% recyclable, while all of their boxes are made from 40% recycled paper and are 100% recyclable.  

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Farmhouse Fresh

The Farmhouse Fresh Ranch also serves as a sanctuary for animal rescues. Their creed is “Life is Short. Save Something Furry.” Sales from purchases go towards caring for forgotten, neglected, and abused farm animals at the FHF Ranch and Sanctuary. They also fund, transport, and actively support other rescues.  

Fur

Fur proves that botanical beauty isn't just for your face. With their beautiful lineup of natural body and hair products (for hair everywhere), Fur extends its commitment to sustainability in the most thoughtful details, like in their Bath Drops.   Unlike bath beads from the 90s, Fur's Bath Drops are biodegradable, nourishing the skin without gelatin and using only the highest quality natural ingredients, like Red Seaweed and Jojoba Oil.  

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Garnier

Garnier pledges to continue to introduce measures to reduce plastic usage by committing to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) waste for shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner bottles in its #1 selling hair care collection—Fructis Sleek & Shine—by the end of 2019. Presently, Garnier Fructis hair care products are produced in a zero-waste facility. The current packaging contains 50% post-consumer recycled waste, and the Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine formula uses sustainably-sourced Argan Oil from Southwest Morocco.  

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GRACE + TONIC

This is Target's first COSMOS-certified brand—the gold standard for verifying the integrity and sustainability of natural and organic cosmetics. Products are free from parabens, artificial colors, GMOs, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, and mineral oil.  

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Guerlain

With an awareness for social and environmental responsibilities, Guerlain integrated sustainable development into its company strategy back in 2007. Steps they are taking include developing eco-friendly packaging and becoming “the leading house in bee protection.” Learn more about Guerlain’s commitment to the environment here.  

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Herbivore Botanicals

The leader in 100% natural skincare, Herbivore is the perfect choice when curating your Earth Day beauty arsenal. Made with recyclable and reusable glass packaging and food-grade plant-based ingredients, Herbivore bridges the gap between effective, luxury, high-impact skincare and crunchy clean beauty.   Their newest release, Prism 20% AHA + 5% BHA Exfoliating Glow Facial, is made from willow bark BHA, naturally derived AHAs, rose, and aloe vera to transform and smooth skin in the way nature intended.  

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Hey Dewy

Hey Dewy is a portable humidifier that works to replenish moisture that is lost throughout the day without all the hassle of using a traditional humidifier and can simply be plugged into the USB port from your laptop. 10% of every purchase is dedicated to initiatives that make an impact through water, starting with The Water Project.  

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HIGHBORN

Highborn is a body care line of naturally derived luxury botanical aromatics based in Brooklyn. The collection consists of 3 fragrance families: Défumé, Salome and Moon Saber. Featuring organic, sustainably sourced and extracted essential oils, reiki charged crystals and high vibes, each distinctive fragrance profile will deepen your self love regimen, helping you discover your moment of bliss. With bees being so crucial to the pollination of the incredible plants and flowers the brand sources, Highborn will donate 10% of sales for the week of 4/20 to the Honey Bee Conservancy.  

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Jurlique

At the heart of Jurlique is an organic and biodynamic farm that offers a sustainable approach to agriculture. Sustainability has always been fundamental to the brand, and any ingredients they don’t grow themselves are sourced from sustainable, fair-trade suppliers.  

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Keller Works

This eco-friendly, sustainable skin care brand makes its products with organic ingredients and natural additives ideal for sensitive skin. Their Dry Shampoo is packaged in a non-aerosol, recyclable container, and Elliot’s Oatmeal Soap is made with certified-organic oats and sustainable palm oil.  

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Kelsen

Kelsen offers premium, clean, unisex haircare products that you can feel good about, made with organic ingredients and sustainable packaging.  The line is top-rated by The Good Face Project, Peta cruelty-free and micro-plastic free. Kelsen packaging is eco-conscious (no single use plastics) and made with glass and recyclable squeeze tubes made with 85% plant-based sugarcane. Caps are made with biodegradable/compostable wood composite. The brand was created by pro skaters Curren Caples and Sean Malto and pro surfers Jack Freestone and Mikey February. Kelsen will donate 1 percent of sales to the 1% For the Planet.  

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Kevin.Murphy

Kevin.Murphy’s packaging is made from 100% recycled ocean plastic, making it the first-ever beauty brand to implement this practice. This is projected to save the planet over 360 tons of new plastic each year.  

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Kiehl’s

Kiehl’s is committed to sustainability through formulation, packaging, manufacturing and recycling, and community commitments. Through purchases of their Limited Edition Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado*, $50,000 will be donated to Recycle Across America™ to produce 65,000 standardized labels for recycling bins at 650 K-12 schools in the United States.  

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Kierin NYC

The brand offers recyclable, opaque bottles containing clean, conscious, cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainably sourced high-quality eau de parfums. The bottles are made from recyclable glass, using only natural paints with a diffuser and cap that are easily recyclable.  

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LASHFOOD

Brows and lashes aren't exempt from clean, eco-conscious beauty. LASHFOOD, the natural, safe, and effective line of eyelash and eyebrow enhancing serums and functional makeup products, has been at the forefront of beauty brands committing to a more sustainable world.   Made in a USDA organic certified facility from recyclable packaging, sustainably harvested ingredients, and environmentally conscious waste management, LASHFOOD extends its commitment through partnerships with companies like One Tree Planted, helping to restore balance and honor our home planet.  

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LALICIOUS

In 2009, the luxurious natural beauty line opened its 5500 square-foot headquarters featuring an eco-friendly design in Los Angeles. The brand’s founders found the ideal raw space in an industrial wind tunnel building and hired well-noted designer, Daryl Olesinski of O+ L Design, to bring their vision to life. Constructed of very simple, raw materials with exposed wood ceilings, finished wood cabinetry, and extensive amounts of glass which facilitates the use of natural light—the space is a beautiful, natural environment that echoes LALICIOUS products and the soul of the company.  

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May Lindstrom Skin

Their natural skin care collection is handcrafted using only the finest exotic and nutrient-rich ingredients that are organic, bio-dynamic, wild-crafted, cruelty free, sustainable, and/or harvested with social consciousness in mind. The brand encourages environmental thoughtfulness in every step of production—from the growth, harvesting, and processing of raw ingredients to the packaging of products. Packaging is recyclable and made from recycled ingredients.  

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La Mer

La Mer advocates for ocean protection through charitable donations, awareness-raising initiatives, and supporting ocean conservation projects. La Mer’s Blue Heart Oceans Fund is committed to marine-protected areas in the Azores Islands, Grenada, and the East China Sea.  

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Lunette

One vegan, zero-waste Lunette period cup lasts over two years (the FDA-recommended life of a period cup) and eliminates about 325 tampons or pads from the environment per person.  

