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Have A Beautiful Earth Day
L’OCCITANE, LOOP INDUSTRIES AGREE TO CHANGE TO 100% SUSTAINABLE PET PLASTIC
The L’Occitane Group has chosen Loop Industries as a key provider of 100 percent reused virgin-quality PET plastic.
The L’Occitane Group, a worldwide manufacturer and retailer of normal beautifying agents and prosperity items, and Loop Industries, an innovation trend-setter in sustainable plastic, declared the marking of a multiyear supply agreement for Loop-marked 100 percent reasonable PET plastic.
The assention will see the L’Occitane en Provence mark begin to join Loop PET plastic into its product packaging starting at 2022, empowering it to increment from its present 30 percent reused plastic to achieve 100 percent in its bottles by 2025 and put the Loop logo on all packaging containing Loop PET plastic.
As the interest for feasible packaging solutions keeps on developing, Loop Industries has risen with upcycling innovation that permits utilization of plastic bottles and packaging, cover and polyester textile of any color, straightforwardness or condition and even sea plastics that have been debased by the sun and salt to give mark proprietors a practical plastic item that helps solve the plastic pollution issue and meets FDA prerequisites for use in food-grade packaging. Along these lines, when the Loop logo shows up on a package, it is an affirmation for customers that the plastic is sustainable.
“Helping companies leverage their packaging as a symbol of their commitment to sustainability rather than a symbol of waste is one of our primary missions. We are so pleased to work with the L’Occitane Group, a leading premium retail brand, to do just that,” said Daniel Solomita, founder and CEO of Loop Industries, in a statement. “We are convinced that companies that make this transition, use sustainable packaging and encourage recycling will help restore our environment and create greater economic value.”
The L’Occitane Group said it has always been conscious of the impact of packaging and the fundamental importance of eco-design and recycling. The company first introduced eco-refills in 2008 and currently proposes 15 L’Occitane en Provence eco-refill products. These not only use up to 90 percent less packaging than the original containers (representing a saving of 121 tons in 2018) but also lower carbon dioxide emissions thanks to the reduced product transport. The group is working with specialized suppliers to design lighter packaging that prioritizes recycled materials and aims to increase its current 84 percent technically recyclable plastic to 100 percent by 2025.
Both Loop and L’Occitane realize that it is so critical to keep plastic in the economy and out of the shared environment. This assention supercharges L’Occitane’s capacity to close the circle on its plastic bottles. L’Occitane is going significantly further and is giving in-store reusing facilities to urge its clients to take an interest also. Since 2014, L’Occitane has been working with TerraCycle to give in-store reusing facilities to exhaust beautifyingcontainers and now offers in-store recycling at 30 percent of its owned stores across the world, aiming to reach 100 percent by 2025.
“Our brand is inspired by nature, people and culture, and we have been using natural plant-derived ingredients and eco-friendly manufacturing for more than 40 years,” said Adrien Geiger, global brand director at L’Occitane en Provence, in a statement. “We are therefore very conscious of the importance of eco-design and sustainable packaging. We have been launching eco-refill products, in-store recycling and bottles made out of 100 percent recycled plastic for more than 10 years and are continuing to progress on this. The innovative technology that Loop provides is a game-changer that can help us fundamentally contribute to solving the growing global concern about plastic pollution. We are excited to sign with Loop, representing a significant shift in our approach to plastic.”
The L’Occitane Group is utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals as a structure to proactively address its environmental challenges and contribute toward the worldwide exertion to lessen plastic pollution. As a major aspect of this, L’Occitane en Provence has marked the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, an activity that is driving activity with businesses and governments to work on solutions that address the root and causes of plastic waste and pollution.
THE HARD FACTS ON RECYCLING BEAUTY PACKAGING
TerraCycle
Garnier
Include USA
Febreze
l’Occitane
Loop
Burt’s Bees
EOS
Herbal Essences
Josie Maran
Paula's Choice
LimeLife By Alcone
- Send our used products to TerraCycle, which is free and takes two seconds to sign up for.
- 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.
- Buy less single-use products like wipes and sponges and switch to reusable options instead.
- Contact your local government officials to find out best recycling practices.
- Shop less.
- Spread the word and share this article with your community.
Here’s How to Recycle Your Beauty Empties
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).How to Recycle Your Makeup Containers
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).3 Crucial Ways to Update Your Beauty Routine Now
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.)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.)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.5 Beauty Mistakes You’re Making That Are Terrible for the Environment—and How to Fix Them
Scary fact #1: We dump around 2.12 billion tons of waste every year. Scary fact #2: As it stands, 75 percent of waste—including beauty products—in the U.S. is recyclable, yet only 30 percent is actually being recycled, according to the EPA. Unfortunately, your beauty routine has a major environmental impact, thanks to the overwhelming consumption of plastic and ingredients that may not be eco-friendly. Although it’s important to note that being sustainable is more than just a trend—it's the right thing to do all year long—with Earth Day coming around, there’s no better time to give your beauty routine an eco-friendly makeover. Here are five mistakes you’re probably making right now, and the appropriate solutions to fix them.
You’re not recycling your empties.
