The story of how one piece of useless foil got us thinking about sustainability. We explore our options with the help of forward-thinkers from TerraCycle and Unboxed Market. APRIL 5, 2019 / DESIGN BY ANDREA PACE   Brand loyalty is an overwhelmingly strong force. A force that can go both ways for brands – winning you undying devotion or making you the recipient of an onslaught of ALL CAP rants of damnation. We write this as we’re still licking the wounds from a recent brand disappointment. We’ve been worshipping at the altar of Glossier for years now – singing their praises at every opportunity. While this chorus of adoration will continue, our voices have lost some conviction – growing hushed while we wait to see their next move. As undying fans of the brand, we’re quick to fill our online carts at the first sight of a new product launch, so when Glossier Play came out, you could barely bat a Lash Slicked eyelash before our pink eyeliner and pots of glitter were en route to our homes. However, upon arrival we realized the usual glee that accompanied a Glossier unboxing session wasn’t there. Why? Because it went on for way too long. First there was the box, then there was the plastic pink pouch, then there was another box, and no – it did not end there, folks. Within that box, the product was wrapped in a piece of colourful foil, like a precious piece of plastic candy. Our brows immediately furrowed. What, pray tell, is the point of this colourful litter?? It may not have been until this multicoloured waste came into our lives – or perhaps it started when we were first staring at an empty container of Boy Brow and realized it may not be recyclable – but now it’s clear that this is a problem. A problem that all brands and consumers face at a time when excessive waste must be called into question. This seems like such a miss. Given that the company’s target is between 18 and 35 years of age – the lucrative Millennial and Gen Z consumer – you’d think a brand like Glossier – consumer-centric, progressive – would realize how important sustainability should be in their strategy around innovation and design. With two-thirds of Gen Z consumers saying they consider sustainability when making a purchase, it just seems like these considerations should be a no-brainer for any brand seeking the dollars of those savvy, young consumers. This cause doesn’t just align with consumer thinking, it can prove to be very good for a brand’s bottom line. Not only do 92% of consumers have a more favourable impression of a company that supports environmental causes, but 75% of Millennials and 72% of Gen Zers say they would pay more for a product with sustainable packaging. With more than half of Americans saying they have “packaging pet peeves”, this is clearly a pain point brands need to address. Companies like Loop are trying to change things. Loop is the company you’ve been reading about in the news – the one that’s helping Haagen-Dazs, among other big name, household brands (think P&G, Nestle, and Unilever), put their ice cream in reusable, stainless steel containers. The concept harkens back to a simpler time – one when the milkman was a familiar face. Rather than recycling the containers your products come in and purchasing new ones when they run out, the used containers will be picked up, washed, refilled, and sent out for delivery to another customer. We asked CEO of TerraCycle and Loop, Tom Szaky, what the root cause of brands’ waste woes is. Unsurprisingly Szaky said, “The root of the problem is the tremendous amount of disposable packaging in the marketplace. We can’t recycle our way out of the garbage crisis, as that solves the symptom, not the root cause of disposability”. Of the three R’s, recycle shouldn’t be the first action taken (as explained by Tom Szaky in a #TomTime moment on Loop’s Instagram). First, you should reduce your consumption and then find ways to reuse the remnants of what you still must consume. This is what companies like Loop are attempting to do. “Packages are designed to be durable and aesthetically pleasing,” Szaky said, “While the lifespan of each package will vary, Loop encourages manufacturers to design packaging that can last at least 100 cycles.” The option of redesigning not just your packaging, but also the process in which the product makes its way to the consumer, admittedly requires a hefty financial investment – often costing seven figures. That’s why other companies, like Unboxed Market – Toronto’s new waste-free grocery store, are creating local opportunities for consumers to shop sustainably. Here you can buy your produce, meat, spices, and household products with next to no single-use packaging, instead placing these products in jars, reusable bags, or containers brought from home or bought in the shop. Michelle Genttner, co-owner of the waste-free store, thinks the issue comes back to the need for convenience. “Brands are crowded more and more on to smaller shelf spaces, and they are constantly searching for ways to stand out – to make life easier, to get things done faster. All of this, often unncessarily, leads to extra waste.”, she says. Michelle agrees with the Loop way of thinking, suggesting that, ‘We need to look at earlier times in manufacturing. We had products that lasted a long time and that weren’t overly packaged. Garbage for a family of four was incredibly minimal, as many things were in something that could be repurposed.” Count that as another vote to bring back the milkman! We reached out to Glossier for a list of containers that can be recycled. Thankfully, many of the containers are (including the pink pouches!!!), but not necessarily all parts of the product. While that eased our minds slightly, these are still examples of single-use packages. The great thing about Glossier as a brand is that they listen to their customers. We want more shades of concealer? They make them. We want a highlighter that you don’t have to be a makeup artist to apply? Our wish is granted. Imagine if innovative companies like Glossier would take note of the Instagram comments, the agency blog posts, the indisputable evidence and form a sustainability task force or partner with forward-thinkers like Loop – investing time and money, and leading the way to change how things are done in production and packaging? Not just that, but if the consumers who are at risk of living in this mess started to speak up, problem-solve, and take action more often? Well, that would be beautiful. With big players in e-commerce and beauty making strides, the trail is one that is soon to be ablaze and one that any modern company should want to be on.  