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Moon Juice

Each of Moon Juice's ingredients are sourced from quality-focused, environmentally-conscious organic growers and wildcrafters, and the plants used in juices, Dusts, and skincare are harvested from their native regions. Their newest skincare line is not exempt from their sustainability efforts; packaged in beautiful glass jars and sustainable sugarcane bottles, Moon Juice's cult-favorite lineup of Milk Cleanse, Cosmic Cream, and Plump Jelly harness the best of natural beauty, inspired by and good for the Earth.  

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Natureofthings

Inspired by the delicate ritual of nature, natureofthings is a luxury bath and body line that uses the highest quality botanicals and broad-spectrum hemp extract to restore and energize from the inside out, so you feel good today and even better tomorrow.   Rooted in the synchronicity of body, mind, and the natural world, sustainability for natureofthings is a holistic touchpoint for the brand. Their beautiful packaging was thoughtfully crafted from glass and wood and minimally branded, so that you feel compelled to repurpose and display on your vanity, well after use.   

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Naturium

Naturium, a new plant-sourced, scientist-developed skincare line takes a stunningly contemporary approach to nature-inspired beauty and sustainability. Packaged with minimal plastic and recyclable glass vessels, each of Naturium's products--from their Virgin Marula Oil to their Retinol Cream--are formulated with the best, most biocompatible ingredients that Earth has to offer, all at an accessible price point.  

One Love Organics

Products are formulated, manufactured, and packaged in a high-tech, ECOCERT certified lab on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The small batch manufacturing method ensures superior freshness and quality. The brand’s legendary moisturizing cream uses uses sustainably-sourced sea kelp to help preserve ocean resources.  

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Orveda

Orveda uses less than 5% plastic in their products and uses glass bottles in their packaging. They strive to use sustainable ingredients and are mineral oil-free, plastic bead-free, and vegan.  

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Paul Mitchell

Paul Mitchell was the first professional hair care company to take a stand against animal testing. It continues its strong commitment to giving back by supporting a wide range of environmental causes, including Sea Shepherd, California Wildlife Center, Elephant Action League, and Beequilibrium.  

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Plaine Products

Plaine products was founded to provide natural, quality products in sustainable packaging, making it easier for everyone to use a little less plastic in their lives. The products are refillable and they are shipped in eco-friendly packaging by EcoEnclose.  

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Renpure

Each product is formulated with renewable, plant-based materials that are harvested in nature. They undergo minimal processing and the residual materials are much safer for daily use by consumers. All of the products are made with zero sulfates, zero dyes, zero parabens, zero formaldehyde, zero propylene glycol, zero phthalates, and zero gluten.  

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Siblings

In an effort to eliminate waste in the candle buying and burning cycle, Siblings created DIY candle kits consisting of eco-friendly coconut-blend wax in a plant-based bag and lead-free cotton wicks. At first you microwave the bag, the wax melts, then you pour into any vessel and top it off with a wick. The process is super easy, under $100 and makes for an amazing DIY project while you’re stuck inside.  

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SUPERNAL

Founder Melissa Medvedich began her education at the renowned New York Institute of Aromatic Studies, where she became a certified aromatherapist and later continued her studies in botanical beauty formulating. Supernal launched in early 2019 after two years of developing her singular debut product, Cosmic Glow Oil. This silky and easily absorbed facial oil full of glow-inducing ingredients including organic Camellia Seed Oil, Squalene and organic Baobab Seed Oil. Fortified with Vitamin C and Omega 3, 6, and 9, Cosmic Glow is designed to revitalize the skin’s natural luminosity. On 4/22, 22% of proceeds on Supernal.co will be donated to Grow NYC, a non-profit that works with communities in New York City to improve the quality of life through environmental programs.  

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UMA

Crafted from plants grown on founder Shrankhla Holecek's centuries-old family farm in India, UMA redefines luxury with its gorgeous Ayurvedic inspired skin and wellness oils. Once each plant is processed from the UMA farm, it is distilled in a uniquely self-sufficient and environmentally friendly facility, where any waste product is converted back into reusable fuel and water is cycled back into the farm. Here, oils blend together to become UMA's signature products and are bottled in beautiful glass vessels that can be repurposed well after use.  

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Valmont

Made in Switzerland by luxury skin care brand Valmont, L’Elixir des Glacier made a commitment to the protection of bees allied with local partners with the launch of this special collection. Valmont partnered with Pollinator Partnership—a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of bees and their ecosystems, and invested in 50 beehives in Switzerland to help save the bees, promote their awareness, and incorporate them into their skin care products sustainably.  

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Youth to The People

The brand strives to be as sustainable as possible using recyclable glass bottles and jars. A dollar from each Limited-Edition Youth To The People Earth Day Cleanser sold will be donated to organizations working to protect the planet.  

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Tata Harper

The brand consciously made the decision to have the majority of their packaging made from glass. They also  use 100% post-consumer materials or recycled paperboard, and they use soy-based ink for printing.

Wet Brush

Get your shine on with the new earth-friendly WetBrush Go Green Treatment & Shine Collection. Built-in natural oils distribute nutrients to your hair that instantly moisturize, repair, and restore as you brush. The all-natural biodegradable plant starch handle naturally breaks down in a landfill within 5 years

