This isn't just about plastic jars or cellophane or the Pacific Ocean. By 2050, shipping could be responsible for 10 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. For a better idea of the magnitude, we plotted the journeys of four products — from concept to an imaginary doorstep in Oklahoma City — to plot out a carbon map behind some products. More and more, companies are choosing to move their goods by rail rather than a plane. Others are using materials that would otherwise litter our oceans. We'll let the map do the talking. And then let's keep the conversation going. Here's how four of your favorite beauty products get from the factory to being into your hands — sustainably.

Herbal Essences' Bio: Renew Line

 

  Pacific Ocean For Herbal Essences' Bio: Renew line, the journey begins in the Pacific, where ocean-waste plastic is culled. New Jersey The plastic takes the slow boat to TerraCycle's facility, where it's processed into a raw material that can be used to create bottles. Indiana A packaging vendor sandwiches the Pacific plastic between two layers of virgin plastic. While not ideal, the bottle still uses 25 percent less virgin plastic than a traditional shampoo bottle and complies with most municipal recycling programs. The bottles then make their way, by truck or rail, to another Iowa (or West Virginia) factory to be filled. Then they're off to retailers across the country... Oklahoma City ...where a shopper places it in their cart. $6 each (Shop Now)

Glossier Balm Dotcom

 

Tennessee Having sprung forth from a mood board in New York City, the tubes and caps for Glossier Balm Dotcom are molded and printed in Tennessee.   New Jersey Next, they're trucked back east to be filled with the product, which was also made in the Garden State.   Ohio The finished, filled tubes then make their way by truck to a warehouse a few hundred miles west.   Oklahoma City An order to be delivered to OKC would likely travel from Ohio to Oklahoma by truck, says Glossier.   $12 (Shop Now)   Minnesota The glue-stick-like plastic tubes that house Olio e Osso's tinted balms travel by rail from a factory in Minnesota to the brand’s Oregon studio.   Portland The formula is mixed in small batches at the studio, then poured into the tubes. The outer stickers — sourced just outside of Portland — are then added.   Oklahoma City USPS picks up the orders directly from the studio and gets them to their final destination by truck.   $28 (Shop Now)   China East Coast While the packaging components that make up an Urban Decay Naked2 Eyeshadow Palette are being produced in a factory in Asia, the makeup itself is being made on the East Coast. "We like to make the actual [product] that goes on your face in factories where we can be on the ground floor and have a lot of control," says cofounder Wende Zomnir.   Dominican Republic The empty palettes and the shadows make their way, by boat, to the Dominican Republic, where assembly takes place.   Flordia Shadows plus package get on another boat, headed back to the U.S. "We might do an emergency shipment here or there by plane," says Zomnir. "But you can get the same result by planning ahead and shipping it on a boat."   New Jersey The palettes are then trucked to the brand's warehouse.   Oklahoma City One more trip — likely by truck — and the shimmering shadows are in a customer's hands.   $29 (Shop Now)    

   

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating most consumers’ and businesses’ thinking at the moment, but companies and market analysts are still looking to a post-coronavirus world in which other subjects come to the fore.     With that in mind, NPD UK said on Wednesday that sustainability remains the key topic in the prestige beauty market "and will shape brand strategy for years to come”. The market researcher’s UK beauty account manager, Emma Fishwick, said: “Sustainability is the number one topic for brands in the prestige beauty market as consumers demand a cleaner, greener approach to products, packaging, and the environment. The market has shifted substantially in the past few years and we have seen brands respond to the changing demands of conscious consumers with innovation. A notable shift is the reduction in unit sales: we saw a [5%] decline in unit sales in 2019.”   She explained that this decrease was partly due to consumers buying fewer single products and instead opting for multi-purpose, larger sized products. Hybrid, multi-purpose products are proving popular, “especially those that combine skincare and make-up benefits”. She feels it’s important for companies to respond to what really matters for consumers and to avoid PR problems in running their businesses. Fishwick said “transparency and traceability in the supply chain, in ingredients used and the formulation of products is a priority for the beauty buyer. The problems caused by over-packaging, a reliance on plastic and the creation and disposal of waste regularly make headlines in the beauty press. Carbon footprint and waste reduction are now part of the vernacular of the beauty industry.” What this all means for the market as a whole is that we are seeing a lot of new ideas and innovation. NPD cited Dior, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent that have all developed refillable packaging for their super-premium lines. And it said refillable fragrances have the potential to reduce waste. Meanwhile, “Kiehl’s is using sustainability sourced quinoa husk in products, Upcircle is one of many brands repurposing coffee grounds in body scrubs and the Body Shop is using bananas that have been rejected due to the incorrect shape and size in its latest hair conditioner. REN has championed beach clean-ups and has developed the first fully recyclable pump.” One challenge that the industry has to face up to and that is also possibly denting sales is that conscious consumers are thinking twice about buying more. “The eco story goes beyond beauty to the wider public,” Fishwick explained. “There is a strong social media movement to buy less as demonstrated by ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in November. Amongst beauty devotees we are witnessing a backlash to the ‘beauty haul’ videos on YouTube. Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the ‘anti-haul’ video has grown in popularity. And Green Friday was launched as an antidote to Black Friday to champion sustainability over spending.” Additionally, packaging initiatives such as Terra Cycle’s focus on recycling hard-to-recycle plastic waste, and bans on ingredients such as microbeads, are having an impact. But NPD said brands need to go further in meeting consumers’ “seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours”. That includes pursuing carbon-neutrality and setting strong targets for cutting the volume of packaging and waste.

