We all want to reduce our carbon footprint and become better stewards of the earth. But for something that seems as simple and straightforward as recycling, there can be a lot of complications. And when you make a guess at something being recyclable, and it isn't, that can actually be worse for recycling programs than if you had just thrown it out with the garbage. So, in honor of Earth Day, we sat down and straightened out just what can be recycled — and how! — so we can all avoid future mistakes and better support our local recycling efforts.   You can find everything we could think of in the paper and plastic categories below, and how to dispose of it properly. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Ask us on Facebook or Twitter!     Paper Paper is a recycler’s best friend; after all, it's made out of trees, right? Alas, that is not the case. Many types of paper are not recyclable — and some aren’t even compostable. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can and can’t do with this sneaky substance:   Recyclable

• Almost anything that comes in the mail — catalogs, phone books, magazines, newspapers and packages — can be recycled, but make sure to remove all tape or adhesives first.
• Sticky notes are fine to recycle, but consider compost for the smaller sizes.
• Plain paper bags should go right in the bin, but remember to reuse them as long as you can first!

  Compostable

• Shredded paper, regardless what it is made of, should be composted; anything smaller than three inches can get in the works of recycling machines and cause a shutdown.
• Paper plates should be composted, not recycled, regardless of cleanliness level. However, if you’ve used them for an art project that involved glitter, trash ‘em.
• Paper towels and napkins are compostable as long as you didn’t use them to clean anything with chemicals.

  Throw Away

• Receipts are nature’s enemy; many are coated with BPA, which can’t be recycled, and could taint your compost.
• Bubble lined paper mailers should be thrown away, but do try to reuse them first.

  Hmm…

• Parchment paper is only compostable if lined with wax, not plastic. Check the box to be sure of your next steps.
• Wrapping paper, greeting cards or gift bags can be recycled so long as they don't have foil or glitter on them. Be sure to remove tape, ribbons, and bows.
• Pizza boxes have long been contested. We say, if the top is not soiled or at all greasy, you can recycle it. But the part that is greasy should be composted or thrown out.

   

Plastic

Plastic is in everything. Everything! Unfortunately, when it’s mixed with paper (see above) or made into Styrofoam, the process can render both items completely non-recyclable. And even when it’s on its own, some plastic items aren’t recyclable in curbside bins. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t easy — and creative — ways of recycling many of your plastic goods.

Recyclable

• Plastic bags aren’t recyclable in your curbside bins, but most Lowes and Target locations have bins right by the front door for recycling them.
• Plastic envelopes, unlined or lined with bubble wrap, and air pillows can be recycled in the same bins as plastic bags at Lowes or Target.
• The same goes for Saran wrap, plastic wrap for food, Ziploc bags and plastic wrap for products like paper towels; Target or Lowes has you covered.
• Soda stream bottles help us protect the environment — twice! They can be recycled at curbside.
• Plastic bottles are recyclable at curbside, but rinse them out and remove plastic film labels first.
• Packing peanuts might be Styrofoam, but often UPS or Fed-Ex stores will take them back to reuse.
• Yogurt cups, cream cheese containers, hummus tubs and the like aren’t always recyclable at curbside, so check your town’s recycling guidelines first. Whole Foods locations have special bins for #5 plastic, or you can find other options at Earth 911.
• Rigid Plastic, like milk crates, children’s toys, reusable plastic cups, buckets, laundry baskets, etc. can be recycled by drop-off at some local locations. Find them at Find-a-Recycler. Make sure there’s no metal attached first!

Throw Away

• Foil insulation bags might look like silver plastic envelopes, but they actually contain elements that are not recyclable.
• Plastic utensils are unfortunately not recyclable, for a myriad of reasons. Though some are made out of recyclable plastic, others are made out of compressed Styrofoam — and user beware: rarely do they say on their body which type of plastic they are.
• We all know straws aren’t great to throw away, but they are also not recyclable; they can get stuck in machinery, clogging the whole works up. Stick to your reusable straws.
• Salad mix bags, frozen food bags, candy bar wrappers and chip wrappers all have to go in the trash.