When my beauty products run out, I often find myself looming over the trash and recycling bins, debating which receptacle deserves my empties. If I throw them in the trash, will I turn on the TV and see a helpless sea turtle being impaled with the product I tossed? Will I be tagged in a viral video of a penguin with the subtitles “Thanks a lot Dana, now my lungs are full of glitter!”? If I opt for the recycling bin, will it even be recycled? SO MANY IFS. Even after working in the beauty industry for two decades, I don’t have all of the answers. I remember the moment my curiosity was heightened. I had just purchased a handful of new products and as I was unwrapping their plastic-on-plastic-on-plastic packaging, I became increasingly anxious about the ugly truth.   This industry is built on making people feel beautiful, but are we simultaneously devastating our planet? There’s an undeniable feeling of guilt when you throw something out that could have been recycled or repurposed, but once it’s out the door or down the chute, it’s “not your problem” anymore. The truth is, it’s still your problem; it’s our collective problem. Trash is like karma—it comes back to haunt you.   All of this waste is compromising our ecosystem and it’s making me nervous, so I asked Terracycle—a company that’s paving the way in recycling—to put my IFs to bed and give me the hard facts to share with you. Because garbage is scary and knowledge is power. I hope you learn as much as I did and take an extra moment to consider your options before your next purge.   What happens to a product once it hits the recycling bin?   Once a product is placed in a recycling bin, it begins a long process of sortation, separation, cleaning (if applicable), and processing before it can ultimately be recycled into a new product. For instance, plastics (a major component of much beauty and cosmetic packaging) may change hands through sales several times before it even begins processing. The Atlantic published a very comprehensive article a few years back that detailed a plastic bottle’s recycling journey.   What can we do at home to reduce waste from our personal beauty routines?   One tip that individuals can easily implement into their beauty routines is to replace disposable items like makeup wipes and sponges with durable, multi-use alternatives that can be washed and used again and again. Likewise, planning ahead of time for the end-of-life phase of the plastics that you can’t cut out is also advantageous. Consumers are invited to mail in or drop off various types of beauty care waste via TerraCycle’s free brand-sponsored recycling programs. However, it is important to remember that simply buying less is the single-most effective way to reduce beauty care routine waste.   When and how should we get rid of old or unwanted beauty products?   Great question. A lot of people have the best intentions when attempting to recycle their beauty or cosmetic products but forget to empty out any residual material. The presence of leftover material not only contaminates the original product (relegating it to landfill) but also risks contaminating more otherwise recyclable material that also encounters the residuals. Likewise, when emptying out products, it is important to remember to seal the residuals in a non-recyclable container and dispose of it in the normal garbage since some modern beauty products contain microbeads that risk exacerbating the plastic pollution crisis if flushed down the drain. Consumers can check their town’s recycling guidelines via the easy-to-use database maintained by Call2Recycle to avoid wish-cycling, a counterproductive practice that can cause recycling machinery to break down and that contaminates otherwise recyclable material. They are also invited to see if their waste can be recycled through any of TerraCycle’s free recycling programs.   Where do the majority of beauty products end up?   Unfortunately, much of the beauty product waste generated worldwide is destined for landfills and, in the worst possible scenarios, it contributes to litter or the plastic pollution of natural marine habitats. The Ocean Conservancy reports that “every year, 8 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 150 million metric tons that currently circulate our marine environments.” While it is unclear how much of that ocean plastic is a result of people’s beauty routines, a 2014 study by Care to Recycle reports that while an impressive 95% of consumers claim to recycle waste produced in their kitchens (aluminum cans, glass bottles, etc.) only about half do so in other rooms, including the bathroom where a large volume of beauty/cosmetic waste is generated. So, it can be extrapolated that much of the beauty/cosmetics waste that can actually be recycled municipally (like glass bottles and some plastic shampoo or lotion bottles) is not finding its way to a recycling center.   How much waste does the beauty industry account for?   According to a study by Zero Waste Week and an article published by Stylist, the global cosmetics industry produces 120 billion units of packaging every year, which translates to the yearly loss of 18 million acres of forest. To put this statistic into perspective, after just six decades of producing plastic en masse (a staple material in most beauty product packaging), 8.3 billion metric tons have been produced and 91%, the overwhelming majority, has not been recycled.   Can you name a few beauty brands that are taking necessary steps to make a positive change in the waste department?   Over the years, many notable beauty and cosmetic brands have sponsored free recycling programs through TerraCycle to solve for their product’s end-of-life cycle. To name a few, Garnier, Burt’s Bees, eos, Herbal Essences, L’Occitane, Josie Maran, Limelife by Alcone, and Paula’s Choice all currently have TerraCycle programs, and Head & Shoulders partnered with TerraCycle to create the world’s first recyclable shampoo bottle made with beach plastic in 2017.   How can brands better educate their consumers about recycling?   Brands can help their consumers recycle their products by prominently displaying the product’s recycling symbol and number on their packaging along with the advisory that they should first check what type of plastics are recycled in their town. Likewise, many brands (such as Febreze) have TerraCycle’s symbol on their packaging to denote that their product is recyclable via a TerraCycle program.   Would you agree that manufacturers should be leading innovation, since they’re typically the first point of contact when it comes to packaging?   Manufacturers have responded to the plastic pollution crisis with several alternatives, namely compostable plastic containers. While these products are certainly innovative since they are produced from renewable resources as opposed to petrochemicals, it is important to note that, according to Greenbiz, “If these materials are not correctly disposed of at their end of life, they will cause just as much damage to our land and marine environments as traditional petrochemical-based plastic litter.” Simply put, there has yet to emerge a “silver bullet” that is poised to solve our plastic pollution crisis. As TerraCycle’s founder and CEO Tom Szaky says, one of the best ways to elicit change is by voting with your dollar since, while we may cast a vote for a political candidate every so often, we decide what brands to support every day through the purchases we make. If brands are willing to innovate by making their product packaging more environmentally friendly, the conscious consumer will respond to their efforts. A lot of brands have already reacted to increased consumer demand for more eco-friendly packaging by either cutting-down on existing packaging or by reinventing their packaging from the ground up through TerraCycle’s Loop, a platform designed to take us from disposability to reusability through cutting-edge technology and packaging design.   What are the most conscious options for packaging that exist today?   Since much of the packaging currently utilized by beauty brands is comprised of different materials like plastics, glass, and metals, it can be too costly (in terms of time and money) to separate and process. As a result, much of the beauty packaging waste thrown in the blue bin is sorted out by municipal recycling centers and relegated to landfills because even if the consumer does their best to recycle the conventionally recyclable parts of beauty/cosmetic packaging (i.e. cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, and glass bottles), the remaining pumps, trigger heads, and product tubes are still not accepted by many municipal recycling programs. A good example of this phenomenon are deodorant tubes, described in an article by National Geographic. While the consumer can easily recycle the cardboard box the deodorant might be packaged in, they would need to dismantle the entire deodorant tube (including its tiny plastic pieces) in the hopes of getting it recycled. Even then, the separated plastic components will not be recycled if the municipal recycling facility does not process that specific type of plastic. Even with the best intentions, the act of throwing waste in the blue bin without first consulting your town’s recycling guidelines is known as wish-cycling and is a major stressor for recycling experts. To avoid this, it is recommended that consumers check their town’s specific guidelines via the resource offered by Call2Recycle. Reusable packaging, like that employed by TerraCycle’s Loop, is resoundingly the most eco-conscious option, but since glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled continuously without any loss in the resulting quality, it is the next best thing compared to reusable models.   What advice would you give a founder who’s in the research & development phase of a future brand?   As aforementioned, eco-friendly packaging design, in the form of reuse models such as Loop, or containers that utilize recycled or less overall material, seem to be the trajectory of packaging design. As consumers become hyper-aware of environmental stories like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, for instance, they will begin to expect more environmentally friendly alternatives.   How is TerraCycle helping brands make a smaller environmental footprint?   The following is an excerpt from TerraCycle’s website on the environmental benefits of recycling through TerraCycle: “By sending waste to TerraCycle you will avoid it ending up as litter, in a landfill or incineration facility. Instead, new materials and products will be made with your collected waste, reducing the need to extract new materials from the planet. This avoided impact is not small; for an average product over 90% of the environmental impact comes from extracting and refining the raw materials from which it is made.”   Well, there you have it. As members of the beauty industry, we need to wake up and start making some serious changes. As TerraCycle said above, there are a handful of simple things we can all do to help…  

1. Send our used products to TerraCycle, which is free and takes two seconds to sign up for.
2. Discard residue from packaging in a non-recyclable container (aka any type of multi-layered plastic bag or pouch) and throw it in the trash instead of flushing it into the water system.
3. Buy less single-use products like wipes and sponges and switch to reusable options instead.
4. Contact your local government officials to find out best recycling practices.
5. Shop less.
6. Spread the word and share this article with your community.

