Happy Global Recycling Day. First introduced back in 2018, today is all about educating people on the importance of recycling for preserving our planet.

Now, brands like Garnier, Maybelline, Kiehl's and L'Occitane are working with recycling company TerraCycle to create drop-off points (you can usually find them in supermarkets) for your beauty empties, with some exceptions such as aerosol cans, perfume bottles, nail polish bottles, and nail polish remover bottles.

There’s a lot to unpack

by Katherine Lalancette   When you look into how recycling management works, it’s a little like finding out Santa Claus doesn’t exist. The illusion shatters and along with it your belief in everything you once thought good and pure in the world. In a way, the road to landfills is paved with good intentions. We Canadians, for example, are notorious for “wish-cycling,” throwing items in the blue bin in the hopes that someone, somewhere will be inspired to recycle them. It doesn’t work like that. Instead, the non-accepted items—chip bags, pizza boxes, toothpaste tubes—only increase the likelihood of actual recyclables getting rejected because the lot is deemed contaminated. To be fair, though, nearly everything is recyclable in theory—even cigarette butts and dirty diapers. But in terms of what actually gets recycled, it all comes down to economics. “Recyclers want things they can recycle at a profit,” says Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of Terracycle, a company that aims to recycle materials that usually aren’t. The things that generate profit tend to be large objects made from a single material. And if that’s plastic, it’s usually clear PET (polyethylene terephthalate or type 1 plastic) or white HDPE (high-density polyethylene or type 2). In other words, it’s everything most beauty packaging is not. Chances are a lot of your personal care products fit in your palm and will thus likely get missed by sorting machines and thrown in the trash Take a look at your medicine cabinet. Chances are a lot of your personal care products fit in your palm and will thus likely get missed by sorting machines and thrown in the trash (it’s why samples and minis have been called the beauty industry’s dark secret). They’re probably also made of mixed materials (a plastic, rubber and metal razor; a metal spring in a plastic pump) and, if plastic, neither clear nor white. That last part is important as coloured plastic has a smaller chance of being recycled because of its lower resale value. (The same goes for glass. If it’s amber or green, Szaky says it probably won’t get recycled.) That’s because you can’t take colour out, only add to it, which makes it less attractive to companies. “Think of kids mixing paint,” he says. “It always ends up brown and you can’t unbrown the brown.” In Canada, roughly 773 million plastic beauty or personal care containers end up in landfills every year In 2018, the U.S. alone produced 7.9 billion units of plastic for beauty and personal care products, according to Euromonitor International. If we transpose that to a Canadian scale—considering Canadians have similar purchasing habits—“we can estimate that Canada produces 909 million plastic packaging units in a year,” says Laura Yates, plastic campaigner for Greenpeace. Out of that, about 23 per cent is diverted for recycling by consumers, but then a third of that is lost in the sorting and recycling process. Bottom line: In Canada, roughly 773 million plastic beauty or personal care containers end up in landfills every year. So does that mean brands are lying when they emboss a three-arrow triangle on the bottom of, say, a dark travel-sized plastic bottle? No, not technically. That bottle really is recyclable. The issue is similar to consumers’ wish-cycling tendencies: We’re betting our salvation on a system that’s out to make money, not fix the world’s waste problem. We’re betting our salvation on a system that’s out to make money, not fix the world’s waste problem When Ericka Rodriguez first started her makeup line, Axiology, in Bend, Oregon, she chose to house her lipsticks in aluminium tubes. “We thought, ‘This is great because aluminium can be recycled over and over again,’” she says. But the part of the tube that held the bullet was made of plastic, which meant that in cities that didn’t accept mixed-material items (guidelines vary a lot from place to place), the whole tube was being discarded. “We felt like we were being dishonest because we were like, ‘It’s recyclable,’ and then some people would be like, ‘It’s not, though, because there’s also plastic.’” It’s not that those aluminium tubes can’t be recycled, it’s that separating the components isn’t considered “worth it.” It gets worse. For a while now, biodegradable plastics have been touted as the solution. You’ve probably used compostable cutlery from that place you got a grain bowl from once and thought, “Wow, this is the future” and went on crunching your quinoa with a clear conscience. The problem is: Composters don’t want compostable packaging. The biggest retailer in the U.K. banned compostable packaging from its shelves after it learned composters weren’t actually composting these biodegradable plastics, they were burning them A year ago, Tesco, the biggest retailer in the U.K., banned compostable packaging from its shelves. It did that after it learned composters weren’t actually composting these biodegradable plastics, they were burning them. “Everyone was shocked and asked, “Why? Isn’t it really compostable?”’ says Szaky. “They said, “It is, but it costs us more to process it and deal with it so why would we bother doing it? We’re not morally obligated to do it, we’re not legally obligated. We’re a for-profit business.” Before you go chucking your game of Monopoly in the trash (recycling bin? Who the hell knows anymore?), know that capitalism isn’t the only variable at play. Australia, as part of its first-ever National Plastics Plan, announced last month that it would be banning bioplastics as research has shown that, environmentally, it’s not much better than the conventional kind. “Biodegradable plastics promise a plastic that breaks down into natural components when it’s no longer needed for its original purpose,” explains Jackie Gilbert Bauer, head of product development for hair care brand Hairstory. “The idea that plastic literally disappears once in the ocean or littered on land or in landfills is nice, but it’s not actually possible. Nothing disappears completely.” That’s why Greenpeace does not currently recommend switching to other types of disposable packaging like bioplastics, paper or even 100 per cent recyclable packaging. “Although these often feel like an environmentally better choice than plastic, they are false solutions that risk aggravating current environmental crises, don’t question current disposable culture, and divert attention from the real solutions that should favour reuse,” says Yates. “You really can’t recycle your way out of the place we’re in today” Even Terracyle, a company built on recycling, acknowledges recycling isn’t the solution. “You really can’t recycle your way out of the place we’re in today,” says Annika Greve, director, business development for North America at Loop, a new Terracycle initiative launched in Ontario earlier this year. Don’t get her wrong, recycling is “necessary and critical,” she says. For example, Terracycle and Nordstrom just partnered on Beautycycle, a program aiming to recycle 100 tons of beauty packaging by 2025 (you can bring any beauty empty to a Nordstrom store to have it recycled). But still, she says, recycling is “a Band-Aid on the much larger issue.” That’s where Loop comes in. It sort of works like an old-school milkman, collecting reusable bottles, cleaning them up and then refilling them. Loop assists companies in transitioning to durable, refillable containers and teams up with retailers such as Loblaws in Canada, so that consumers can buy participating products and drop off empties in a convenient location. Examples of beauty partners in Canada include indie brands like Oneka and Meow Meow Tweet, as well as REN, the first premium beauty brand to sign up. Arnaud Meysselle, REN’s CEO, doesn’t sugar-coat it: Eliminating waste is hard. “There are a lot of hurdles to overcome,” he says of the brand’s pledge to become waste-free by end of year. “There’s a financial impact, which we swallowed—additional costs are not added to the end product—because we are the sinner, so why would we ask people to pay for our sins?” “It’s much easier for the big companies to make these moves. They have the volume. They could do whatever they want”   Unfortunately, not every brand is in a position to absorb the costs linked to greener packaging. “It’s really hard for indie brands, the smaller brands, because a lot of these things come with a 10 or 50 thousand minimum order,” says Sheri L. Koetting, founder of MSLK, an agency that guides beauty brands at all stages of development. “So, it’s much easier for the big companies to make these moves. They have the volume. They could do whatever they want.” Ericka Rodriguez ran into this exact problem when she was sourcing refillable lip crayon tubes. “The quotes we were getting to make these were astronomical,” she says. “The way it works is there’s only so many beauty manufacturers out there. They’re mostly in China and they all already work for the big beauty brands. Since these big beauty brands haven’t really invested in, for example, a refillable crayon tube, we’re having to do it and it can be out of reach.” Luckily, the shift is starting. Last year, P&G brands Pantene, Head & Shoulders and Herbal Essences announced they’d be launching refillable shampoos and conditioners. In January, Dove debuted a refillable deodorant. Unfortunately, these products aren’t available in Canada yet. You can, however, shop refills from L’Occitane, Tata Harper, Hairstory and Kiehl’s, to name just a few. “By using 1-litre refill pouches, customers use on average 80 per cent less plastic compared to the same amount of formula across four 250-ml bottles,” says Leonardo Chavez, global vice-president for Kiehl’s. “Less plastic,” as in most pouches are still made of plastic, which Koetting says can be viewed as “not that eco-friendly.” “But the amount of plastic that goes into that pouch is so much more minimal and doesn’t take a lot of energy to make,” she says. Because it’s lighter and can ship flat, its transport also generates fewer carbon emissions. We have a tendency to vilify materials, says Szaky, which has certainly been the case with plastic in recent years. “Plastics can do amazing things that nothing else can do. Our computers are made from plastic, our eyeglasses are made from plastic. It’s also how the materials are used that determines whether they’re benevolent or not.” Perhaps the most benevolent material is no material at all Perhaps the most benevolent material is no material at all. British brand Lush has been a leader in that space with its packageless haircare and skincare bars. Rodriguez also decided to take that route with her multi-purpose balms—she did away with the tubes and instead wrapped the bullets in recycled paper—when she couldn’t find a manufacturer that could provide a packaging solution she was comfortable with. As consumers, supporting brands that offer these kinds of package-free or refill products—or letting the ones that don’t know that we want better options—can make a world of difference. “The number 1 thing that will make industry change is purchasing habits—that speaks volumes,” Greve says. But the most effective purchasing habit of all? Buying way less. “The only answer is lowering consumption,” Szaky says matter of factly. And this is where the illusion shatters even further: “No matter how vegan or fair-trade that thing that you bought is, if you didn’t buy it, that land that had to farm it could have been a forest.” Like Santa, Szaky confirms, “there’s no such thing as good consumption.”