Hmmmm…

• Foam polystyrene, or Styrofoam, in any form is generally not recyclable. While some shipping stores take packing peanuts for reuse, for all other types you’ll have to search for specific drop off locations. You can find a map on the Industry Alliance page here.
• Tupperware containers are usually recyclable, but be sure to check the bottom for the recycling icon.
• Small plastic pieces under three inches can get caught in the machines, so most recycling locations won’t accept them. Check your local recycling guidelines to make sure.
• Clamshell packaging, like the kind used for takeaway salads or batteries, aren’t always recyclable at curbside, so check your local recycling guidelines.
• Deodorant tubes are… complicated. They’re often made from multiple types of plastic, which makes it hard for them to get properly recycled. However, Terracycle and Tom’s of Maine offer drop-off locations or shipping options.
• Like your deodorant tubes, Scotch tape dispensers are tricky to recycle. Luckily, they also work with Terracycle to recycle tape dispensers and cores.
• If you live in one of Massachusetts' major cities, you can find a handy printout for additional trash and recycling guidelines, as well as pickup times in your neighborhood, below:

 

Climate change is hard to deny when we see how much change has happened in the time we’ve been practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the carbon dioxide levels in New York City were 50% lower than they were in March 2019. Environmentalists are also tracking the air pollution above Wuhan province in China; it went down significantly for two months while everyone was in isolation and is now creeping back up.   While we wrestle with these challenging times, many are starting to see what the human impact on our planet really looks like.   You’ve likely heard the statistic that less than 11% of plastic is actually recycled properly in Canada. But did you also know that every year in the U.S.A., according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over two billion razors and refill blades are sent to landfill? Even worse, that stat is actually from a 1988 report, and that number has likely gone up exponentially since then. If you do math and consider that we have similar spending habits to our neighbours to the south, Canada has about 10% the amount of people as the U.S., so it would track that we throw away about 200 million disposable razors each year, at minimum.   The above data notwithstanding, Canadian stats on how much plastic waste actually comes from the beauty and self-care sector are very elusive. Unless brands release their numbers on products sold, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume a lot of plastic gets thrown out because of our Sephora sprees.   So what does all the doom and gloom have to do with you and your beauty and personal care habits? Well, there are a few ways to make sure that you’re doing the most you can when it comes to not adding to our already massive recycling problem. “One of the best ways to make sure that change happens is to make the companies understand that you really care about this issue,” says Vito Buonsante, plastics program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “People can only do so much. It’s not really their responsibility to control the waste; it’s more on the company.”   Buonsante recommends that we take a look at what we’re purchasing and start giving our money to brands that offer recycling programs or that use more easily recycled materials, like glass and tin, as opposed to plastic. If it’s absolutely necessary to buy plastic, check that the container has a 1 or 2 plastic rating, which can be found on bottles inside the recycle symbol. Those numbers are the most desirable for recycling programs (the system ranks up to a 7). “The problem with packaging in the beauty industry is that it is often made of mixed materials, therefore it becomes pretty difficult to recycle,” says Buonsante. In short, try not to buy cosmetic products with a plastic rating of 3 or higher.   Strongly expressing your environmental concerns to your member of parliament and local city councillor is also helpful, says Buonsante, as is signing plastics-focused petitions and supporting environmental charities (like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecotrust Canada or any local conservancy groups) so they can continue to help push things forward.   And now, while we’re taking social distancing measures very seriously, perhaps we can also help curb our plastic waste anxiety (because really, we don’t need another thing to fret about) by looking into the following ways to make our beauty routine a little more environmentally friendly.   Here are four of the best ways to reduce your beauty waste.  

1. Recycle empties in-house, get free products

  First off, as Buonsante mentioned, think about the brands you invest your hard-earned money in. One way to do that is by choosing brands that already have an in-house recycling program.   The Back to M.A.C program has been around since the early 1990s, making them a true recycling pioneer. The Canadian-founded brand will take back six primary packaging containers (they have a system where you can bring in any containers during your next purchase, and they’ll track how many you have instead of you having to collect them!) in exchange for a lipstick, lipgloss or single eyeshadow.   If you’re a big Creme de Corps fan, you will receive one stamp for each full-sized empty bottle of the body cream that you bring back to a Kiehl’s location to be recycled. Once you have collected ten stamps, you’ll get any travel-sized product that your beauty-loving heart desires.   Over at Lush, when you bring back five of the classic black containers, you can receive one of 16 fresh face masks from the brand.  