  Here’s to making smarter choices for our planet! Photo: Angela Compagnone via Unsplash DANA RAE Dana Rae is a published makeup artist with two decades of experience in the beauty industry. She is also a founder, product innovator, brand consultant, contributing writer, and creative.

Climate change is hard to deny when we see how much change has happened in the time we’ve been practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the carbon dioxide levels in New York City were 50% lower than they were in March 2019. Environmentalists are also tracking the air pollution above Wuhan province in China; it went down significantly for two months while everyone was in isolation and is now creeping back up.   While we wrestle with these challenging times, many are starting to see what the human impact on our planet really looks like.   You’ve likely heard the statistic that less than 11% of plastic is actually recycled properly in Canada. But did you also know that every year in the U.S.A., according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over two billion razors and refill blades are sent to landfill? Even worse, that stat is actually from a 1988 report, and that number has likely gone up exponentially since then. If you do math and consider that we have similar spending habits to our neighbours to the south, Canada has about 10% the amount of people as the U.S., so it would track that we throw away about 200 million disposable razors each year, at minimum.   The above data notwithstanding, Canadian stats on how much plastic waste actually comes from the beauty and self-care sector are very elusive. Unless brands release their numbers on products sold, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume a lot of plastic gets thrown out because of our Sephora sprees.   So what does all the doom and gloom have to do with you and your beauty and personal care habits? Well, there are a few ways to make sure that you’re doing the most you can when it comes to not adding to our already massive recycling problem. “One of the best ways to make sure that change happens is to make the companies understand that you really care about this issue,” says Vito Buonsante, plastics program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “People can only do so much. It’s not really their responsibility to control the waste; it’s more on the company.”   Buonsante recommends that we take a look at what we’re purchasing and start giving our money to brands that offer recycling programs or that use more easily recycled materials, like glass and tin, as opposed to plastic. If it’s absolutely necessary to buy plastic, check that the container has a 1 or 2 plastic rating, which can be found on bottles inside the recycle symbol. Those numbers are the most desirable for recycling programs (the system ranks up to a 7). “The problem with packaging in the beauty industry is that it is often made of mixed materials, therefore it becomes pretty difficult to recycle,” says Buonsante. In short, try not to buy cosmetic products with a plastic rating of 3 or higher.   Strongly expressing your environmental concerns to your member of parliament and local city councillor is also helpful, says Buonsante, as is signing plastics-focused petitions and supporting environmental charities (like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecotrust Canada or any local conservancy groups) so they can continue to help push things forward.   And now, while we’re taking social distancing measures very seriously, perhaps we can also help curb our plastic waste anxiety (because really, we don’t need another thing to fret about) by looking into the following ways to make our beauty routine a little more environmentally friendly.   Here are four of the best ways to reduce your beauty waste.  

1. Recycle empties in-house, get free products

  First off, as Buonsante mentioned, think about the brands you invest your hard-earned money in. One way to do that is by choosing brands that already have an in-house recycling program.   The Back to M.A.C program has been around since the early 1990s, making them a true recycling pioneer. The Canadian-founded brand will take back six primary packaging containers (they have a system where you can bring in any containers during your next purchase, and they’ll track how many you have instead of you having to collect them!) in exchange for a lipstick, lipgloss or single eyeshadow.   If you’re a big Creme de Corps fan, you will receive one stamp for each full-sized empty bottle of the body cream that you bring back to a Kiehl’s location to be recycled. Once you have collected ten stamps, you’ll get any travel-sized product that your beauty-loving heart desires.   Over at Lush, when you bring back five of the classic black containers, you can receive one of 16 fresh face masks from the brand.  

2. Then take your recycling game to the next level with TerraCycle

  Look to recycling programs like TerraCycle to help reduce your environmental impact; when you purchase a waste box from the company, simply fill it up with items that your local municipality will not take, and TerraCycle will refurbish, recycle or upcycle each item. The team at TerraCycle will take almost anything that is difficult to recycle—they have even found a way to recycle cigarette butts! Plastic containers become park benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and so much more. Most municipalities have different rules on recycling (please note yours before you throw away your plastics), so for anything that won’t be picked up curb-side, this program is a great solution.   If the TerraCycle boxes are too pricey (they start at $54, including shipping) some brands and stores are partnering with the program to help clients be mindful of their waste without incurring the cost. These include The Detox Market (all three Toronto locations will take any type of beauty waste) and Pure + Simple (the Ontario-based shop will take back all their empties to be recycled).   Big brands like Burt’s Bees, L’Oréal, Weleda, Gillette and L’Occitane have a partnership with TerraCycle where you can send back your empties for recycling (check their website for how to ship back bottles). And, perhaps it’s time to make more use out of these recycling options—Buonsante notes that most people are not aware that they exist—especially considering that most shops are still closed for the foreseeable future.  

3. Try refillable beauty products

  A big trend in the beauty and personal care space is brands offering products in refillable packaging. “When it comes to reusable containers that can be sent back, the products are likely a bit more expensive,” notes Buonsante. But with time, hopefully the prices will even out. “That is where we hope the market will continue to go.”   Back in early 2019, TerraCycle’s founder announced a pilot project called Loop. Major brand’s signed onto the program, which launched in NYC and Paris. Now, Loblaws is looking to launch a Loop pilot project in Canada this summer. So what exactly is Loop? Essentially, brands have started putting their products into reusable and recyclable tin containers. This has allowed brands to be a touch more design-focused in their new labeling (most brands have pared down their logos for this project), while consumers can use the product and send the tins back, where they will either be cleaned and reused, or, if they’re too weathered, they will be recycled.   In the meantime, for the makeup and skincare obsessives, look to companies like Kjaer Weis (the luxe Scandinavian eco-brand’s packaging is quite gorgeous), Elate cosmetics (this Canadian brand uses beautiful bamboo as their outer packaging, offering refillables for everything in their lineup!), Clove and Hallow (the west coast cosmetics brand offers refillable compacts!) and Cocoon Apothecary (a Toronto brand who will take back bottles, sanitize them and reuse them in their supply chain) for refillable options. Some bigger brands, like Paul and Joe, Make Up For Ever and Guerlain, also offer refills, mostly for powder products like highlighters, eye shadows, blushes and pressed powders.   Going local, look to eco-friendly shops that offer bulk product (new ones are popping up all the time!), like Nada in Vancouver, Eco + Amour in Toronto and The Tare Shop in Halifax. At bulk shops, you can bring your own containers or purchase some from the store, and they will weigh each of the products to determine what you owe.  

