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This New Japanese Beauty Brand Makes Washing Your Hands Better While Saving The Planet

All that hand washing we’re doing brings two concerns to mind: Can we find better soap? And what’s going to happen with all this plastic from hand wash bottles? A new launch from Japanese beauty behemoth Kao is answering both with MyKirei by Kao, which encompasses nourishing shampoo, conditioner and hand wash, just in time for Earth Day. “MyKirei by Kao is a true representation of Kao and its global commitment to ESG, which stands for environmental, societal and governance,” says Karen Frank, President, Kao USA. “This is filling a white space for us and it is setting a standard in the industry and world that sustainability is not just reducing the carbon footprint. It is about serving self with products that exceed expectations, it is about giving back to society and helping the world be more beautiful. We want to leave behind nothing but beauty. Our competitors talk about sustainability as it pertains to recycling plastic and reducing water. We too want to do this; however, we want to provide a more holistic approach that allows you to simplify without sacrifice.”   The first MyKirei by Kao collection The first MyKirei by Kao collection COURTESY OF MYKIREI BY KAO   That’s why all of the MyKirei by Kao products come in their innovative new “air bottle.” The game changing bottles use up to 50% less plastic than traditional bottles. The air bottles are literally filled with air to provide its structure, allowing them to stand upright, and the design purposely allows for complete evacuation of product, so you can use up every last drop—no waste! (Most competitors leave up to 15% of product residual in the packaging.) Plus, it’s water-tight to prevent contamination. “In the US, we know the refill is a hard sell and we will be offering refills within this portfolio, but we wanted to figure out a better way to empower the consumer to cut down on waste and that’s how the air bottle was born,” Frank says. “It allows the consumer to do their part in preserving the world without sacrifice. Many brands on the market now offer recyclable packaging, but how many consumers actually go through the trouble to recycle it? Not many—91% of plastic is not being recycled and 80% of what is sitting in landfills should have been recycled, but it wasn’t. Our bottles do the work for you so you can feel confident that you are respecting the world as soon as you bring them into your home.”   Aptly named, the literal translation of “Kirei” from Japanese to English is “beauty.” “The Japanese have great respect for the beauty of the world in its natural state, the beauty of respecting one another, and the beauty of caring for society and the world,” Frank says. “MyKirei by Kao allows you to incorporate this lifestyle into your every day through these products.” The line embodies a Japanese philosophy of sustainability and simplicity. “If you’ve ever travelled to Japan, you have already experienced the meaning of Kirei without even knowing that’s what it was called,” explains Frank. “If you’ve noticed how remarkably clean Tokyo is or have experienced white glove cab service or extreme hospitality and caring, that is truly Kirei. The way the Japanese showcase that caring for ourselves, our society and the world around us makes it more beautiful is exactly what the line embodies. And that is Kirei.” MyKirei by Kao shampoo and conditioner   MyKirei by Kao shampoo and conditioner COURTESY OF MYKIREI BY KAO   The collection is vegan, plant-based and cruelty-free and intentionally launching with just three products—shampoo, conditioner and hand wash—to keep it streamlined and cut down on clutter. “These three items are everyday essentials that can be used by everyone in the family,” Frank says. “Hand wash is of the utmost importance in Kirei and something that should be at every sink. Kao believes that good hand washing is the key to keeping society healthy, hence why Kao invests so much in education at the grammar school level in educating Japanese children on the importance of hand wash. We are seeing this now with the coronavirus.” All three products feature universal formulas so that they can be used by the entire family. “They’re for everyone so you can pare down on clutter and waste, keep your shower neat and simple, and add the beauty of simplicity to your home,” Frank says. “In Japan, the term Kirei is often described as creating beauty by pairing things back or by subtracting. By taking unnecessary things away, you can enjoy what really works. It’s similar to Marie Kondo’s movement with Kon Mari but it pertains to products.” They all spotlight authentic Japanese ingredients like tsubaki, rice water and yuzu, which have been used for centuries in Japan to promote wellness, health and beauty, giving the products deeper meaning.   MyKirei by Kao partnered with TerraCycle, which is the only way the products can be recycled. Customers can send their empties to TerraCycle free of charge and Kao is incentivizing consumers to do so by offering a donation in their name to a charity of their choice for every bottle recycled. TerraCycle is able to repurpose 100% of the packaging and upcycle the materials so there is no waste. In Japan they have a similar program where they collect all the empty packages and upcycle them into oversized building blocks that are then donated to schools and children's hospitals.   MyKirei by Kao hand soap MyKirei by Kao hand soap COURTESY OF MYKIREI BY KAO   It’s all part of Kao’s recent sustainability pledge, which they’ve taken a holistic approach to. “If we all used safer products that work effectively, helped society with innovations that span all the way to children and the elderly, and reduced our footprint in the world, the world would be more beautiful and a better place to live,” Frank says. “Based on the concerning climate changes and the fact that consumers are not recycling, we had to go to the heart of the problem, which is reducing plastic. But we don’t stop there—we put a lot of thought into the societal values of making sure the packages are legible in the shower if you are visually impaired with Braille on the pumps. You will see many more environmental and societal innovations coming from Kao because those are the acts of caring that drives their innovations and technology.”   MyKirei by Kao marks the first time the company is launching a new brand in the US. Every brand in the US portfolio has either been acquired—Jergens, John Frieda Hair Care, Oribe and Goldwell, to name a few—or brought to the US from Japan, like Biore. This is just the first installment for the brand, which is launching exclusively on Amazon. “MyKirei by Kao is of the utmost importance for the company because it is the first brand where the Kao brand mark will be moved to the front of the package,” Frank says. “The next launch will be this summer and will be all about conserving water and instilling the culture of cleanliness into the next generation. Every launch will have a new way to help you live more Kirei, while telling a different story each time. Our launch next month is just the start. We plan to extend into other lifestyle categories that can make your life more Kirei.”