2. Then take your recycling game to the next level with TerraCycle

  Look to recycling programs like TerraCycle to help reduce your environmental impact; when you purchase a waste box from the company, simply fill it up with items that your local municipality will not take, and TerraCycle will refurbish, recycle or upcycle each item. The team at TerraCycle will take almost anything that is difficult to recycle—they have even found a way to recycle cigarette butts! Plastic containers become park benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and so much more. Most municipalities have different rules on recycling (please note yours before you throw away your plastics), so for anything that won’t be picked up curb-side, this program is a great solution.   If the TerraCycle boxes are too pricey (they start at $54, including shipping) some brands and stores are partnering with the program to help clients be mindful of their waste without incurring the cost. These include The Detox Market (all three Toronto locations will take any type of beauty waste) and Pure + Simple (the Ontario-based shop will take back all their empties to be recycled).   Big brands like Burt’s Bees, L’Oréal, Weleda, Gillette and L’Occitane have a partnership with TerraCycle where you can send back your empties for recycling (check their website for how to ship back bottles). And, perhaps it’s time to make more use out of these recycling options—Buonsante notes that most people are not aware that they exist—especially considering that most shops are still closed for the foreseeable future.  

3. Try refillable beauty products

  A big trend in the beauty and personal care space is brands offering products in refillable packaging. “When it comes to reusable containers that can be sent back, the products are likely a bit more expensive,” notes Buonsante. But with time, hopefully the prices will even out. “That is where we hope the market will continue to go.”   Back in early 2019, TerraCycle’s founder announced a pilot project called Loop. Major brand’s signed onto the program, which launched in NYC and Paris. Now, Loblaws is looking to launch a Loop pilot project in Canada this summer. So what exactly is Loop? Essentially, brands have started putting their products into reusable and recyclable tin containers. This has allowed brands to be a touch more design-focused in their new labeling (most brands have pared down their logos for this project), while consumers can use the product and send the tins back, where they will either be cleaned and reused, or, if they’re too weathered, they will be recycled.   In the meantime, for the makeup and skincare obsessives, look to companies like Kjaer Weis (the luxe Scandinavian eco-brand’s packaging is quite gorgeous), Elate cosmetics (this Canadian brand uses beautiful bamboo as their outer packaging, offering refillables for everything in their lineup!), Clove and Hallow (the west coast cosmetics brand offers refillable compacts!) and Cocoon Apothecary (a Toronto brand who will take back bottles, sanitize them and reuse them in their supply chain) for refillable options. Some bigger brands, like Paul and Joe, Make Up For Ever and Guerlain, also offer refills, mostly for powder products like highlighters, eye shadows, blushes and pressed powders.   Going local, look to eco-friendly shops that offer bulk product (new ones are popping up all the time!), like Nada in Vancouver, Eco + Amour in Toronto and The Tare Shop in Halifax. At bulk shops, you can bring your own containers or purchase some from the store, and they will weigh each of the products to determine what you owe.  

4. Choose product packaging wisely

  Making sweeping changes to our beauty routine may seem difficult, but one simple change is to choose packaging materials wisely. A lot of indie brands include glass or other recyclable materials in their packaging, making them with very little plastic or entirely plastic-free.   A few local Canadian brands that are ahead of the curve here include Boosh (a lipstick line from a young female entrepreneur with tubes made out of tin), Unwrapped Life (a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars that are wrapped only in recyclable paper and cardboard), deodorant brand Routine. (a Calgary line that sells beautifully scented, natural cream formulations in glass jars with a tin lid, and will have stick deodorants housed in cardboard and post consumer recycled plastic packaging), WellKept (a line of brass safety razors that eliminates the need for disposables and are oh-so-chic!), and Toronto-based Sahajan (this ayurvedic line comes in beautiful brown glass bottles).   Other international faves include Biologique Recherche (a beauty editor favourite with serums in glass dropper bottles that is now available at Miraj Hammam Spa in Toronto and Vancouver), and Tata Harper (her gorgeous green glass containers set the standard for clean beauty packaging when they launched in 2010).