4. Choose product packaging wisely

  Making sweeping changes to our beauty routine may seem difficult, but one simple change is to choose packaging materials wisely. A lot of indie brands include glass or other recyclable materials in their packaging, making them with very little plastic or entirely plastic-free.   A few local Canadian brands that are ahead of the curve here include Boosh (a lipstick line from a young female entrepreneur with tubes made out of tin), Unwrapped Life (a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars that are wrapped only in recyclable paper and cardboard), deodorant brand Routine. (a Calgary line that sells beautifully scented, natural cream formulations in glass jars with a tin lid, and will have stick deodorants housed in cardboard and post consumer recycled plastic packaging), WellKept (a line of brass safety razors that eliminates the need for disposables and are oh-so-chic!), and Toronto-based Sahajan (this ayurvedic line comes in beautiful brown glass bottles).   Other international faves include Biologique Recherche (a beauty editor favourite with serums in glass dropper bottles that is now available at Miraj Hammam Spa in Toronto and Vancouver), and Tata Harper (her gorgeous green glass containers set the standard for clean beauty packaging when they launched in 2010).

Climate change is hard to deny when we see how much change has happened in the time we’ve been practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the carbon dioxide levels in New York City were 50% lower than they were in March 2019. Environmentalists are also tracking the air pollution above Wuhan province in China; it went down significantly for two months while everyone was in isolation and is now creeping back up.   While we wrestle with these challenging times, many are starting to see what the human impact on our planet really looks like.   You’ve likely heard the statistic that less than 11% of plastic is actually recycled properly in Canada. But did you also know that every year in the U.S.A., according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over two billion razors and refill blades are sent to landfill? Even worse, that stat is actually from a 1988 report, and that number has likely gone up exponentially since then. If you do math and consider that we have similar spending habits to our neighbours to the south, Canada has about 10% the amount of people as the U.S., so it would track that we throw away about 200 million disposable razors each year, at minimum.   The above data notwithstanding, Canadian stats on how much plastic waste actually comes from the beauty and self-care sector are very elusive. Unless brands release their numbers on products sold, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume a lot of plastic gets thrown out because of our Sephora sprees.   So what does all the doom and gloom have to do with you and your beauty and personal care habits? Well, there are a few ways to make sure that you’re doing the most you can when it comes to not adding to our already massive recycling problem. “One of the best ways to make sure that change happens is to make the companies understand that you really care about this issue,” says Vito Buonsante, plastics program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “People can only do so much. It’s not really their responsibility to control the waste; it’s more on the company.”   Buonsante recommends that we take a look at what we’re purchasing and start giving our money to brands that offer recycling programs or that use more easily recycled materials, like glass and tin, as opposed to plastic. If it’s absolutely necessary to buy plastic, check that the container has a 1 or 2 plastic rating, which can be found on bottles inside the recycle symbol. Those numbers are the most desirable for recycling programs (the system ranks up to a 7). “The problem with packaging in the beauty industry is that it is often made of mixed materials, therefore it becomes pretty difficult to recycle,” says Buonsante. In short, try not to buy cosmetic products with a plastic rating of 3 or higher.   Strongly expressing your environmental concerns to your member of parliament and local city councillor is also helpful, says Buonsante, as is signing plastics-focused petitions and supporting environmental charities (like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecotrust Canada or any local conservancy groups) so they can continue to help push things forward.   And now, while we’re taking social distancing measures very seriously, perhaps we can also help curb our plastic waste anxiety (because really, we don’t need another thing to fret about) by looking into the following ways to make our beauty routine a little more environmentally friendly.   Here are four of the best ways to reduce your beauty waste.  

1. Recycle empties in-house, get free products

  First off, as Buonsante mentioned, think about the brands you invest your hard-earned money in. One way to do that is by choosing brands that already have an in-house recycling program.   The Back to M.A.C program has been around since the early 1990s, making them a true recycling pioneer. The Canadian-founded brand will take back six primary packaging containers (they have a system where you can bring in any containers during your next purchase, and they’ll track how many you have instead of you having to collect them!) in exchange for a lipstick, lipgloss or single eyeshadow.   If you’re a big Creme de Corps fan, you will receive one stamp for each full-sized empty bottle of the body cream that you bring back to a Kiehl’s location to be recycled. Once you have collected ten stamps, you’ll get any travel-sized product that your beauty-loving heart desires.   Over at Lush, when you bring back five of the classic black containers, you can receive one of 16 fresh face masks from the brand.  

2. Then take your recycling game to the next level with TerraCycle

  Look to recycling programs like TerraCycle to help reduce your environmental impact; when you purchase a waste box from the company, simply fill it up with items that your local municipality will not take, and TerraCycle will refurbish, recycle or upcycle each item. The team at TerraCycle will take almost anything that is difficult to recycle—they have even found a way to recycle cigarette butts! Plastic containers become park benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and so much more. Most municipalities have different rules on recycling (please note yours before you throw away your plastics), so for anything that won’t be picked up curb-side, this program is a great solution.   If the TerraCycle boxes are too pricey (they start at $54, including shipping) some brands and stores are partnering with the program to help clients be mindful of their waste without incurring the cost. These include The Detox Market (all three Toronto locations will take any type of beauty waste) and Pure + Simple (the Ontario-based shop will take back all their empties to be recycled).   Big brands like Burt’s Bees, L’Oréal, Weleda, Gillette and L’Occitane have a partnership with TerraCycle where you can send back your empties for recycling (check their website for how to ship back bottles). And, perhaps it’s time to make more use out of these recycling options—Buonsante notes that most people are not aware that they exist—especially considering that most shops are still closed for the foreseeable future.  

3. Try refillable beauty products

  A big trend in the beauty and personal care space is brands offering products in refillable packaging. “When it comes to reusable containers that can be sent back, the products are likely a bit more expensive,” notes Buonsante. But with time, hopefully the prices will even out. “That is where we hope the market will continue to go.”   Back in early 2019, TerraCycle’s founder announced a pilot project called Loop. Major brand’s signed onto the program, which launched in NYC and Paris. Now, Loblaws is looking to launch a Loop pilot project in Canada this summer. So what exactly is Loop? Essentially, brands have started putting their products into reusable and recyclable tin containers. This has allowed brands to be a touch more design-focused in their new labeling (most brands have pared down their logos for this project), while consumers can use the product and send the tins back, where they will either be cleaned and reused, or, if they’re too weathered, they will be recycled.   In the meantime, for the makeup and skincare obsessives, look to companies like Kjaer Weis (the luxe Scandinavian eco-brand’s packaging is quite gorgeous), Elate cosmetics (this Canadian brand uses beautiful bamboo as their outer packaging, offering refillables for everything in their lineup!), Clove and Hallow (the west coast cosmetics brand offers refillable compacts!) and Cocoon Apothecary (a Toronto brand who will take back bottles, sanitize them and reuse them in their supply chain) for refillable options. Some bigger brands, like Paul and Joe, Make Up For Ever and Guerlain, also offer refills, mostly for powder products like highlighters, eye shadows, blushes and pressed powders.   Going local, look to eco-friendly shops that offer bulk product (new ones are popping up all the time!), like Nada in Vancouver, Eco + Amour in Toronto and The Tare Shop in Halifax. At bulk shops, you can bring your own containers or purchase some from the store, and they will weigh each of the products to determine what you owe.  