The Ultimate Guide to Clean Beauty

You don’t need the last name Paltrow, a standing gua sha appointment, or a shelf full of powdered mushroom extracts to care about the ingredients in your beauty products. From parabens, phthalates, and sulfates to oxybenzone, triclosan, hydroquinone, and artificial fragrances, these dirty beauty words are fear inducing enough to elicit a Marie Kondo-style purge of your entire bathroom cabinet, even in the most apathetic among us. But what does clean beauty even mean? Can you trust all-natural labels? And are nontoxic products important?   Nearly 50 percent of women are already using clean beauty products, according to a Harper’s BAZAAR poll of more than 1,000 women across all ages, races, and ethnicities, and more than 60 percent of women would be willing to splurge on one. But with more options than ever before—you don’t need to stray far from the drugstore to find a natural version of your favorite skin care, makeup, and hair care products—there comes more opportunity for greenwashing. Not only is the beauty industry self-regulated (meaning anyone can make a “clean beauty” claim with no oversight), but America’s cosmetic regulations for safe products is 81 years old—older than most modern beauty companies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no authority to recall toxic beauty products unless a manufacturer volunteers. And while the European Union has banned more than 1,000 chemicals common in personal care products, the United States has banned just 11. Should you be concerned? And where do you even start on a path to a cleaner beauty routine?   To separate science from science fiction, we spoke with leading beauty experts; pored over studies and data; and swiped, swatched, and spritzed hundreds of clean hair and skin care products to get to the root of what it really means to be clean and natural in the realm of beauty.

 

Where Do I Start?

  We believe in taking a common sense approach to clean beauty: If a product is intended to stay on your skin all day (like a moisturizer) and/or it’s covering a large surface area (like body lotion), then you should try to switch to a cleaner alternative. Start by finding a natural replacement for your daily sunscreenhand soap, body lotion/wash, and deodorant. Then slowly graduate to cleaner shampoo, conditioner, skin care, and makeup products. You can find our favorite product picks for each in the corresponding guides above. Parabens are a group of preservatives and antimicrobial chemicals that prevent the growth of nasty things like bad bacteria and mold in your beauty products.   The problem: Studies confirm that parabens mimic estrogen in the human body, with evidence linking them to reproductive organ harm, thyroid disruption, hormone-related cancers, and obesity. Exposure to parabens through beauty products was recently linked to early onset puberty in girls, according to a study published in Human Reproduction. They’re also easily absorbed: Pregnant women who used more personal care products had a greater amount of parabens in their urine, according to a 2014 study published in Reproduction. The authors of the previous study noted that “toxicological risk assessments in humans do not take into account simultaneous exposure,” meaning the risks to the fetus are still unknown. A 2019 study also found a link between paraben exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus. The European Commission banned several types of parabens for use in personal care products: isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl-, and pentylparabens. All five are still approved for use in the United States. FDA scientists have reopened investigations into parabens and cosmetics several times and continue to monitor new data, but their conclusion remains, “At this time,we do not have information showing that parabens as they are used in cosmetics have an effect on human health.”  

FRAGRANCES AND PHTHALATES

  The word fragrance is a catchall term that can disguise up to 3,000 synthetic or natural chemicals used to make a beauty product smell delicious. Fragrances are considered a trade secret and, therefore, do not have to be disclosed. On a related note, phthalates, which help fragrances last longer, are a group of chemicals used to keep materials and products (nail polishes, hair sprays, plastics) pliable. You’ll find them on an ingredient list abbreviated as DEP, BBzP, DBP, and DEHP.   The problem: Where there is the vague ingredient fragrance, there are phthalates—most of the time, anyway. Phthalates have been linked to reproductive and hormonal harm in children and men. Some studies have linked phthalate exposure to obesitytype 2 diabetes, reduced sperm count, breast cancers, reproductive malformation, infertility, and cardiovascular eventsA study from 2017 found that 70 percent of perfume and cosmetics salespeople had exceeded the cumulative risk of phthalate exposure. Fragrance on its own can also be a trigger for allergies and asthma attacks, since we don’t know exactly what ingredients are being used in both short- and long-term exposure. Cosmetics giants Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and Johnson & Johnson have all committed to fragrance transparency in the last several years.  

ETHOXYLATED AGENTS

  Ethoxylated agents include polyethylene glycols (PEGs), ceteareths, oleth, and sulfates. Sulfates are responsible for the bubbles and lather in cleansers like shampoo. Some sulfates are synthetic, while others are derived from sulfur and petroleum, as well as natural sources like coconut and palm oils. PEG compounds are used as thickeners, solvents, and softeners in hair products, as well as some moisturizers and base products.   The problem: Sodium lauryl sulfate is a harsh cleanser, which is why it gets a bad reputation in the world of hair care. It will strip your hair, but it’s not inherently toxic. To save your hair, sodium lauryl sulfate is sometimes converted into sodium laureth sulfate through a process called ethoxylation. A by-product of this process is 1,4-dioxane, a chemical the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists as a likely human carcinogen. On the FDA website, it’s noted that the agency “periodically monitors the levels of 1,4-dioxane in cosmetics products” and that “changes made in the manufacturing process have resulted in a significant decline over time in the levels of this contaminant in these products.” A 2018 FDA survey of 82 randomly selected personal care products marketed toward children found that only two had levels of 1,4-dioxane above 10 ppm, which is significantly lower than in the surveys conducted from 1981 through 1997. The agency also notes that 1,4-dioxane evaporates quickly, lowering the risk of transdermal absorption “even in products that remain on the skin for hours.” As of July 2019, Sephora is requiring brands to test for the presence of 1,4-dioxane.  

FORMALDEHYDE

  The most notorious preservative in history, formaldehyde is commonly found in keratin smoothing treatments that rely on the chemical to lock the hair’s broken disulfide bonds into a straighter position.   The problem: Formaldehyde is recognized globally as a human carcinogen, and that’s why it (and its offspring) have been eliminated from most common cosmetic products, like nail polish. Salon keratin treatments often claim to be free of the f-word too. Except they’re not: What they contain instead are ingredients like methylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanediol, which release the carcinogenic compound when mixed with water during the treatment. This presents a risk to you, of course, but it’s most dangerous for the salon technician who styles hair in an enclosed space day in and day out. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists sore throat, nosebleeds, and itchy eyes as common side effects to formaldehyde exposure. The FDA also warns that formulas and products can claim they’re natural, organic, and/or formaldehyde free when that’s not true. The agency encourages consumers to always read the label, ask hair professionals for an ingredient list, and report all negative reactions.  

REFINED PETROLEUM

  Mineral oil (petrolatum, paraffin) is a widely used moisturizing agent sourced from petroleum and is often found in lip balms and face creams.   The problem: There are about a thousand reasons to avoid petroleum products from an environmental standpoint. But there are health concerns as well: A 2011 study found mineral oil to be the largest contaminant present in the human body due to accumulation over time possibly from cosmetics. A 2016 study called for the reduction of the amount of mineral- and petroleum-based ingredients “in the majority of cosmetic lip products” that are ingested. Untreated or mildly treated mineral oils used in manufacturing (not the cosmetic-grade kind found in your lip balm) are listed as carcinogens by the World Health Organization.      