Many contend that the single-use plastic culture has to change to really solve the plastics problem, and Loop, founded by TerraCycle and several brands, aims to reduce waste by setting up a closed loop system of reusable packaging that it is piloting in Paris and New York. Logistics and cost issues would seem to be paramount here, as Loop will provide pickup and cleaning, much less consumer appetite for the idea.

New Loop circular platform promotes reusable consumer product packaging

Got the urge to purge? Read on to determine which beauty products to keep, how to organize them, and how to safely toss the items you don’t need. (Recycling isn’t just for the kitchen.)

Assess what you’ve got.

Remove all your products from your bathroom, vanity, makeup bag, etc. and lay them out on a large white sheet or towel. “This clean background lets you clearly see and assess what you have, and it’s particularly helpful for seeing the colors and textures of your makeup,” explains makeup artist and beauty expert Jenny Patinkin. Categorize everything: Split up makeup, skin-care, and hair-care items, and then divide each of those piles into subcategories according to type of product. Now get down to business: “If you haven’t even picked up a product in two years, it’s got to go,” says Patinkin. Cast those items aside quickly and without thinking too much; don’t lament over how much money you spent on that pricey serum you never used. (More on what to do with those products in a minute.) RELATED: The Best Anti-Aging Products of All Time, According to Top Dermatologists Next, assess the quality of what’s left. Any change in texture, color, or smell is a telltale sign that a product is past its prime. If the color is separated on your nail polish, even after you shake it, it’s time to get rid of it. Skin-care items often come with expiration dates, so anything that has expired should go. This quality assessment is important not only for hygiene reasons but also for efficacy purposes, especially when it comes to makeup. “Anything that’s cracked, crumbly, dry, or separated isn’t going to apply evenly,” notes Patinkin. Once you’ve gotten rid of the old stuff, purge any multiples. Have six red lipsticks? Ten pink nail polishes? Limit yourself to one of each shade, keeping the one you reach for most often. Patinkin suggests putting the products that have made the cut into a box and storing the box outside your bathroom. Anytime you need something, take it out of the box and leave it in the bathroom. “Do this for three weeks. If there are still products in the box after that, chances are high that you’re never going to use them, so get rid of those too,” she says.

Organize what’s left.

Have six red lipsticks? Ten pink nail polishes? Limit yourself to one of each shade, keeping the one you reach for most often. Now that you’ve streamlined your stash, organize it. Separate skin-care, hair-care, and makeup items, storing each category in its own place. Patinkin recommends using clear, stackable drawers, which let you easily see and access what you need. We like the variety of drawers and dividers from Boxy Girl (from $39; boxygirl.com). Train cases with pull-out trays are a great space-saving storage solution, adds Patinkin. Try the Caboodles Large Train Case ($99; caboodles.com). Skin-care products containing active ingredients—vitamin C and retinol, in particular—are best stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight, which can render those ingredients inactive. So consider keeping those items in a dark spot, like a drawer or closet. If you have a lot of makeup, separate products for face, eyes, and lips, and then organize those according to container size and shape to make everything tidy, recommends Patinkin. Now ensure your stash stays organized by committing to a deep clean twice a year. Do so during a change of seasons, when you’ll probably be switching up your skin care and makeup anyway, says Patinkin. One item to purge more frequently, however: mascara. It should be ditched about every 90 days, since dark, moist environments are breeding grounds for bacteria, and every time you use the tube, you’re contaminating it. (Preservatives in the mascara lose efficacy over time.)