Over the past half-decade, the beauty industry has evolved into a more-is-more mentality.  Whether your a beauty junkie or not, your bathroom cabinets might be filled with tons of products you don’t even remember buying.  Shampoos, lotions, haircare, and makeup are all products that need to be recycled, and more often than not these items are not recycled properly. Cosmetic packagings are made of various types of materials which make this process incredibly tricky and most of these items end up contributing significantly to the evergrowing landfills across the nation. Here are 5 cosmetic brands that are working hard to reuse plastic and reduce waste, and also offer their customers some great free incentives.

From refillable products, zero-waste packaging and ocean waste plastics, to what you can and can't actually recycle, Kelsey Ferencak and TerraCycle's Jean Bailliard explain how to properly dispose of your #empties.

It’s Eco Week at Byrdie, which means we’re digging into the best in sustainable beauty, from our fourth annual Eco Beauty Awards to what it really means to follow a zero-waste beauty routine. Consider this week your education on how to be a more eco-aware, knowledgable beauty consumer.    Lately, more and more beauty companies have started to pay attention to sustainable and recyclable packaging options in their production process—which is really good news for our planet. Why? “Some types of cosmetic packaging can take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill," explains Thomas S. Woznicki, VP of recycling facility Combined Resources, Inc. "During that time, they can release harmful greenhouse gasses into the environment."   Upcycling, recycling, or composting your beauty products don’t just save animals—it can save our environment too. Here’s how you can play a part in making the world a cleaner and greener place with cosmetics you use daily.   01of 05

Avoid Cellophane If You Can

  Cellophane, which is a thin wrapping material made from viscose (it’s considered a “plant-based plastic”), is used to package many beauty products. Even though it’s not recyclable, it is biodegradable (which means it eventually breaks down) and more environment-friendly than polyethylene plastics that are used to make plastic bags. You can compost cellophane in your composting bin along with food scraps. However, according to Woznicki, you should actually avoid cellophane altogether because the way its produced is environmentally harmful. “Most cellophane is produced using carbon disulfide, which is toxic to people working in production facilities and produces hazardous fumes,” Woznicki explains. Noted.   02of 05

Upcycle

  A new trend in the world of sustainable beauty is upcycling. Recycling is when you convert waste, like an empty lipstick stick, into reused material. Upcycling, on the other hand, is when you reuse a product you'd normally throw away, like an empty candle glass, and turn it into a new product, like a brush holder. There's lots of upcycling happening on the brand front, too. For example, beauty brand Town and Anchor teamed up with sustainable handmade jewelry brand CLED to repurpose empty oil bottles into chic earrings; another company, Upcircle Beauty, actually upcycles leftover natural ingredients from used coffee grounds and brewed chai tea spices to create their beauty products.   Other companies are making it their mission to upcycle single-use pieces. The Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, which treats injured and orphaned wild animals, has a program called “Wands For Wildlife” that upcycles mascara wands to clean wildlife. These old wands are used to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur and feathers of wild animals.   03of 05

Check Out TerraCycle

  If you have no idea where to start when it comes to recycling your beauty products, good news: here are companies dedicated to recycling beauty products for you. Recycling company TerraCycle, for example, has partnered with brands like Garnier, Kiehl’s, L’Occitane, ILIA, and more to offer customers recycling programs. Just mail your used bottles to TerraCycle or drop them off at an allocated location and they’ll make sure your products are recycled properly. Brands like Lush and MAC even offer rewards if you recycle their products through their program.   04of 05

Swap Out Cotton Pads

  Some cotton pads you use to remove makeup can be composted with food waste. But, keep in mind the toll on the environment it took to even make that product: that the same amount of water one person would drink over three years is used for one kilogram of cotton. Instead, try reusable makeup wipes—we like Face Halo—or these bamboo reusable cotton rounds.   05of 05

Always Rinse

  This may seem obvious, but read instructions on how to properly recycle your product before tossing it in the bin. "People shoud attention to the recyclable numbers on packaging," Woznicki says. “For example, HDPE (high density polyethylene) bottles are often used for personal care products and can be identified by the number 2 on the bottle. HDPE bottles are highly recyclable and can be recycled into things like garbage bags, bins, and even plastic lumber.” Whenever possible, skip plastic containers and opt for glass, which is almost endlessly recyclable without degrading in quality. (Click here for five eco beauty brands we love with recyclable packaging.)   Also, before tossing an empty bottle in the recycling bin, rinse it out to make sure there's no product left inside—otherwise, it won't be recycled at all. “Containers with product residue can contaminate the recycling load and end up in landfills," explains Woznicki. "Potentially harmful substances like hairspray or toxic chemicals can cause environmental damage. Leaving residue in recycling also can cause odors and attract bugs or rodents."

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