4. Choose product packaging wisely

  Making sweeping changes to our beauty routine may seem difficult, but one simple change is to choose packaging materials wisely. A lot of indie brands include glass or other recyclable materials in their packaging, making them with very little plastic or entirely plastic-free.   A few local Canadian brands that are ahead of the curve here include Boosh (a lipstick line from a young female entrepreneur with tubes made out of tin), Unwrapped Life (a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars that are wrapped only in recyclable paper and cardboard), deodorant brand Routine. (a Calgary line that sells beautifully scented, natural cream formulations in glass jars with a tin lid, and will have stick deodorants housed in cardboard and post consumer recycled plastic packaging), WellKept (a line of brass safety razors that eliminates the need for disposables and are oh-so-chic!), and Toronto-based Sahajan (this ayurvedic line comes in beautiful brown glass bottles).   Other international faves include Biologique Recherche (a beauty editor favourite with serums in glass dropper bottles that is now available at Miraj Hammam Spa in Toronto and Vancouver), and Tata Harper (her gorgeous green glass containers set the standard for clean beauty packaging when they launched in 2010).

Serum, blush, hair mask: when the time comes to get new beauty products, you always know where to go. But when they are finished, do we really know how to dispose of them?   Each year, the cosmetic industry produces 120 billion packaging units, of which 2.7 billion plastic containers end up in landfills. "The complex design of beauty products makes them difficult to recycle," says Alex Payne, public relations manager for TerraCycle. This is why the environmental organization has been collaborating with many beauty brands - including L'Occitane en Provence, Burt's Bees, Weleda and DECIEM - for ten years to facilitate the recovery of these particular products, through various programs. collection. "Depending on the brand, consumers can send their cosmetics by post free of charge or go and wear them in stores," he explains. TerraCycle does the rest. Whether we go through this type of program or through its municipal recycling system, the goal of our consumption is to understand what is recycled (or not) and how we can get there. From the actions to adopt to reduce our environmental footprint to the list of companies that advocate a zero waste philosophy, there is indeed green at the end of the tunnel.  

4 actions to adopt for an eco-responsible beauty routine

1. Look for zero waste products.

  From conditioner to facial scrub, more and more personal care is offered without packaging.   2. Small containers = perfect for the plane!   Is our eye cream finished? We collect the jar and fill it with our favorite moisturizer on our next trip: it will fit perfectly in our hand luggage!   3. Avoid single-use products.   Although practical, they are a real scourge for the environment. We swap our disposable makeup remover pads for a machine washable set. We leave the masks in individual format and choose the good old version in a jar (preferably in glass).   4. Favor large formats and bulk products.   It is a gesture not only economical, but which considerably reduces our consumption of plastic.  

Recyclage 101: which product goes where?

  These major lines are memorized to transform the once tedious recycling chore into child's play. Please note: the packaging of beauty products that cannot be recycled in our municipality can often be recycled through TerraCycle. We go to his site ( terracycle.com ) to get the correct time.   Plastic bottles   "All plastics are recyclable, except those on which the number 6 is stamped [figure found in a small triangle under the packaging] and on which there is nothing indicated", underlines Jean-François Lesage , planning advisor in the Direction of residual materials management of the City of Montreal. He reminded us that we have to clean our containers for hygienic reasons before sending them to sorting centers.   Pumps and pipettes   They do not recycle. So, if one of our products has one of these tips, we unscrew it and dispose of it before putting the container for recycling!   Makeup   As the cases of our cosmetics are often made of several materials that are difficult to separate from each other, they generally do not recycle. "Laminated tubes [a type of flexible plastic packaging often used for foundations and make-up bases] are also not accepted," says Jean-François Lesage.   Mascara   The tube, too difficult to clean, does not recycle. The brush is washed in soapy water and sent to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ( appalachianwild.org ), an organization in North Carolina that uses it to clean the fur of small, vulnerable animals.   Aerosols   As a safety issue, they cannot be recycled through the usual municipal recycling system. "Aerosols and pressurized containers can explode if they are heated or punctured," says our expert. We do not despair! They are accepted in eco-centers and when collecting hazardous household waste.   Makeup brushes   Like makeup cases, brushes do not mix with recycling because of the range of materials that make them up (plastic, metal, bristles, etc.). Before saying goodbye to them, we probe our surroundings to find out if a friend might need them, or we give them a second life by adding them to the children's artist's kit or using them as nail brushes, for example!   Glass containers   "Glass is fully recyclable and can be repeatedly collected without ever affecting its quality," said Alex Payne of TerraCycle. It makes it one of the most eco-friendly materials. ” Warning! In the case of a perfume, we make sure to separate the bottle from its atomizer, since the latter does not recycle.   Nail polish   Since the containers are almost impossible to clean, they cannot be recycled directly - they are part of the category of household hazardous waste (HHW). So we bring them to the ecocentre nearest to us.   Cleansing wipes   Unless they are biodegradable - we could then compost them - they take the garbage path.  

"Pamper the next one"

  If for various reasons (an impulse purchase, perhaps?) Unused products clutter our pharmacy, we turn to organizations for women in need. One thinks in particular of the Fairies Marraines ( feesmarraines.ca ), which give the necessities to the teenagers coming from underprivileged environments so that they can put themselves beautiful for their graduation, or The stuff of success ( dressforsuccessmontreal.org ), which supports women in difficult situations who wish to (re) enter the labor market.  

An app to facilitate recycling

  Last spring, the company RECYC-QUÉBEC launched the application C'est va Où? The objective: to clarify, according to our municipality, which products are intended for the trash, the recycling bin or the eco-center. The information remains summary, so if question marks persist, we complete our search on recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca.   The article 4 gestures to adopt for a responsible beauty routine appeared first on Elle Quebec .

Serum, blush, hair mask: when the time comes to get new beauty products, you always know where to go. But when they are finished, do we really know how to dispose of them?   Each year, the cosmetic industry produces 120 billion packaging units, of which 2.7 billion plastic containers end up in landfills. "The complex design of beauty products makes them difficult to recycle," says Alex Payne, public relations manager for TerraCycle. This is why the environmental organization has been collaborating with many beauty brands - including L'Occitane en Provence, Burt's Bees, Weleda and DECIEM - for ten years to facilitate the recovery of these particular products, through various programs. collection. "Depending on the brand, consumers can send their cosmetics by post free of charge or go and wear them in stores," he explains. TerraCycle does the rest. Whether we go through this type of program or through its municipal recycling system, the goal of our consumption is to understand what is recycled (or not) and how we can get there. From the actions to adopt to reduce our environmental footprint to the list of companies that advocate a zero waste philosophy, there is indeed green at the end of the tunnel.  