HYDROQUINONE

  A topical bleaching agent, hydroquinone is found in skin-lightening creams and serums, and used in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. It’s sold over the counter in two percent concentrations, but stronger formulas are available by prescription.   The problem: Hydroquinone was approved by the FDA in 1982, but several years later, it was temporarily pulled from the market due to safety concerns (it turns out the products in question had mercury in them, so the adverse effects weren’t because of the skin-lightening ingredient). However hydroquinone itself been linked to certain cancers, decreased immune response, abnormal function of the adrenal gland, and a skin condition known as ochronosis. It’s because of the perceived risk that the European Union alongside Japan and Australia have banned the ingredient.  

TALC

  A common ingredient in face powders and eye shadows, talc is a mineral made from magnesium, silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen.   The problem: Talc that hasn’t been purified can be contaminated with asbestos, a known human carcinogen. In early 2019, eye shadow and contour palettes marketed to girls from Claire’s stores were recalled after the FDA found asbestos contamination during routine talc monitoring. Following the incident, the agency called on Congress to pass reformed cosmetics safety regulations. In December 2018, Reuters published an investigation claiming Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos was detected in its talcum-based baby powder products. Juries have awarded millions of dollars in high-profile cases that linked Johnson & Johnson baby powder products to cases of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.  

TRICLOSAN

  An antibacterial and antimicrobial chemical, triclosan can be found in sanitizing hand and body soaps, mascara, and formerly in toothpaste.   The problem: Triclosan hasn’t just been linked to liver fibrosis, skin cancer, hormone disruption, and the development of bacterial superbugs, it’s also just not any more effective than soap and water. In April 2019, the FDA issued a final rule banning OTC hand sanitizers from using triclosan. “In today’s final regulation we finalized the FDA’s previous determination that 28 active ingredients, including triclosan and benzethonium chloride, are not eligible for evaluation under the FDA’s OTC Drug Review for use in consumer antiseptic rubs,” Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a release at the time. The agency added, “FDA has not received evidence that triclosan provides a benefit to human health. At this time, FDA doesn’t have evidence that triclosan in OTC consumer antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water.”  