Climate change is hard to deny when we see how much change has happened in the time we’ve been practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the carbon dioxide levels in New York City were 50% lower than they were in March 2019. Environmentalists are also tracking the air pollution above Wuhan province in China; it went down significantly for two months while everyone was in isolation and is now creeping back up.   While we wrestle with these challenging times, many are starting to see what the human impact on our planet really looks like.   You’ve likely heard the statistic that less than 11% of plastic is actually recycled properly in Canada. But did you also know that every year in the U.S.A., according to the Environmental Protection Agency, over two billion razors and refill blades are sent to landfill? Even worse, that stat is actually from a 1988 report, and that number has likely gone up exponentially since then. If you do math and consider that we have similar spending habits to our neighbours to the south, Canada has about 10% the amount of people as the U.S., so it would track that we throw away about 200 million disposable razors each year, at minimum.   The above data notwithstanding, Canadian stats on how much plastic waste actually comes from the beauty and self-care sector are very elusive. Unless brands release their numbers on products sold, it’s hard to estimate the actual amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Nonetheless, it’s safe to assume a lot of plastic gets thrown out because of our Sephora sprees.   So what does all the doom and gloom have to do with you and your beauty and personal care habits? Well, there are a few ways to make sure that you’re doing the most you can when it comes to not adding to our already massive recycling problem. “One of the best ways to make sure that change happens is to make the companies understand that you really care about this issue,” says Vito Buonsante, plastics program manager at Environmental Defence Canada. “People can only do so much. It’s not really their responsibility to control the waste; it’s more on the company.”   Buonsante recommends that we take a look at what we’re purchasing and start giving our money to brands that offer recycling programs or that use more easily recycled materials, like glass and tin, as opposed to plastic. If it’s absolutely necessary to buy plastic, check that the container has a 1 or 2 plastic rating, which can be found on bottles inside the recycle symbol. Those numbers are the most desirable for recycling programs (the system ranks up to a 7). “The problem with packaging in the beauty industry is that it is often made of mixed materials, therefore it becomes pretty difficult to recycle,” says Buonsante. In short, try not to buy cosmetic products with a plastic rating of 3 or higher.   Strongly expressing your environmental concerns to your member of parliament and local city councillor is also helpful, says Buonsante, as is signing plastics-focused petitions and supporting environmental charities (like the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecotrust Canada or any local conservancy groups) so they can continue to help push things forward.   And now, while we’re taking social distancing measures very seriously, perhaps we can also help curb our plastic waste anxiety (because really, we don’t need another thing to fret about) by looking into the following ways to make our beauty routine a little more environmentally friendly.   Here are four of the best ways to reduce your beauty waste.  

1. Recycle empties in-house, get free products

  First off, as Buonsante mentioned, think about the brands you invest your hard-earned money in. One way to do that is by choosing brands that already have an in-house recycling program.   The Back to M.A.C program has been around since the early 1990s, making them a true recycling pioneer. The Canadian-founded brand will take back six primary packaging containers (they have a system where you can bring in any containers during your next purchase, and they’ll track how many you have instead of you having to collect them!) in exchange for a lipstick, lipgloss or single eyeshadow.   If you’re a big Creme de Corps fan, you will receive one stamp for each full-sized empty bottle of the body cream that you bring back to a Kiehl’s location to be recycled. Once you have collected ten stamps, you’ll get any travel-sized product that your beauty-loving heart desires.   Over at Lush, when you bring back five of the classic black containers, you can receive one of 16 fresh face masks from the brand.  