4 actions to adopt for an eco-responsible beauty routine

1. Look for zero waste products.

  From conditioner to facial scrub, more and more personal care is offered without packaging.   2. Small containers = perfect for the plane!   Is our eye cream finished? We collect the jar and fill it with our favorite moisturizer on our next trip: it will fit perfectly in our hand luggage!   3. Avoid single-use products.   Although practical, they are a real scourge for the environment. We swap our disposable makeup remover pads for a machine washable set. We leave the masks in individual format and choose the good old version in a jar (preferably in glass).   4. Favor large formats and bulk products.   It is a gesture not only economical, but which considerably reduces our consumption of plastic.  

Recyclage 101: which product goes where?

  These major lines are memorized to transform the once tedious recycling chore into child's play. Please note: the packaging of beauty products that cannot be recycled in our municipality can often be recycled through TerraCycle. We go to his site ( terracycle.com ) to get the correct time.   Plastic bottles   "All plastics are recyclable, except those on which the number 6 is stamped [figure found in a small triangle under the packaging] and on which there is nothing indicated", underlines Jean-François Lesage , planning advisor in the Direction of residual materials management of the City of Montreal. He reminded us that we have to clean our containers for hygienic reasons before sending them to sorting centers.   Pumps and pipettes   They do not recycle. So, if one of our products has one of these tips, we unscrew it and dispose of it before putting the container for recycling!   Makeup   As the cases of our cosmetics are often made of several materials that are difficult to separate from each other, they generally do not recycle. "Laminated tubes [a type of flexible plastic packaging often used for foundations and make-up bases] are also not accepted," says Jean-François Lesage.   Mascara   The tube, too difficult to clean, does not recycle. The brush is washed in soapy water and sent to the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ( appalachianwild.org ), an organization in North Carolina that uses it to clean the fur of small, vulnerable animals.   Aerosols   As a safety issue, they cannot be recycled through the usual municipal recycling system. "Aerosols and pressurized containers can explode if they are heated or punctured," says our expert. We do not despair! They are accepted in eco-centers and when collecting hazardous household waste.   Makeup brushes   Like makeup cases, brushes do not mix with recycling because of the range of materials that make them up (plastic, metal, bristles, etc.). Before saying goodbye to them, we probe our surroundings to find out if a friend might need them, or we give them a second life by adding them to the children's artist's kit or using them as nail brushes, for example!   Glass containers   "Glass is fully recyclable and can be repeatedly collected without ever affecting its quality," said Alex Payne of TerraCycle. It makes it one of the most eco-friendly materials. ” Warning! In the case of a perfume, we make sure to separate the bottle from its atomizer, since the latter does not recycle.   Nail polish   Since the containers are almost impossible to clean, they cannot be recycled directly - they are part of the category of household hazardous waste (HHW). So we bring them to the ecocentre nearest to us.   Cleansing wipes   Unless they are biodegradable - we could then compost them - they take the garbage path.  

"Pamper the next one"

  If for various reasons (an impulse purchase, perhaps?) Unused products clutter our pharmacy, we turn to organizations for women in need. One thinks in particular of the Fairies Marraines ( feesmarraines.ca ), which give the necessities to the teenagers coming from underprivileged environments so that they can put themselves beautiful for their graduation, or The stuff of success ( dressforsuccessmontreal.org ), which supports women in difficult situations who wish to (re) enter the labor market.  

An app to facilitate recycling

  Last spring, the company RECYC-QUÉBEC launched the application C'est va Où? The objective: to clarify, according to our municipality, which products are intended for the trash, the recycling bin or the eco-center. The information remains summary, so if question marks persist, we complete our search on recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca.   The article 4 gestures to adopt for a responsible beauty routine appeared first on Elle Quebec .

T he beauty industry is notorious for using attractive packaging to entice customers – a marketing ploy that doesn’t always translate to being environmentally friendly (we’re looking at you, single-use plastic). In 2020, nothing is prettier than the three Rs. Make reduce, reuse and recycle an essential part of your beauty routine by choosing products in recycled materials or in packaging that’s reusable, refillable or recyclable. In the latter case, check the official recycling guidelines in your municipality to ensure that your packaging is blue bin approved. For example, the City of Toronto, where I live, doesn’t recycle black plastic (you can also get all your recycling information in Toronto on the TOwaste app).   To reduce new plastic production, some beauty brands are making bottles out of post-consumer recycled plastic. Others are partnering up with organizations like TerraCycle to collect hard-to-recycle materials. In 2018, L’Occitane launched its recycling program, where participating boutiques collect and recycle used beauty, skincare and hair care packaging from any brand. Clarins recently added collection boxes for its used packaging to all of its Hudson’s Bay counters. Burt’s Bees, mean-while, offers prepaid mailing labels for its used products to be shipped directly to TerraCycle.   Others have embraced the circular economy, where companies take back their products after use to be reused or recycled (think old-school glass milk bottles). M.A.C, for example, rewards customers with free products when they return their primary packaging, such as foundation bottles and lipstick tubes, to the Back-to-M.A.C program. How’s that for better beauty with benefits?   When brands do their part by using earth-friendly packaging, it’s up to you to make sure that it’s disposed of properly. Take Kaia Naturals’s The Vitamin Cleanse, for example. These all-natural wipes are fully compostable, but if they’re tossed in the garbage or flushed down the drain, that bio-degradation isn’t going to happen. “If people don’t know how to deal with the end product, it won’t actually reach the objective,” says Kaia founder Mary Futher. “The manufacturer can only do so much. You have to do the rest.”  