SILICA

  Also known as silicon dioxide, silica is used as an absorbent, anticaking, and abrasive agent in everything from oral care products to foundation. Silica is naturally occurring, but the kind approved for use in cosmetics is amorphous silica, not crystalline silica (also known as quartz dust).   The problem: The science concerning silica is confusing, to say the least. Only one kind of silica is approved for use in cosmetic formulations: amorphous silica. So why is crystalline silica, a known human carcinogen, popping up in particles of respirable size in laboratory tests of various bath products and cosmetics? Some studies suggest that amorphous silica can be contaminated with the crystalline kind, which would help explain why it’s still detectable in beauty products. There are environmental concerns as well, particularly with the slippery silica by-product found in every beloved face primer: silicone. Refined silicones are not biodegradable.       Clean, organic, cruelty-free—when it comes to beauty products, the FDA has yet to regulate how brands can use these words. Definitions are subjective and often change from company to company, package to package, making it nearly impossible to navigate—or decipher—the truth from greenwashing. Here, we break down the most common buzzwords for some much-needed clarity.   WHAT DOES CLEAN MEAN?   Safe for people and the planet, clean means that a beauty product should have considered human and environmental health, using a nontoxic element as a baseline and plant-based ingredients for active results. Much like eating clean rejects the idea of processed foods and focuses on nourishing, plant-based produce that delivers all the vitamins and antioxidants needed for a healthy immune and digestive system, the same is true for clean skin care.   WHAT DOES GREEN MEAN?   The word green should mean that the product does no harm to the environment. For instance, a reef-safe sunscreen with biodegradable packaging would be labeled green. However, this is a wishy-washy term with no true definition and is usually used as an umbrella for any product that claims to protect the planet’s resources.   WHAT DOES ORGANIC MEAN?   Personal care products that are certified to be at least 95 percent organic will bear an official USDA Organic Seal. Products bearing the USDA Organic Seal must also comply with handling and manufacturing specifications, and the use of genetically modified organisms is prohibited. In an effort to avoid pesticides, the clean beauty industry has begun to use organic, plant-based ingredients in products wherever possible. However, the certification is expensive, so many smaller brands will independently label ingredients that are organic on packaging, despite not carrying an official seal.   WHAT DOES NONTOXIC MEAN?   Water and oxygen can be toxic in the wrong dose. So when a beauty product is labeled nontoxic, it likely means that the ingredients have not been shown to cause adverse health effects at the levels found inside the formula and for the intended use. This is true of every beauty product currently sold in the United States. In the clean beauty space, nontoxic means that a product shouldn’t include any ingredient that’s been deemed toxic at any dose by a third-party resource like the European Union or Environmental Working Group.   WHAT DOES SUSTAINABLE MEAN?   Sustainable goes hand in hand with green. It means that the ingredients on the inside of the package—including how those ingredients were sourced—and the packaging itself should not be harmful to the planet. When you use any product, the ingredients go down the drain and into the water system, which, thanks to exfoliating microbeads and preservatives like BHA, is causing a marine environment health crisis. Likewise, many conventional beauty products are made from petroleum jelly and are packaged in plastic, both created from the oil industry. Truly sustainable ingredients are those that are ethically sourced and proven to be safe for the environment, with sustainable or no-waste packaging being defined as glass packaging, biodegradable packaging, post-consumer recycled packaging, or the ability to recycle empty bottles appropriately through a TerraCycle program.   WHAT DOES VEGAN MEAN?   A beauty product is vegan if it doesn’t contain any animal by-products or ingredients sourced from animals. Common non-vegan ingredients found in clean beauty products include beeswax, honey, lanolin, and tallow. Many people associate vegan with clean, but this is not the case. A product can be vegan and still contain chemical ingredients of concern.   WHAT DOES CRUELTY-FREE MEAN?   A beauty product is cruelty-free if it has not been tested on animals anywhere along the manufacturing line or before being sold. It can also mean that any animal-derived ingredients were not extracted at the expense of an animal’s welfare (like natural-fiber makeup brushes). A beauty product can be cruelty-free but not vegan, and vice versa.   For you or the environment.   Essential oils are extremely potent plant compounds, often used as pharmaceutical-grade natural remedies, and they are not regulated by the FDA. Considering that one drop of undiluted peppermint essential oil is equivalent to about 28 cups of peppermint tea, this can be extremely problematic when it comes to skincare.   “People just throw together a few essential oils with a carrier oil and call it their daily moisturizer, but essential oils are crazy-strong plants,” says holistic aesthetician Britta Plug. “Putting that on every day [without the proper formulation] is going to mess up your skin barrier.” This could mean anything from experiencing mild skin irritation to suffering from an allergic reaction to dealing with breakouts.   In addition, essential oils from disreputable sources may be ‘cut’ with fillers, processed with chemicals, unethically sourced, or grown using pesticides. Greenwashing is also a problem. A 2008 study by the Organic Consumers Association found undisclosed carcinogenic petrochemical ingredients in more than 40 percent of products tested that claimed to be natural. And in 2016, the Federal Trade Commission filed complaints against four companies that marketed their personal care products as “all natural” or “100 percent natural” when the products contained a number of synthetic ingredients.       There are the obvious natural culprits to steer clear of, like talc (see Ingredients to Avoid), and then there are products to be wary of, like clay, which may be contaminated with toxic heavy metals. But aesthetician Kristina Holey says it’s also imperative to look at the processing and sourcing of natural ingredients to ensure that they will be received by the body without a negative impact. Your expectation of a natural product may not always match the manufacturers’ use of the term, and with essential oils like lavender and tea tree, which have been linked to possible endocrine disruption, sometimes it can be more beneficial to opt for a safe synthetic ingredient.   “When it comes to synthetics versus natural, there are certain cases where a synthetic will not only prove to be ‘cleaner,’ but provide results in a more effective way than a non-isolated natural compound that is not 100 percent pure,” explains Holey, who uses the synthetically derived form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid, as an example. But it’s important that any synthetic ingredient is being formulated by people who are knowledgeable in quality control and the whole chain of sourcing, she says, “to really ensure that whatever is going into your product is healthy. And if there are synthetics used in a product, they need to have a purpose for the skin.” (Rather than act as fillers, stabilizers, or preservatives.)   Aesthetician Britta Plug adds that when it comes to the efficacy of all-natural products, it’s also important to know when the ingredients were bottled. An expiry date of six to 18 months after opening is something to strive for when shopping for natural products. “Even if something is natural, oftentimes it's made with ingredients that have been sitting on the shelf for years—like, actual years,” Plug explains. “[It could be made from] dried herbs that have been hanging out in a lab and no longer have that nutrient density.” Translation: It won’t actually work.     The perils of palm oil is a great example. Palm oil, used in everything from lipstick to shampoo, is a natural ingredient that comes from the fruit on tropical palm trees. However, producing palm oil wreaks havoc on the environment. To build palm oil plantations, trees are often cleared in tropical rain forests, causing deforestation and loss of animal habitats. According to the World Wildlife Fund, areas the size of approximately 300 football fields are cleared each hour for palm oil production, with orangutans and Sumatran tigers at risk of extinction.   But boycotting palm oil isn’t necessarily the solution. As with any natural resource, palm oil can be produced responsibly, and exchanging palm oil—the highest-yielding vegetable oil—with other vegetable-based carrier oils could actually worsen environmental problems. For instance, soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower oils require significantly more land to produce the same volume, according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, which could cause greater impact to habitats, biodiversity, and the environment.   The answer? Certification (by the likes of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, or RSPO) and strong governmental regulations play an important role in ending irresponsible production of palm oil, and irresponsible production of other natural ingredients used by the beauty industry. (It takes 256 pounds of peppermint leaf to make one pound of peppermint essential oil, for example.)   “Anything can lead to deforestation,” says Tara Foley, founder of Follain, “we have to just approach it in a more sustainable, thoughtful way.” Foley notes that sandalwood is another natural ingredient currently being depleted by the beauty industry, but brands committed to the definition of clean beauty (safe for people and the planet) will simply use something else. “Right now, there's limited resources for sandalwood…It’s basically getting a little depleted," says Foley. "But it's the same thing: We need to figure out a way to do it in a more sustainable fashion. Until then, the clean brands are just going to use it less." And it's important to note, she adds, that the alternatives for plant-based ingredients are usually petroleum-based products—which is the “core of so much conventional beauty … and is not good on any level.”

5 RESTAURANTS WE CAN’T WAIT TO RETURN TO

Although it's difficult to still be under quarantine right now, there is something fundamentally romantic about the way most of us will be celebrating Earth Day this year. It’s sort of like how William Wordsworth wandered through a field of daffodils alone to understand that he and the Earth are one—we're now distant enough from others to really reflect on the world and our place in it.   And as much as we’d enjoy a stroll on the beach to hear the waves crashing, or a trek through the mountains in total stillness, Earth Day is not just about appreciating how breathtaking our planet can be; it’s about understanding that this is our only home and that we must work to preserve that beauty. Earth Day was initially founded fifty years ago by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson as a way to raise awareness about our negligence towards the environment. We’ve celebrated every year since then, but 2020 is perhaps the most unique, in that we’re able to finally witness and measure how our reduced traffic is impacting our pollution levels. Of course, a global pandemic is the unfortunate catalyst behind the change, but perhaps it will be a wake-up call about just how crippling the effects of climate change will be without drastic action.   Luckily, many people are beginning to understand that only the smallest bit of effort is required to create a change. By deciding to buy locally sourced and ethically made products, we can slowly alter the way we produce and consume in the years to come. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to sit in a field while you learn to make all your lotions from scratch or learn to crochet your entire wardrobe for this upcoming season. Many brands are taking it upon themselves to create smarter and more environmentally friendly products that can make a person feel better about consuming. Here are some of our favorite brands to watch and shop this Earth Day.  