Get rid of everything else.

Resist the urge to dump all your castoffs into a garbage bag and call it a day. Donating unwanted items is a great option—though for hygienic reasons it’s essential that they be unused, says Pam Koner, executive director of Family to Family, a nationwide nonprofit that recently helped launch Share Your Beauty, a beauty donation program. The type of product doesn’t matter; if it’s unused, donate it. “While personal-care products, such as soap and shampoo, may be more critical, makeup items like lipstick and mascara are always wanted as well,” says Koner. What about the rest? Much of what’s left over can likely be recycled, though it isn’t quite as easy as tossing stuff into your household recycling bin. Not all plastic is created equal, and not all types of plastic are recyclable. Containers made of PET or HDPE plastic can usually be recycled curbside, notes Gina Herrera, the U.S. director of brand partnerships for TerraCycle, a company that helps recycle hard-to-recycle materials. (The plastic type is usually noted on the bottom of the packaging; look for the recycling symbol and a number from 1 to 7.) You can also recycle certain glass packaging—though, as with plastic, it’s important that it be clean and empty. Recycling rules vary greatly based on location, so check to see what types of materials are accepted by your municipality, advises Herrera. This information can usually be found wherever your local trash and recycling schedule is listed. RELATED: 11 Steps to Better Skin Caps, pumps, nail polish brushes, fragrance spray tops, and lipstick tubes typically can’t be recycled curbside, says Herrera. Before tossing these materials into the garbage can, ask your retailer if you can bring the packaging back. Companies including Kiehl’s, MAC, and Lush offer programs that reward you for returning empties. Another option: TerraCycle has partnered with the beauty brand Garnier to launch a program that accepts personal-care and beauty waste from any brand. Pile your clean beauty discards in a box, create an account on terracycle.com, print out a prepaid shipping label, and drop off the box at any UPS location. Almost everything is accepted except nail polish, perfume, and aerosols, notes Herrera. Drop those items off at a hazardous-waste facility (the search tool on earth911.com can help you find the one nearest to you) and let the pros dispose of them properly.

Other ways to make your beauty routine more sustainable:

To minimize the beauty trash you produce, simple changes go a long way. Perhaps the biggest offenders are face wipes. They’re great for travel, but for daily use, consider swapping wipes for a washable alternative, like the Croon Starter Fibers ($26; justcroon.com) or Face Halo ($22 for 3; facehalo.com). When makeup shopping, opt for refillable compacts for eye shadow, powder, and blush. Kjaer Weis houses its makeup in pretty, refillable metal compacts—even the mascara casing can be reused. When it comes to skin care, go for items in glass packaging, like Tata Harper’s line. (What little plastic the company does use for its tubes is derived from Brazilian sugarcane.) And keep an eye out for Loop, a new waste-free shopping platform that launches in Paris and the New York City area in May, with plans to expand. Loopstore.com will sell products from major beauty companies (like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and REN Clean Skincare) in glass and stainless-steel containers. When you’ve used them up, send them back to be refilled.

 

The Loop system, created by New Jersey-based Terracycle, could change the way people consume goods.

By Kevin J. RyanStaff writer, Inc.@wheresKR

CREDIT: Terracycle

 

Se você não vivenciou, certamente já viu alguma cena de filme que retrata um antigo sistema de vendas de leite: o leiteiro deixa uma garrafa na porta da casa do cliente e leva as embalagens vazias. Quando eu era criança, tínhamos engradados de garrafas de refrigerante de vidro que precisavam ser entregues na hora de comprar uma cheia. Aqui em Curitiba, o clássico Cini (que tem uma versão sabor gengibirra, já experimentou?) era presença garantida nas festas lá de casa.