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating most consumers’ and businesses’ thinking at the moment, but companies and market analysts are still looking to a post-coronavirus world in which other subjects come to the fore.     With that in mind, NPD UK said on Wednesday that sustainability remains the key topic in the prestige beauty market "and will shape brand strategy for years to come”. The market researcher’s UK beauty account manager, Emma Fishwick, said: “Sustainability is the number one topic for brands in the prestige beauty market as consumers demand a cleaner, greener approach to products, packaging, and the environment. The market has shifted substantially in the past few years and we have seen brands respond to the changing demands of conscious consumers with innovation. A notable shift is the reduction in unit sales: we saw a [5%] decline in unit sales in 2019.”   She explained that this decrease was partly due to consumers buying fewer single products and instead opting for multi-purpose, larger sized products. Hybrid, multi-purpose products are proving popular, “especially those that combine skincare and make-up benefits”. She feels it’s important for companies to respond to what really matters for consumers and to avoid PR problems in running their businesses. Fishwick said “transparency and traceability in the supply chain, in ingredients used and the formulation of products is a priority for the beauty buyer. The problems caused by over-packaging, a reliance on plastic and the creation and disposal of waste regularly make headlines in the beauty press. Carbon footprint and waste reduction are now part of the vernacular of the beauty industry.” What this all means for the market as a whole is that we are seeing a lot of new ideas and innovation. NPD cited Dior, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent that have all developed refillable packaging for their super-premium lines. And it said refillable fragrances have the potential to reduce waste. Meanwhile, “Kiehl’s is using sustainability sourced quinoa husk in products, Upcircle is one of many brands repurposing coffee grounds in body scrubs and the Body Shop is using bananas that have been rejected due to the incorrect shape and size in its latest hair conditioner. REN has championed beach clean-ups and has developed the first fully recyclable pump.” One challenge that the industry has to face up to and that is also possibly denting sales is that conscious consumers are thinking twice about buying more. “The eco story goes beyond beauty to the wider public,” Fishwick explained. “There is a strong social media movement to buy less as demonstrated by ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in November. Amongst beauty devotees we are witnessing a backlash to the ‘beauty haul’ videos on YouTube. Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the ‘anti-haul’ video has grown in popularity. And Green Friday was launched as an antidote to Black Friday to champion sustainability over spending.” Additionally, packaging initiatives such as Terra Cycle’s focus on recycling hard-to-recycle plastic waste, and bans on ingredients such as microbeads, are having an impact. But NPD said brands need to go further in meeting consumers’ “seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours”. That includes pursuing carbon-neutrality and setting strong targets for cutting the volume of packaging and waste.