BEAUTY

  Lesse: From the start, this sustainable skin-care company’s mission has always been to advocate an environmentally friendly, less-is-more approach to living. They have been continually donating to the NDRC since their launch and plan to donate 20 percent of their profits to the NDRC from Monday, 4/20, to Sunday, 4/26, in honor of Earth Day.   Natureofthings: This luxury bath and body line creates decadent additions to one’s self-care rituals with high-quality botanical ingredients that are ethically sourced. Their packaging, which is made from glass and wood, is minimally branded for easy repurposing.   Tower28Beauty: On Earth Day, 100 percent of sales from the new Bronzino bronzers will go to Heal the Bay, a California-based organization dedicated to restoring the Earth’s oceans and waterways.   The Detox Market: The Detox Market will plant one tree with every purchase of their Reusable Cotton Rounds, which are sustainably made from 70 percent bamboo and 30 percent organic cotton.   Odacité: Using code EarthLOVE at checkout, customers will receive 15 percent off site-wide with every order. This deal will last from April 21st to April 23rd. Additionally, using the code BLUEBABY, customers will receive BOGO 50 percent off the Blue Aura Cleansing Water. With each Blue Aura Cleansing Water sold, Odacité will plant one tree, and they are committing to 20,000 trees this year.   Face-Kit: For every kit purchased, FACE-KIT will plant a tree to reduce their carbon footprint.   Lashfood: Lashfood has made it their mission to product high-quality products while being as environmentally conscious as possible. In addition to working from USDA-certified organic facilities, Lashfood also has partnered with One Tree Planted to help give back to the earth.   Kinship: By creating their packaging strictly from Ocean Waste Plastic (or OWP), Kinship has removed approximately two tons of plastic from our oceans. They also have a package-recycling Terracycle program that accepts hard-to-recycle plastics.   Kjaer Weis: A leading force in the push for sustainable beauty, Kjaer Weis has always been driven to create products that reduce waste as much as possible. All their packaging is refillable, significantly decreasing the waste that goes into beauty production.   The U Beauty: U Beauty has partnered with One Tree Planted to plant five trees per product sold from April 19th to the 22nd.   Myro: A deodorant for you and the environment. Myro creates plant-based and refillable deodorants that contain no aluminum, parabens, triclosan, propylene glycol, steareths, phthalates, or talc. Their packaging is made with approximately 50 percent less plastic than traditional deodorants.   Glamnetic: Beauty is, well, beautiful, but it can also be wasteful at times. Glamnetic creates false lashes that adhere to the lashes via magnets, eliminating the use of lash glue. These lashes are also reusable. Their mailers are made from polyethylene, which is 100 percent recyclable.   Cyan: This sustainable skin-care brand is launching its “Empties Program,” which will run from Earth Day until the end of April. The program urges people to reuse empty skin-care packages. Customers will receive 40 percent off their next purchase at Cyan by sending a photo of their current empty serum or moisturizer from any brand to either Cyan’s Instagram account (@cyanskincare) or to their customer service email.    

FASHION

  GAP: GAP has recently launched its most sustainable denim, the Bettermade Denim capsule collection. This denim is created with 100 percent cotton from the Italian mill Candiani. At Candiani denim is dyed with Indigo Juice® and Kitotex®, which requires far less water and CO2 emissions during production. Additionally, this collection is a part of Gap’s Washwell program, which uses 20 percent less water than an average denim wash process.   Solo New York: Bags under their Re:cycle Collection are made from respun plastic bottles. Additionally, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, a tree is planted with every bag sold.   Nomasei: At Nomasei, sustainability isn’t exclusively held for one day of the year. All pieces are made using materials obtained within 40 kilometers of their factory in Tuscany, significantly reducing their carbon footprint via the transportation of goods. They are partnering with One Percent for the Planet by donating 1 percent of their annual profits to this environmental organization. Want more? Nomasei will be opening a new factory by the end of this year that includes many new environmentally conscious components, such as a rainwater recovery system to ensure maximum conservation of water.   JW Pei: JW Pei is working with sourcing factories to develop new sustainable materials that are produced on smaller scales.   SVNR: All jewelry is made from upcycled or repurposed pieces and materials. Founder Christina Tung hand-dyes all silk and creates all her jewelry pieces by hand, significantly reducing the amount of waste that goes into the production of jewelry on a larger scale.   Kelsey Randall & Georgia: All pieces are made to order, which significantly reduces superfluous production. The brand uses dead-stock fabrics, upcycled materials, and faux furs and feathers.   Yan Yan: This clothing brand upcycles dead-stock yarn to produce its pieces and works with mills that are mulesing-free, SEPA-certified, and 90 percent GOTS approved chemical-free. All of this while still maintaining an enviable style that routinely sells out.   Nordstrom: With the recent addition of the Sustainable Style tool, customers can easily navigate Nordstrom’s collection of sustainable pieces on their site.   Cult Gaia: Not only are their designs absolutely breathtaking, but Cult Gaia also works to reduce the production of new or synthetic materials by using dead-stock fabrics and natural resources such as bamboo, straw, moso bamboo, and rattan.    

LIVING & WELLNESS

  The Citizenry: With their “More Beauty, Less Waste” collection, The Citizenry works to create stunning home-decor pieces with all-natural and upcycled materials. They also work with artisans and provide them with fair wages and safe working environments.   The Detox Market: With products like stasher bags, reusable straws, and reusable totes, you can replace all of your single-use plastic products with The Detox Market’s new Sustainability Set.   Rachel Saunders Ceramics: With locally harvested clays and 100-percent recyclable shipping materials, Rachel Saunders Ceramics has always been dedicated to producing all their products sustainably. Twenty percent of all profits from their Found Collection, which places an emphasis on creating goods through upcycling, is donated to various organizations, including Stand.Earth.   Ritual: With vegan and non-GMO ingredients (excluding synthetic fillers, and including a capsule made of cellulose), Ritual has been in the environmentally friendly game for a while. This year they will be recycling an amount of plastic that equates to three million water bottles.   Winc: Wine made from the earth and for the earth. Winc partners with One Percent for the Planet, an international environmental organization, by donating 1 percent of their sales towards preserving the environment.   Blue Marble Cocktails: Through their “keep the blue marble blue” program, Blue Marble Cocktails works with organizations whose mission it is to preserve our oceans. Blue Marble Cocktails also uses recyclable cans and SFI-certified packaging for their ready-to-drink cocktails. Cheers!

EARTH-FRIENDLY BEAUTY: ECO-CONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINABLE BRANDS

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

10 Household Products You Never Knew You Could Recycle

Because of our respective interests (and absolute pet peeves), my roommate aka partner and I have fallen, mostly comfortably, into our respective jobs: I cook. He washes the dishes. I scrub and tidy things. He takes out the trash and recycling—which necessarily also means sorting our trash and recycling.   “I’m happy you’re doing this story,” he said to me the other day, mid-sort. “You have no system.”   He’s right. Despite living here for four years, I still have no understanding of how our recycling system works. Namely, I want to recycle it all: the coffee bean bag, peanut butter jar, toothpaste cap, the little plastic pieces that serve no use other than to announce your furniture is new. The cardboard cutouts, when you’ve stamped out all the game pieces—they’re all forms of paper and plastic, which are recyclable, right?   So, I did some digging, and sorted things out (ha). Here are 10 of the most surprising household items you can’t just throw into the recycling bin, but can recycle in alternate ways.  