2. Then take your recycling game to the next level with TerraCycle

  Look to recycling programs like TerraCycle to help reduce your environmental impact; when you purchase a waste box from the company, simply fill it up with items that your local municipality will not take, and TerraCycle will refurbish, recycle or upcycle each item. The team at TerraCycle will take almost anything that is difficult to recycle—they have even found a way to recycle cigarette butts! Plastic containers become park benches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and so much more. Most municipalities have different rules on recycling (please note yours before you throw away your plastics), so for anything that won’t be picked up curb-side, this program is a great solution.   If the TerraCycle boxes are too pricey (they start at $54, including shipping) some brands and stores are partnering with the program to help clients be mindful of their waste without incurring the cost. These include The Detox Market (all three Toronto locations will take any type of beauty waste) and Pure + Simple (the Ontario-based shop will take back all their empties to be recycled).   Big brands like Burt’s Bees, L’Oréal, Weleda, Gillette and L’Occitane have a partnership with TerraCycle where you can send back your empties for recycling (check their website for how to ship back bottles). And, perhaps it’s time to make more use out of these recycling options—Buonsante notes that most people are not aware that they exist—especially considering that most shops are still closed for the foreseeable future.  

3. Try refillable beauty products

  A big trend in the beauty and personal care space is brands offering products in refillable packaging. “When it comes to reusable containers that can be sent back, the products are likely a bit more expensive,” notes Buonsante. But with time, hopefully the prices will even out. “That is where we hope the market will continue to go.”   Back in early 2019, TerraCycle’s founder announced a pilot project called Loop. Major brand’s signed onto the program, which launched in NYC and Paris. Now, Loblaws is looking to launch a Loop pilot project in Canada this summer. So what exactly is Loop? Essentially, brands have started putting their products into reusable and recyclable tin containers. This has allowed brands to be a touch more design-focused in their new labeling (most brands have pared down their logos for this project), while consumers can use the product and send the tins back, where they will either be cleaned and reused, or, if they’re too weathered, they will be recycled.   In the meantime, for the makeup and skincare obsessives, look to companies like Kjaer Weis (the luxe Scandinavian eco-brand’s packaging is quite gorgeous), Elate cosmetics (this Canadian brand uses beautiful bamboo as their outer packaging, offering refillables for everything in their lineup!), Clove and Hallow (the west coast cosmetics brand offers refillable compacts!) and Cocoon Apothecary (a Toronto brand who will take back bottles, sanitize them and reuse them in their supply chain) for refillable options. Some bigger brands, like Paul and Joe, Make Up For Ever and Guerlain, also offer refills, mostly for powder products like highlighters, eye shadows, blushes and pressed powders.   Going local, look to eco-friendly shops that offer bulk product (new ones are popping up all the time!), like Nada in Vancouver, Eco + Amour in Toronto and The Tare Shop in Halifax. At bulk shops, you can bring your own containers or purchase some from the store, and they will weigh each of the products to determine what you owe.  

4. Choose product packaging wisely

  Making sweeping changes to our beauty routine may seem difficult, but one simple change is to choose packaging materials wisely. A lot of indie brands include glass or other recyclable materials in their packaging, making them with very little plastic or entirely plastic-free.   A few local Canadian brands that are ahead of the curve here include Boosh (a lipstick line from a young female entrepreneur with tubes made out of tin), Unwrapped Life (a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars that are wrapped only in recyclable paper and cardboard), deodorant brand Routine. (a Calgary line that sells beautifully scented, natural cream formulations in glass jars with a tin lid, and will have stick deodorants housed in cardboard and post consumer recycled plastic packaging), WellKept (a line of brass safety razors that eliminates the need for disposables and are oh-so-chic!), and Toronto-based Sahajan (this ayurvedic line comes in beautiful brown glass bottles).   Other international faves include Biologique Recherche (a beauty editor favourite with serums in glass dropper bottles that is now available at Miraj Hammam Spa in Toronto and Vancouver), and Tata Harper (her gorgeous green glass containers set the standard for clean beauty packaging when they launched in 2010).