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating most consumers’ and businesses’ thinking at the moment, but companies and market analysts are still looking to a post-coronavirus world in which other subjects come to the fore.     With that in mind, NPD UK said on Wednesday that sustainability remains the key topic in the prestige beauty market "and will shape brand strategy for years to come”. The market researcher’s UK beauty account manager, Emma Fishwick, said: “Sustainability is the number one topic for brands in the prestige beauty market as consumers demand a cleaner, greener approach to products, packaging, and the environment. The market has shifted substantially in the past few years and we have seen brands respond to the changing demands of conscious consumers with innovation. A notable shift is the reduction in unit sales: we saw a [5%] decline in unit sales in 2019.”   She explained that this decrease was partly due to consumers buying fewer single products and instead opting for multi-purpose, larger sized products. Hybrid, multi-purpose products are proving popular, “especially those that combine skincare and make-up benefits”. She feels it’s important for companies to respond to what really matters for consumers and to avoid PR problems in running their businesses. Fishwick said “transparency and traceability in the supply chain, in ingredients used and the formulation of products is a priority for the beauty buyer. The problems caused by over-packaging, a reliance on plastic and the creation and disposal of waste regularly make headlines in the beauty press. Carbon footprint and waste reduction are now part of the vernacular of the beauty industry.” What this all means for the market as a whole is that we are seeing a lot of new ideas and innovation. NPD cited Dior, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent that have all developed refillable packaging for their super-premium lines. And it said refillable fragrances have the potential to reduce waste. Meanwhile, “Kiehl’s is using sustainability sourced quinoa husk in products, Upcircle is one of many brands repurposing coffee grounds in body scrubs and the Body Shop is using bananas that have been rejected due to the incorrect shape and size in its latest hair conditioner. REN has championed beach clean-ups and has developed the first fully recyclable pump.” One challenge that the industry has to face up to and that is also possibly denting sales is that conscious consumers are thinking twice about buying more. “The eco story goes beyond beauty to the wider public,” Fishwick explained. “There is a strong social media movement to buy less as demonstrated by ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in November. Amongst beauty devotees we are witnessing a backlash to the ‘beauty haul’ videos on YouTube. Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the ‘anti-haul’ video has grown in popularity. And Green Friday was launched as an antidote to Black Friday to champion sustainability over spending.” Additionally, packaging initiatives such as Terra Cycle’s focus on recycling hard-to-recycle plastic waste, and bans on ingredients such as microbeads, are having an impact. But NPD said brands need to go further in meeting consumers’ “seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours”. That includes pursuing carbon-neutrality and setting strong targets for cutting the volume of packaging and waste.

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating most consumers’ and businesses’ thinking at the moment, but companies and market analysts are still looking to a post-coronavirus world in which other subjects come to the fore.     With that in mind, NPD UK said on Wednesday that sustainability remains the key topic in the prestige beauty market "and will shape brand strategy for years to come”. The market researcher’s UK beauty account manager, Emma Fishwick, said: “Sustainability is the number one topic for brands in the prestige beauty market as consumers demand a cleaner, greener approach to products, packaging, and the environment. The market has shifted substantially in the past few years and we have seen brands respond to the changing demands of conscious consumers with innovation. A notable shift is the reduction in unit sales: we saw a [5%] decline in unit sales in 2019.”   She explained that this decrease was partly due to consumers buying fewer single products and instead opting for multi-purpose, larger sized products. Hybrid, multi-purpose products are proving popular, “especially those that combine skincare and make-up benefits”. She feels it’s important for companies to respond to what really matters for consumers and to avoid PR problems in running their businesses. Fishwick said “transparency and traceability in the supply chain, in ingredients used and the formulation of products is a priority for the beauty buyer. The problems caused by over-packaging, a reliance on plastic and the creation and disposal of waste regularly make headlines in the beauty press. Carbon footprint and waste reduction are now part of the vernacular of the beauty industry.” What this all means for the market as a whole is that we are seeing a lot of new ideas and innovation. NPD cited Dior, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent that have all developed refillable packaging for their super-premium lines. And it said refillable fragrances have the potential to reduce waste. Meanwhile, “Kiehl’s is using sustainability sourced quinoa husk in products, Upcircle is one of many brands repurposing coffee grounds in body scrubs and the Body Shop is using bananas that have been rejected due to the incorrect shape and size in its latest hair conditioner. REN has championed beach clean-ups and has developed the first fully recyclable pump.” One challenge that the industry has to face up to and that is also possibly denting sales is that conscious consumers are thinking twice about buying more. “The eco story goes beyond beauty to the wider public,” Fishwick explained. “There is a strong social media movement to buy less as demonstrated by ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in November. Amongst beauty devotees we are witnessing a backlash to the ‘beauty haul’ videos on YouTube. Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the ‘anti-haul’ video has grown in popularity. And Green Friday was launched as an antidote to Black Friday to champion sustainability over spending.” Additionally, packaging initiatives such as Terra Cycle’s focus on recycling hard-to-recycle plastic waste, and bans on ingredients such as microbeads, are having an impact. But NPD said brands need to go further in meeting consumers’ “seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours”. That includes pursuing carbon-neutrality and setting strong targets for cutting the volume of packaging and waste.