10 Non-Recyclables You Actually Can Recycle

1. Toothbrushes

So you read this, and found that you’re not rotating through toothbrushes frequently enough for proper dental hygiene. But before you toss it in the recycling bin—well, don’t. Because toothbrushes are made of mixed materials, they can’t be recycled along with your curbside plastics.   Instead, mail toothbrushes to alternate recycling systems like Terracycle or Preserve. Or, repurpose it. I have an old toothbrush reserved for scrubbing hard-to-reach areas, like around sink handles or into grimy corners.  

2. Disposable Razors

Though these sport a largely plastic body, the metal blade prevents them from being recycled along with plastics. Again, Terracycle’s got you covered.  

3. Snack Bags

While you can recycle firm plastics, you can’t actually recycle flimsy ones, like bags. You guessed it—Terracycle will collect, melt, and reform them into hard, recycled plastic products.  

4. Mail

If your mailbox looks anything like mine, this will be easy—grab the New Yorker, dump all else right into the recycling bin. That’s right—even the envelopes with the plastic windows can be recycled with your curbside paper collection.  

5. Corks

Neither plastic, nor metal, nor paper, really—how should corks be recycled? Because they’re made of natural materials, you actually can drop them right in the compost. If you don’t have curbside compost pickup or a backyard pile, drop corks off at designated collection bins.  

6. Batteries

While most cities’ Special Waste Management systems are able to collect and process used batteries, collection times can be few and far between. You can also ship used batteries to Call2Recycle. (And don’t forget—there are rechargeable versions of most batteries!)  

7. Charging Cables

I did a bookcase cleanout the other weekend, only to find two charging cables for electronics I no longer even own. (Oops.) Luckily, electronic stores usually have collection boxes for cables like these, as do E-Waste recycling warehouses, but better yet, find someone who might still find them useful. Who would ever turn away an extra laptop or phone charger?  

8. Grocery Plastic Bags

Despite your best intentions, attempting to recycle plastic bags will only hinder recycling, as they can get caught in sorting machines designed for firm plastics. Fold plastic grocery bags into very cute, non-menacing triangles for handiness later. But if your under-the-sink area is absolutely overflowing, many grocery stores have collection bins out front, or you can find collection centers here.  

9. Broken Glass

So this one is, sadly, an exception: you actually can't recycle broken glass. Because it is a hazard to those collecting and sorting through your recycling, broken glass (whether from wine glasses to mirror glass) should not be recycled in curbside recycling bins, but simply wrapped well and trashed. Once broken, glass is much more prone to abnormalities and further breakage, which makes its reuse, recycling, or reshaping very difficult.  

10. Clothing Hangers

Plastic hangers are, in fact, not made of a single type of plastic, and so cannot be recycled in curbside recycling bins. While wire hangers can be processed by some cities’ curbside programs, check first with your local dry cleaners who may be eager to collect and reuse them.

Simple Sustainability 2020

Simple Sustainability 2020 Marking the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, 2020 has been a big year for the environmental movement. The world is changing before our eyes, and priorities have shifted. Now more than ever, focusing on solutions that are simple to stick to puts the sustainability in, well, sustainability! Making balanced choices over and over again needs to be easy, cost-effective, and rewarding up front, especially when the health and safety of our loved ones are paramount. A father of two sons myself, I cannot overstate the power of little lifestyle changes sustained over time, and that's coming from the CEO of a company on a mission to eliminate waste. Here are a few ways TerraCycle® can help you make simple, sustainable choices this year:

Upcycling DIY projects from our team of Design Junkies

No matter your age, there are always opportunities to learn something new, and getting crafty with our upcycling Do-It-Yourself projects is a great way to teach children and grown-ups about how items we are accustomed to throwing away can serve another use. Upcycling is different than recycling because it changes the function of an item without breaking it down, such as by using an empty glass bottle as a vase or turning a cardboard box into a collection bin for TerraCycle® programs. Also known as “creative reuse,” it’s a visual, artful way to see the possibilities. Here are some easy upcycling projects you can do at home.

Keep on recycling through our National Recycling Programs

Prevent litter from entering the environment and raise funds for your favorite schools and charities through our National Recycling Programs! Just save up the products and packaging you interact with every day to ship to us for recycling with free downloadable return labels when your “creatively reused” boxes are full. These easy-to-use programs have a huge impact by putting material normally headed for landfills to good use. We can help; our tips and tricks for recycling at home include sorting advice and fun storage ideas. Stay tuned for new programs launching every month!

Recycle everything with Zero Waste Box™

Now's a great time to spring clean and look through rooms for items that no longer serve you. For the many types of products and packaging we don't currently have a free recycling program for, our comprehensive line of Zero Waste Boxes are an all-in-one way to keep these valuable items out of landfills.

Look forward to Loop

This reusable shopping system is making headlines. Live in the United States and France and coming to Toronto later this year, Loop is the new service from TerraCycle offering your favorite products in beautiful, counter-worthy containers that can be refilled again and again, changing the way the world shops. Buy trusted brands reimagined in durable packages made of engineered plastics, metal alloys, and glass conveniently delivered right to your door. Best part? We’ll pick up your empties and ship new when done.

This Earth Day and beyond, pay closer attention to where the companies you support stand on the issues that matter to you. Be it recycling, litter prevention, environmental conservation, or wildlife protection, when you align your consumption with your values, saving the planet for your family and future generations becomes the easy thing to do. My company and the world’s sustainable brands are here to empower you with the tools, resources, and products making a difference in your day-to-day lives. Keep demanding simple solutions, and you shall receive.

Brands Leaning Into Sustainability On Earth Day 2020 Despite Current Challenges

This year, Earth Day isn't quite the same for most retailers.   In fact, many are reconsidering their sustainability-focused initiatives as they prioritize more pressing issues—like how to keep their operations afloat amid store closures and major decreases in sales.   And with daily news of retail brands announcing layoffs and furloughed employees, the reality is that for most, earth-friendly efforts are taking a backseat this year.   However, there are a few brands across the retail industry that are going the other direction: They’re actually leaning into sustainability efforts on Earth Day in 2020.   I spoke with a few experts and companies to hear how (and why) they’re continuing sustainability initiatives despite the current challenges imposed by the coronavirus crisis.  