Let’s kick it off with the most egregious beauty sin: not recycling your empties. Throwing your beauty products into the trash is a small move that has big consequences for our landmines and oceans. The solution: Get yourself a dual compartment bin ($65; homedepot.com), that has a section for waste and another for recyclables. That way, when you go to throw any trash away, you’ll be reminded to recycle whenever possible. If you don’t have a go-to source for dropping off your recyclables, beauty brands like Unilever have partnered up with Terracycle to collect hard-to-recycle items from around the world and convert them into consumer products. Not only will they pay for all shipping costs, they’ll also make a donation to charity for each brigade collection they receive. Also, keep an eye out for beauty brands that offer recycling options in-house. L’Occitane has a great initiative where you can take any full-sized product from any brand to the store and it will give you 10 percent off any new full-sized product you buy that day. Origins allows you to bring back any empty Origins containers to the counter and the brand will ensure they are recycled. And Back to MAC is a program that gifts shoppers a free lipstick once they have returned six full-size empties to the store.2You’re buying from unsustainable brands.
The beauty world is full of murky waters, especially when it comes to product sourcing. From vaguely worded promises to unclear labeling systems, brands that tout “cruelty-free” can have some misleading fine print. The solution: Do your research! Ensure the brand is truly cruelty-free and against animal testing. The leaping bunny symbol is a guarantee that none of the products have been tested on animals. Sephora also has a green checkmark indicating products that are free of certain questionable and unwanted ingredients. Put down any product that contains phthalates, mercury, toluene, lead, or formaldehyde, as these chemicals are considered to be some of the most damaging to the planet. When you’re shopping, look for sustainable beauty brands that have thoughtful packaging. Try to avoid Styrofoam, cartons, and PVCs where possible. Any packaging made with recycled material will be recyclable and likely list a disclaimer on the container. Case in point: Tata Harper‘s packaging is bottled in reusable and recyclable glass (with soy ink used for the labeling), while 85 percent of Aveda’s skincare and haircare products are made of 100 percent recycled materials.3You’re using disposable makeup wipes every day.
As useful as single-use makeup wipes are, the cotton used to create makeup removal pads and buds are not biodegradable and don’t easily break down, causing too much trash to stack up in our landfills. What’s worse is that some are actually individually wrapped in plastic, doubling the amount of waste produced. The solution: If you use a small mountain of cotton balls or wipes on the daily, consider switching to washable, reusable pads, like the Makeup Eraser Cloth ($20; sephora.com), that only require water to work. Not only will you be doing a huge favor for the environment, you also won’t have to restock as often and you’ll be saving your skin from all those harmful pesticides in regular cotton balls.4You’re not taking advantage of refill programs.
Chances are you have some holy grail beauty products that you swear by—and you simply toss 'em and order another when you reach the bottom of the tube. Well, you might want to check if your favorites are refillable. More and more beauty brands are starting to offer intelligent refill systems that allow you to reuse your existing jars and containers. The solution: Limit your packaging consumption with refillable makeup and skincare products. Myro, a chic deodorant company, has a subscription service that periodically sends you new scent cartridge refills that are ready to be popped in whenever you're running low. Rituals, an ayurveda-inspired bath and body brand, offers eco-friendly refills for their skincare and body products—just take out the bottom of the jar and replace. And Kjar Weis is a sustainable makeup brand with gorgeous compacts that can be used again and again. Simply remove the cartridge and refill with a fresh one when you hit pan. But wait, there’s more! Loop is a program that gives customers the chance to buy products from beauty brands, like Dove, Pantene, and The Body Shop, while renting the packaging. You just pay for the contents and a deposit for the bottle and it’s delivered to your door via a carbon-neutral mode of transport. Let Loop know when you’re running low, return the empty bottle to be cleaned, and they’ll send a new product to you in reused packaging.5You’re a serial beauty dater.
Every beauty lover is probably guilty of this one (myself included). Do you like to use different beauty products on rotation? From those products, do you tend to barely dip in before moving on the next one? If you’ve answered yes, you’re a serial beauty dater. This mindset feeds into the buy-and-throw-away mentality, which takes a hard toll on the environment (and your bank account). The solution: Streamline your beauty routine! A good system to practice: Only add one new product to your routine once you’ve finished another one. If you want to experiment, try doing it with brands that remove packaging from its products altogether. Lush, Ethique, and Love Beauty and Planet all have shampoo bars that come wrapped in recyclable paper that clean your hair without ingredients that hurt the environment when they go down the drain. Meow Meow Tweet and Davines also has a wide range of products, from bar soaps to facial products, that utilize paper tubes instead of plastic. Now, if you do have a stash of products you just don't want anymore, lilah b. has a system that takes away your unwanted beauty goods (even if it's not theirs) for free. Just e-mail declutter@lilahbeauty.com to receive a prepaid return shipping label and ship over your unwanted stuff. They'll work with a dedicated partner to process and recycle them so you get to declutter and give back to the system.What Indie Beauty Brands Can Do To Support Retailers Reeling From Store Shutdowns
TerraCycle
Garnier
Include USA
ZWB
l’Occitane
Burt’s Bees
EOS
Herbal Essences
Josie Maran
Paula's Choice
LimeLife By Alcone
Elle Canada Not in Favour of PLA
TerraCycle
Include USA
Include Canada (English)
l’Occitane
Burt’s Bees
EOS
Weleda
Deciem
The Detox Market