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating most consumers’ and businesses’ thinking at the moment, but companies and market analysts are still looking to a post-coronavirus world in which other subjects come to the fore.     With that in mind, NPD UK said on Wednesday that sustainability remains the key topic in the prestige beauty market "and will shape brand strategy for years to come”. The market researcher’s UK beauty account manager, Emma Fishwick, said: “Sustainability is the number one topic for brands in the prestige beauty market as consumers demand a cleaner, greener approach to products, packaging, and the environment. The market has shifted substantially in the past few years and we have seen brands respond to the changing demands of conscious consumers with innovation. A notable shift is the reduction in unit sales: we saw a [5%] decline in unit sales in 2019.”   She explained that this decrease was partly due to consumers buying fewer single products and instead opting for multi-purpose, larger sized products. Hybrid, multi-purpose products are proving popular, “especially those that combine skincare and make-up benefits”. She feels it’s important for companies to respond to what really matters for consumers and to avoid PR problems in running their businesses. Fishwick said “transparency and traceability in the supply chain, in ingredients used and the formulation of products is a priority for the beauty buyer. The problems caused by over-packaging, a reliance on plastic and the creation and disposal of waste regularly make headlines in the beauty press. Carbon footprint and waste reduction are now part of the vernacular of the beauty industry.” What this all means for the market as a whole is that we are seeing a lot of new ideas and innovation. NPD cited Dior, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent that have all developed refillable packaging for their super-premium lines. And it said refillable fragrances have the potential to reduce waste. Meanwhile, “Kiehl’s is using sustainability sourced quinoa husk in products, Upcircle is one of many brands repurposing coffee grounds in body scrubs and the Body Shop is using bananas that have been rejected due to the incorrect shape and size in its latest hair conditioner. REN has championed beach clean-ups and has developed the first fully recyclable pump.” One challenge that the industry has to face up to and that is also possibly denting sales is that conscious consumers are thinking twice about buying more. “The eco story goes beyond beauty to the wider public,” Fishwick explained. “There is a strong social media movement to buy less as demonstrated by ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in November. Amongst beauty devotees we are witnessing a backlash to the ‘beauty haul’ videos on YouTube. Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the ‘anti-haul’ video has grown in popularity. And Green Friday was launched as an antidote to Black Friday to champion sustainability over spending.” Additionally, packaging initiatives such as Terra Cycle’s focus on recycling hard-to-recycle plastic waste, and bans on ingredients such as microbeads, are having an impact. But NPD said brands need to go further in meeting consumers’ “seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours”. That includes pursuing carbon-neutrality and setting strong targets for cutting the volume of packaging and waste.

The coronavirus pandemic is dominating most consumers’ and businesses’ thinking at the moment, but companies and market analysts are still looking to a post-coronavirus world in which other subjects come to the fore.     With that in mind, NPD UK said on Wednesday that sustainability remains the key topic in the prestige beauty market "and will shape brand strategy for years to come”. The market researcher’s UK beauty account manager, Emma Fishwick, said: “Sustainability is the number one topic for brands in the prestige beauty market as consumers demand a cleaner, greener approach to products, packaging, and the environment. The market has shifted substantially in the past few years and we have seen brands respond to the changing demands of conscious consumers with innovation. A notable shift is the reduction in unit sales: we saw a [5%] decline in unit sales in 2019.”   She explained that this decrease was partly due to consumers buying fewer single products and instead opting for multi-purpose, larger sized products. Hybrid, multi-purpose products are proving popular, “especially those that combine skincare and make-up benefits”. She feels it’s important for companies to respond to what really matters for consumers and to avoid PR problems in running their businesses. Fishwick said “transparency and traceability in the supply chain, in ingredients used and the formulation of products is a priority for the beauty buyer. The problems caused by over-packaging, a reliance on plastic and the creation and disposal of waste regularly make headlines in the beauty press. Carbon footprint and waste reduction are now part of the vernacular of the beauty industry.” What this all means for the market as a whole is that we are seeing a lot of new ideas and innovation. NPD cited Dior, Lancôme and Yves Saint Laurent that have all developed refillable packaging for their super-premium lines. And it said refillable fragrances have the potential to reduce waste. Meanwhile, “Kiehl’s is using sustainability sourced quinoa husk in products, Upcircle is one of many brands repurposing coffee grounds in body scrubs and the Body Shop is using bananas that have been rejected due to the incorrect shape and size in its latest hair conditioner. REN has championed beach clean-ups and has developed the first fully recyclable pump.” One challenge that the industry has to face up to and that is also possibly denting sales is that conscious consumers are thinking twice about buying more. “The eco story goes beyond beauty to the wider public,” Fishwick explained. “There is a strong social media movement to buy less as demonstrated by ‘Buy Nothing Day’ in November. Amongst beauty devotees we are witnessing a backlash to the ‘beauty haul’ videos on YouTube. Throughout 2019 and into 2020, the ‘anti-haul’ video has grown in popularity. And Green Friday was launched as an antidote to Black Friday to champion sustainability over spending.” Additionally, packaging initiatives such as Terra Cycle’s focus on recycling hard-to-recycle plastic waste, and bans on ingredients such as microbeads, are having an impact. But NPD said brands need to go further in meeting consumers’ “seismic shift in attitudes and behaviours”. That includes pursuing carbon-neutrality and setting strong targets for cutting the volume of packaging and waste.