Clothing 

  If you ask sustainable apparel expert Kohl Crecelius of Known Supply how the current crisis is impacting the clothing vertical, he believes that in some ways, it’s bringing to light important decisions that will need to be made moving forward.   “Brands and shoppers alike are now thinking about what kind of future they want to create moving forward,” he said.   As a result, Crecelius believes pressure is mounting for brands as they work to figure out both how they will survive the current economic conditions and how they’ll rise to meet the continued sustainability improvements modern consumers demand.   Byron Bay-based apparel brand Thrills is one brand managing to figure out both sides of this equation.    Even though the doors of its four physical retail stores are temporarily closed, they’ve decided to lean into their sustainability efforts and are focusing on driving sales through the online portion of their business.   On the sustainability side, they recently announced a decision to switch to 100% organic cotton for their denim products, which is the latest addition to the company’s existing roster of sustainable fabrics that includes hemp, linen, recycled cotton, and ramie.   This shift to organic cotton increases the brand’s cost per garment between 5-10%, but the internal leadership team agreed the company should absorb those costs, as it’s a responsible choice that more fully aligns with the brand’s mission and ethos.   “This was an investment we were willing to make due to its massive environmental and human advantages,” said Mike Fishwick, Design Manager at Thrills.   “We will come through the other side of this pandemic and our position on sustainable practices will remain at the forefront of our design process.”  

Beauty 

  Right now the doors of Lena Rose Beauty, Chicago’s first green beauty salon and spa, remain closed. But that hasn’t stopped founder Jenny Duranski’s devotion to sustainable practices and advocating for more eco-friendly practices across the beauty industry as a whole.   “I’ve seen firsthand the amount of waste the spa and wellness industry produces—it’s essentially the equivalent of fast fashion,” she said. As a result, Duranski has pledged her business will be 100% plastic-free by 2025—and she encourages others to do the same.   Sustainability efforts in the beauty industry are happening, albeit at a varied pace and scale. Select direct-to-consumer brands are finding creative ways to do their parts.   For example: Sasha Plavsic, founder of ILIA Beauty, has implemented a recycling program in partnership with TerraCycle that allows customers to mail in (with a prepaid label) the packaging for up to five empty beauty products from any brand so they can be recycled.   “It’s one thing to create something sustainable out of better materials, but we believe it’s even more important to keep product packaging in the recycling equation once you are finished using it,” Plavsic said.   Even with the constraints imposed on the business by the pandemic, ILIA is moving full speed ahead with its sustainability efforts and continues to source new eco-friendly materials for future packaging—and hopes that others will do the same.  

Home goods

  As consumers spend more time at home, they’re now taking a harder look at the furnishings inside and outside their living spaces.   Yardbird co-founder Jay Dillon sees this as an opportunity to present more responsible options to consumers—on Earth Day and year-round.   On Earth Day 2020, these are just a few examples of retailers finding ways to keep sustainability initiatives front and center amid the challenging present circumstances. As brands across verticals navigate the coming weeks (or months), let’s hope the conversation on a more responsible future continues.

Waste Free! Loop Expands Reusable Packaging Program Throughout the U.S.

With the coronavirus pandemic forcing me to order more things than ever online — from groceries to toiletries to fancy dried beans — I’m accruing quite a lot of single-use packaging at my house. And I feel bad about it. Maybe I’ll soon be able to assuage some of that guilt when Loop, the reusable packaging service, expands nationwide over the next few months (tip via Fast Company). Loop, an initiative from recycling company Terracycle, sells name-brand CPG products directly to consumers that are packaged in reusable containers made from metal and glass. After the consumers use them up, they put the empty containers back in the tote they came in and Loop picks them up to be sterilized and refilled. Loop launched in the U.S. last May with a pilot program in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. According to an Instagram post from the company, Loop will roll out its reusable-container service across the contiguous U.S. sometime this summer. Globally, Loop is available in Paris and has plans to head to Canada, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. this year. At launch Loop already had a roster of big-name partners like Kroger, Pepsi, Nestlé, and Walgreens. The platform has expanded to include roughly 200 products, including plant-based burgers and ice cream from Häagen-Dazs (my personal favorite). I know what you’re thinking — during a pandemic when we’re all anxious about contamination, are we really going to be okay with receiving groceries packed in containers that someone else has already used? Especially since bring-your-own mugs and reusable totes in retailers are becoming a thing of the past? Loop’s CEO certainly thinks so. He told Fast Company that Loop has seen evidence that “consumers are comfortable with reuse during COVID.” Since Loop has a reuse protocol in place — with stringent cleaning measures and pre-established health and safety checklists — he’s confident that they’ll be able to continue their closed-loop packaging practice without putting users at risk. If users are comfortable with this, Loop’s extended platform could be a real help to cut down on our persistent packaging problem. Even if your delivery boxes are technically recyclable, COVID-19 is causing challenges for the waste management industry as a whole. Many packaging elements — like styrofoam and ice packs — aren’t recyclable anyway. Considering that the EPA reported that over 32 million tons of packaging and containers went into landfills in 2017 — almost a quarter of the total waste from the entire year — this is an issue we need to take seriously. Today is Earth Day, so there’s no better time to take a moment and consider how we can help preserve our planet. Come this summer I know one small step that I’ll be taking cut down on the amount of packaging I’m tossing out. Bonus: I still get to enjoy my chocolate-fudge ice cream.  

CAN YOU RECYCLE NAIL POLISH BOTTLES?

HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF ALL THOSE HALF-USED NAIL VARNISHES IN YOUR BATHROOM - AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE MILLIONS OF SALON EMPTIES? WE FOUND OUT I contacted Terracycle, who are pros at recycling typically hard-to-recycle waste, but who stop short of taking nail varnish bottles themselves. "Nail polish bottles are particularly difficult to recycle," their PR spokesperson Sam Angel confirmed.