Including tips on how to recycle more than just plastic bottles.     Believe it or not, reducing the amount of trash you produce doesn't just positively impact the state of our landfills—it can also give your pocketbook a boost. Sure, it takes time to mend items that you can no longer use or to find new ways to repurpose them elsewhere in your home, but the end result is worth it. Recycling is one of the easiest ways to offset the amount of trash you produce and how much you throw out every day. If you simply can't reuse an item—be it old clothing or tarnished kitchenware—consider these six simple alternatives to sending them off to the landfill.  

Mend Your Clothing

In 1929, the average middle-class man owned six work outfits; the average woman, nine—all built to last. The typical American today buys six items of clothing per month. And we dump an awful lot, too: 84 percent of unwanted attire ended up in landfills or in an incinerator in 2012, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data. To streamline what you own (and, ultimately, what you trash), invest in fewer, higher-quality pieces, and when they wear thin, repair them. The Japanese tradition of sashiko is a form of mending that announces itself with artful designs in white thread. The sewing technique leaves shirt plackets and pant knees thicker and more durable. If you don't want to DIY it, shop at retailers that make mending part of their ethos. Nudie Jeans, for instance, offers free repairs on every pair of its jeans for life. Patagonia does the same for all of its gear, in addition to providing repair instructions, selling used and recycled clothing, and even more through its Worn Wear program.  

Drop Off Plastic Bags

Did you know that retailers will actually take back the plastic bags you used to bring your purchases home? The ones that hold groceries, produce, and dry cleaning are all made of high- or low-density polyethylene, which most municipal recyclers can't accept. But many major retailers, including Target and Walmart, offer drop-off bins. Visit how2recycle.info to find participating stores.    

Start Using Refillable Containers

Back in the day, the milkman picked up empty bottles. We may soon be able to return ice cream and other containers in the same fashion, thanks to programs underway at Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and several other companies. Together with Terra-Cycle, they're testing a website called Loop, where you can buy food and toiletries in glass, metal, and reusable engineered-plastic vessels and mail them back for more. Nespresso already has a program like this underway: Shoppers can return its pods in prepaid envelopes, where the aluminum gets recycled, and the grounds get composted.   In the meantime, try repurposing glass bottles and jars you have, filling them with food you make or buy in bulk, like grains and beans.  

Turn Denim Into Insulation

Take any stretched, faded, or outdated jeans to J.Crew, Madewell, or a Rag & Bone store. You'll get a discount on a new pair, and the discarded items will get transformed into home insulation as part of these companies' partnerships with Cotton Incorporated's Blue Jeans Go Green initiative.  

Recycle Your Makeup Jars

L'Oréal, Garnier, Burt's Bees, L'Occitane, and more beauty brands are working with the eco-ninjas at TerraCycle to upcycle as much as possible, including tricky mascara tubes. Go to terracycle.com to find a collection point near you (like local drugstores) and drop off your empty packaging. TerraCycle will take it from there.  

Get Composting

Got food scraps? Congratulations: Even in the city, you qualify to transform them into a fertilizer that can help feed the planet. Place fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, tea leaves, paper tea bags, coffee grounds, and paper filters into an airtight countertop bin to put a lid on the smell—or keep it in a covered bowl in the freezer. Then, take your weekly bag to a municipal site or farmer's market stand, or start a pile in your backyard. Here's how you can get started.  

Imagine utilizar desodorantes, shampoos, cosméticos, potes de sorvete, entre tantos outros produtos de consumo cotidiano, e não descartar essas embalagens no lixo, uma vez que existe uma transportadora responsável por buscar esses recipientes em sua casa e destiná-los à reinserção no ciclo produtivo.

Imagine utilizar desodorantes, shampoos, cosméticos, potes de sorvete, entre tantos outros produtos de consumo cotidiano, e não descartar essas embalagens no lixo, uma vez que existe uma transportadora responsável por buscar esses recipientes em sua casa e destiná-los à reinserção no ciclo produtivo.

Atualmente, é inegável a problemática do descarte e gestão do lixo, principalmente considerando o alto volume de plásticos consumidos diariamente, resíduo que leva centenas de anos para se decompor na natureza.