Once a footnote among fans of natural formulas, sustainable beauty gets its own seat at the table this year. We’re more aware of the harmful impact that beauty products can have on the earth, whether that’s in the form of excess and nonrecyclable packaging or endangered ingredients. New changes—such as using postconsumer recycled plastic for packaging, designing bottles that are easy to recycle, relying on biodegradable materials, and sourcing sustainable ingredients for which workers are paid a fair wage—are minimizing our incidental damage to nature while elevating our routines. Read on to find the Glamour Beauty Award–winning sustainable beauty products that are making a difference.      

The Best Cleanser

  This cleanser checks all the boxes: It removes every trace of makeup, doesn't strip my skin, looks pretty in my bathroom (the packaging is totally recyclable), and it's made using tulip bulbs that would otherwise be thrown away. What's not to love? —Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate    

The Best Serum

  I just love this line for how it source its products—wild-harvested botanicals—but also for how it performs. This serum was soothing but also had a brightening effect for me after a week of use. —Bee Shapiro, New York Times columnist and founder of Ellis Brooklyn    

The Best Moisturizer

  This new line is rooted in the magic of manuka honey (it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties) that's sustainably sourced from New Zealand. What does that mean? Kiwi works with Maori tribe harvest ingredients, which are then manufactured in a facility with fair work standards. I love everything from the line, but this moisturizer is the real standout. It's superlight and has SPF 30, and you can get it at the drugstore. —Deanna Pai, beauty contributor    

The Best Face Mask

  As a Capricorn sun with Taurus rising, life for me is all about being practical and efficient. Enter Onekind's refining facial—you need only the one product to help reduce redness, detoxify, and brighten your skin. So easy. Plus, it makes me feel good knowing both the tube and the cap are made using postconsumer recycled plastic (that's still hard to find). —Anna Moeslein, senior editor    

The Best Deodorant

  I am proud to call myself a natural deodorant expert (I've tried just about every single one), even though I sweat once the temperature rises from chilly to merely nippy. (I consider myself the ultimate test.) And this deodorant passed with flying colors. Not only are there several scents to choose from, but the cute cartridge is refillable. —D.P.    

The Best Glitter

  I love glitter, and this one lets me pack it on without a guilty conscience. For the newly initiated: Most glitter is made with microplastics, which can have a detrimental effect on the environment. Bioglitz, on the other hand, uses a biodegradable film that is certified compostable. Each jar mixes fine and chunky glitter, and since it's not mixed into a base, it's super versatile. Some of my favorite drag queens swear by it—and if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. —B.C.    

The Best Body Product

  I'm not only obsessed with this body wash—the scents are incredible and the formulas are hydrating but not too heavy—but I also love the mission behind the brand. In its first year, The Right to Shower's parent company (Unilever, the same behind Dove) donated 100% of its profits to organizations that offer mobile showers to people living on the streets. The packaging is also recyclable, while the ingredients are certified sustainable. It's a small gesture, but I feel better knowing my money is going toward helping others. —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor    

The Best Lip Balm

  Lip balm can be such a mundane beauty product—and then you fall in love with one that makes all other lip balms look straight-up bland in comparison. Saie offers just enough hydration with the over addictiveness of some balms. Bonus: The tube is made of postconsumer recycled plastic. —B.S.      

The Best Shampoo & Conditioner

  This Herbal Essences line brings an entirely new wave of hydration to my coarse, curly hair. The shampoo delivers a citrus-scented tingle to my scalp, making it feel clean and fresh, and the conditioner leaves my hair silky and hydrated. The best part? The brand partnered with TerraCycle to create bottles made entirely from trash on the beach—clearing out over three tons of waste in total. —Talia Gutierrez, beauty assistant    

The Best Fragrance

  We had one sample of Jake's House in the office that was meant for another editor to test, but the second I smelled it, I snatched it for myself. It's that good. It's the lightest musky neroli that smells like summer at my grandma's pool, stays all day without being overpowering, and is super unique. Oh, and its ingredients and packaging meet the world's most rigorous sustainability standards. In other words, it's perfect. —B.C.