Sustainable Touring Resource Guide

While we wait for tours to get back on the road and festivals to once again pitch tents and welcome crowds of fans, the shutdown of mass gatherings gives the live industry a chance to pause and reevaluate the way things are done from an environmental perspective. Hopefully tours can safely resume sooner rather than later – and when they do they’ll be more sustainable than ever.    There are many approaches to green touring and events, including eliminating single-use plastics, hiring food vendors that offer vegetarian/vegan dishes and locally sourced produce, and encouraging fans to carpool or use public transportation when traveling to shows. Simple things can make a difference like adding Rock and Wrap It Up! to one’s rider so backstage catering that’s been prepared but not served can be donated to places of need rather than ending up in a landfill (a win-win for food recovery and reducing greenhouse gas emissions).   Here, Michael Martin, founder and CEO of Effect Partners and r.Cup, offers a curated list of resources for approaching sustainable touring.        CARBON CALCULATORS, GREEN TOURING GUIDES & RIDERS:    Creative Green Tools: https://ig-tools.com/signup A free set of unique carbon calculators developed by Julie's Bicycle specifically for the creative industries.   Green Touring Guide: http://greentouring.net/downloads/GreenTouringGuide_EN.pdf This guide features tools for reducing the carbon footprint of a tour and how this can be communicated without being suspected of “greenwashing.”   Julie’s Bicycle Green Touring Guide: https://www.juliesbicycle.com/resource-touring-guide-2015 This guide focuses on the touring aspect of production, divided into before the tour, on the tour and after the tour.   Julie’s Bicycle Green Rider: https://juliesbicycle.com/resource-green-rider-2015/   Oceanic Global’s Music Industry Edition: https://oceanic.global/projects/tos-music-industry/   Plastic Pollution Coalition: https://byobottle.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/PFreeTouring_one_sheet.pdf A support program for traveling musicians and tour managers, providing tools for reducing their plastic footprint on the road.   The EnviroRider: https://byobottle.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/EnviroRider2017.pdf Designed to help agents and production managers communicate with venues on sustainable action items.   The EnviroTour Guide: https://byobottle.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/EnviroTour2017.pdf A guide for artists and managers who want to implement sustainable production for their shows.   The Making Waves Guide to Plastic-Free Festival Events and Events: http://rawfoundation.org/making-waves/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Festival-Guide-20181.pdf   ACTIVISM / COALITIONS   BYOBottle Campaign: https://byobottle.org/ CLIF GreenNotes: https://clifgreennotes.org/ DJs for Climate Action: http://www.djs4ca.com/ Music Declares Emergency: https://www.musicdeclares.net/ Sustainable Concerts Working Group: http://sustainableconcertsworkinggroup.com/ We Are Still In: https://www.wearestillin.com/   PRODUCTS    Reusable Water Bottles byta – https://mybyta.com Earth Bottles – https://earthbottles.com.au (Australia) honua – https://honuadrink.com.au (Australia) Hydroflask – https://www.hydroflask.com Klean Kanteen – https://www.kleankanteen.com Nalgene – https://www.nalgene.com RAW Bottles – https://raw-bottles.org (UK) Steelys – https://steelysdrinkware.com S’well – https://www.swellbottle.com The Ocean Bottle – https://theoceanbottle.com Vapur – https://www.vapur.us Yeti – https://www.yeti.com   Water Refill Station Providers Camelbak – Water Filling Stations for music festivals and events Dolphin Pump or FineDine – Water jug attachments for 5 gallon water dispensers Event Water Solutions –  Water Refill Stations for festivals and events FloWater – Refill stations for businesses or events FRANK Water – Charity provider of water refill services (UK) MeetPat – Water Stations for public spaces and events (Australia) MTD Water – Temporary water services for events (UK & Ireland) MeetPat – Water Stations for public spaces and events in Australia Quench Buggy – Mobile Water Stations for outdoor festivals or remote locations Tapp Water – Smart Water Filter for faucets U.S. Pure Water – WaterBars for festivals and events vi – Smart water dispensers for still and sparkling flavored water on demand Water Monster – Hydration solutions for festivals and events We-Refill  – Hydration systems for festivals and events (Australia) Yeti – Water Silo Units for festivals   Reusable Pint Cups bettercup – https://www.bettercup.com.au (Australia) Festival Cup – http://www.festivalcup.co.uk (UK) Globelet – https://www.globelet.com (Australia & New Zealand) Happycups – https://happycups.co.uk (UK) Hydrodroflask – https://www.hydroflask.com Klean Kanteen – https://www.kleankanteen.com r.Cup – http://rcup.com Silipint – https://www.silipint.com Steelys – https://steelysdrinkware.com Yeti – https://www.yeti.com   Reusable Straws Aardvark (paper straw) – https://www.aardvarkstraws.com Klean Kanteen (steel & silicone straw) – https://www.kleankanteen.com Simply Straws (glass straw) – https://simplystraws.com Steelys (steel straw) – https://steelysdrinkware.com StrawFree.org (bamboo straw) – https://strawfree.org Strawless Ocean – https://www.strawlessocean.org/alternatives/   Reusable Utensil Sets & Tableware Bee’s Wrap – https://www.beeswrap.com Honeywrap – https://www.honeywrap.co.nz (New Zealand) Life without Plastic – https://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/store/ Lilybee Wrap – https://lilybeewrap-us.com (New Zealand) Preserve – https://www.preserveproducts.com ToGo Ware  – https://www.to-goware.com U-Konserve – https://www.ukonserve.com   Reusable Bags Chico Bag – https://www.chicobag.com Eco Enclose – http://www.ecoenclose.com Econscious – https://www.econscious.net Rareform – https://www.rareform.com   Reusable Plastic Free Beverage Products Yoonit (eco-friendly wine kegs) – https://www.yoonit.com   SERVICE PROVIDERS & NONPROFITS   Effect Partners: https://www.effectpartners.com/ Effect Partners works with musicians, artists and inspired brands to accelerate climate positive solutions, from leading the charge on customized offsets for global tours years ago, to leading the reuse revolution today.   Global Inheritance: https://www.globalinheritance.org/ A nonprofit organization working to reinvent activism and empower individuals to seek a global balance, focusing on the power of creativity to drive progressive social change.   Green Mary: http://greenmary.com/ Provides a service to develop zero-waste events and festivals, with customized waste-stream management services, products, and educational outreach.   Julie’s Bicycle: https://juliesbicycle.com/ A London-based charity that supports the creative community to act on climate change and environmental sustainability.   Oceanic Global: https://oceanic.global/ Oceanic Global works with leading scientists, conservationists, artists, and industry experts to drive positive change for our aquatic ecosystems.   Reverb: https://reverb.org/ Uniting around the music we love, tackling the environmental and social issues we face, Reverb is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering millions of individuals to take action.   Terracycle: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/ TerraCycle offers a range of national, easy-to-use recycling platforms, as well as Loop, a sustainable shopping experience moving the world away from single-use packaging.