Best Bets

Refillable: M.A.C. Loud & Clear Lipstick in Baroque The Internet, $24, maccosmetics.ca TerraCyclable: Burt’s Bees Voluminizing Mascara, $14, shoppersdrugmart.ca Reusable: Lastswab Beauty, $18, lastobject.com (Check out six ways to go eco-friendly in under 24 hours.) Some ingredients used in personal care products, such as preservatives and fragrances, have been linked to a host of negative health issues, from contact dermatitis to fertility problems. The Canadian Cancer Society reports that phthalates, found in some nail polishes and perfumes, are being studied for their potential link to cancer. That risk has led to the green beauty movement and a demand for more-natural products that contain ingredients that are easy to recognize, typically in the form of organic botanicals, such as aloe, shea butter and coconut oil.   Though buying organic was costly at one time, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg because greater consumer demand for natural alternatives has given brands an incentive to find ways to bring prices down. “It was our goal to give women an accessible, organic cosmetic range that they can easily buy and use daily,” says Anne Requier, a skincare lab engineer at Garnier International who recently introduced the certified-organic Bio range to Canada.   At Herbal Essences, an endorsement by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the UK verifies the efficacy of the brand’s botanical ingredients, such as aloe. “Because they have the biggest plant collection in the world, they can go back and get the standard,” says Rachel Zipperian, principal scientist for Herbal Essences. “They know exactly what aloe is supposed to look like, and they’re able to confirm that the aloe we’re using is high in [anti-oxidant] polysaccharides.”   For some, the future lies in clean beauty, a term used to describe products that include synthetic ingredients that mimic natural ones but can also be more stable, sustainable and even pure because this process eliminates potential contamination from toxins, pesticides and heavy metals. One such example is squalene, which was traditionally harvested from shark livers and olives to add moisturizing benefits to skincare. The California-based brand Biossance takes a different approach thanks to parent company Amyris, which bioengineered a plant-based, stable squalene using fermented sugar cane from Brazil, a plant that requires less resources than olives. (Check out the best mini clean beauty products to test drive.)   When it comes to understanding what’s going in your body, the onus is ultimately on you. According to Health Canada’s guidelines, labelling cosmetic ingredients is important because it “helps Canadians make more informed decisions about the cosmetics they use since they are able to easily-identify ingredients they may be sensitive to.” Reading the label sounds simple enough, but is it something that most of us are doing? According to Biossance president Catherine Gore, the answer is no. “It’s not that clear that you have to,” she says.   There are resources that educate us on product ingredients, such as Clean at Sephora and Environmental Working Group, but sometimes this wealth of information can lead to confusion. To help cut through the noise, Gore and her team at Biossance launched The Clean Academy, a series of YouTube videos hosted by Queer Eye grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness. Their mission is to offer real answers to topics that confuse us most at the beauty counter. “The tricky thing is that there’s a lot of information and sometimes that can be a lot to absorb,” explains Gore. “It’s also quite complicated in terms of some of the answers. We wanted to offer a platform that helps do that in a fun and entertaining way.”  

Best Bets

Endorsed by Kew Gardens: Herbal Essences Bio Renew Potent Aloe & Hemp Shampoo and Conditioner, $8 each, herbalessences.ca EWG-Approved: Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfaving Night Serum, $82, biossance.com Certified Organic: Garnier Bio Lavandin Facial Oil, $25, walmart.ca (Check out the 12 toxic ingredients that can be found in beauty products.) Animal lovers, rejoice! Being cruelty-free is finally cool. And we have The Body Shop to thank for that. Back in 1989, it was the first global beauty company to lobby for an end to animal testing. Today, the company has been joined by many others, including makeup giant CoverGirl, which went cruelty-free in 2018. “Listening to our consumers, we started this journey with CoverGirl to demonstrate our commitment to this issue by achieving such an ambitious certification at scale,” said Camillo Pane, former chief executive officer of CoverGirl’s parent company, Coty. Broadly speaking, a cruelty-free designation means that the product was developed without any testing on animals, while vegan means that the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients.   To find out where your favourite brands stand, it’s important to do your research, as product formulation isn’t always transparent and animal testing may occur at the ingredient level. Leaping Bunny is an organization that vets beauty products for compliance at all points (CoverGirl is the largest makeup brand with Leaping Bunny’s stamp of approval). Its Cruelty-Free App makes it easy to check on the go.  

Best Bets

The Industry Giant: Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation, $13, shoppersdrugmart.ca The Pioneer: The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, $21, thebodyshop.com The Makeup Maestro: Kat Von D Beauty Tattoo Liner, $27, sephora.com Now that you’ve learned about the 3Rs for beauty products, check out the sustainable wellness items our editors love.

With a large portion of storefronts shuttered across the country, the retail business is being slammed by the fight against COVID-19. In this edition of Beauty Independent’s ongoing series posing questions relevant to beauty entrepreneurs, we ask 12 retailers: What can beauty brands do to help you get through this crisis?

Empty it out

  As a rule of thumb, containers need to be rinsed and free of product before being recycled.   Fragrances and products like nail varnish, polish remover and aftershave are considered hazardous waste and unsafe for recycling.   “Anything that has product left in it should go back to a household hazardous waste depot, where they make sure the materials go in the right place,” says Nadine Kerr, manager of resource recovery for Solid Waste Management Services at the City of Toronto.   “It can cause equipment breakdown and hazards for the people who are working at these facilities.”   In particular, aerosol cans must be completely emptied and depressurized – failure to remove excess product can cause an explosion while the can is being processed. Waste processing varies between municipalities.   In Toronto, the main guide for recycling protocol is the TOwaste app. Elsewhere, check with your local municipality.  

Don’t just hope for the best

  Chucking your empties, even if they’re thoroughly rinsed, into the blue bin simply doesn’t cut it.   “Aspirational recycling” refers to when “consumers aren’t sure if something’s recyclable or if it will get recycled because maybe it has some product in it, but they put it in anyway because they want to give it a chance,” says Michael Waas, global vice president of brand partnerships at TerraCycle.   When not separated, mixed-component packaging – even if made up of entirely recyclable matter – can’t be processed by most municipal recycling streams.   “The line will kick out [contaminated] products, and usually the products surrounding them, because they’re operating very quickly and with a huge volume,” says Waas.   Facilities are ill-equipped to sort through the tiny components (think multi-part pumps and caps) found in cosmetic vessels and their packages.   Coils and spiral bindings, such as the ones found in pump bottles, cannot be recycled by municipal recycling streams and belong in the trash.  

Understand the signs

  The Mobius loop – an international recycling symbol – does not guarantee a product will be recycled through your city’s stream. However, the numbers within the loop indicate the type of plastic used in the product.   “The good news is if you have a container that has a number five or one, that product is all made of a single resin,” says Kerr, and that means those products are easier to recycle.   Look out for number seven plastics – they’re often made up of multiple resins, making them more difficult to recycle.  

Not the answer

  On the surface, biodegradable plastics may seem like a miraculous solution to the waste crisis, but packaging made of polylactic acid (a common biodegradable plastic derived from corn) won’t decompose unless it’s processed at a high-efficiency composting facility.   “Biodegradable packaging doesn’t add a lot of value to the compost, and, as a result, composters don’t really want it,” says Waas.   “The only sustainable solution is designing single use [plastics] out of the equation.”  

Buy Greener

  Use your purchasing power to put the onus on brands to streamline the recycling process.   “Recycling is an economics challenge in that there is a technical recycling solution for absolutely every product and package,” says Waas. “The question is whether it makes economic sense for it to be recycled.”   Most non-recyclable waste is considered as such because the cost to collect it exceeds the price for which the recovered material is sold.   TerraCycle, the global recycling program behind Loop, has collection programs with brands like Caudalie, Weleda, Burt’s Bees and EOS, which are willing to absorb those costs.   Return your brand-specific empties either by mail (free of charge) or in-store, and they will be remoulded into new products. If you aren’t brand-loyal, companies like L’Occitane, The Detox Market andDeciem have also partnered with TerraCycle and accept any product packaging at select locations.  

REFS

Published on ellecanada.com