We all want to be more sustainable and eco-friendly, but today, there’s so much pressure to be a purist that it can be intimidating—not to mention costly or geographically unattainable. That’s why throughout April, Going Green Without Going Mad will unpack how to be more eco-conscious without sacrificing your sanity or 401k. We’re diving into the truths about sustainable fashion, talking about the business of going green, and highlighting the brands and people making changes toward a better and safer planet.   While you may know that plastic bottles and cardboard boxes go into the recycle bin, do you know how to recycle your mattress? Don’t feel bad if you don’t. According to a 2014 survey conducted by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and Earth911, 65% of respondents said they didn’t understand what plastics were acceptable in curbside recycling collection. And when you add items like styrofoam and batteries into the mix, the whole recycling system can get even more confusing and contaminated.   “What makes recycling so complicated is that every city has different recycling functionalities. It’s a business and things are recycled if there is a demand or a value for the recycled product,” says Lauren Singer, founder of Trash Is For Tossers and Package Free. She notes that items like metal are easy to separate, but plastic, which is artificially inexpensive, usually has no demand for the recycled product.   So how can you make sure that you’re recycling correctly? Below is a list of the most common items people have trouble recycling, with advice from Singer on how you can salvage them rather than giving up and throwing everything in the trash.       According to Singer, there’s simply no recycling business for styrofoam. “There’s no value for the recycled products. It’s cheaper [for the government] to send it to landfill,” she explains.   But if you don’t want to add more to landfills, how can you get rid of Styrofoam safely? According to It’s All You, a website on recycling, many grocery stores and shipping companies have take-back programs for foam packing and peanuts. Or if you live in New York, Singer says that her shop, Package Free, uses a recycling program called TerraCycle that offers a discount code for users who want to get rid of their styrofoam.   The best thing you can do, however, is to refrain from using styrofoam at all. Try to have reusable utensils and cups on you at all times, and ask companies to not use peanut packaging when delivering products.       According to The Mattress Recycling Council, Americans dispose of roughly 15 to 20 million mattresses every year. Plus, conventional mattresses contain synthetic fibers, foams, and hazardous flame retardant chemicals, which are hard to recycle and aren’t biodegradable, according to the Environmental Working Group.   The good news is, some parts of your mattress—such as foams, metals, and woods—can be recycled. And all you have to do is contact your nearest recycling center to see if they collect them. If you don’t have a place near you, Earth911 states that you can call Goodwill or The Salvation Army to see if they take mattress donations or have a recycling program of their own. There are also other resources, such as ByeByeMattress.com and Earth911, that offer ways for you to easily search online for places that’ll accept your mattress, too.   Keep in mind, most recycle centers will request a fee ranging from $20 to $40 if they pick up the mattress for you, and they won’t accept mattresses that have been stained, ripped, or are ridden with bed bugs.       “Electronics are really complicated because they’re made of so many different mixed materials,” says Singer. “To be recycled properly, they’d have to be picked apart, and each material taken to various places.”   If you want to recycle your electronics—and as of 2018, 25 states have passed laws requiring people to do so—you can visit Call2Recycle to find out where the nearest drop-off recycling center is located. Third parties like Apple or Microsoft will also take back old computers to refurbish or give away to local schools or libraries. But if you want to make money from older electronics, programmers are always looking for new computers on Craiglist or eBay to buy and update for their own personal needs.   As of late, a lot of materials that make up single-use batteries are no longer hazardous and can be recycled. According to Battery Solutions, all you have to do is call your local solid waste district to find out if there is a collection program, where you can drop off your batteries if you want them to be recycled. For instance, Earth911 has a recycling search program where you can look up “Alkaline Batteries” and your zip code to find the closest center near you.   However, when it comes to rechargeable batteries, you never want to throw them in the trash. They usually contain nickel cadmium, which can leach into the soil and water in landfills. Instead, you can drop rechargeable batteries off at home department stores, office supply stores, or eco-friendly shops. Call your local stores to see if they have a program in place.

Below are some of the basic rules for recycling to help people make more educated decisions when recycling in Northbrook. What can be recycled What cannot be recycled Any material that contains food or liquid is not recyclable, such as half-full soda cans. Other items that cannot be recycled include flexible plastic packaging like chip bags and plastic bags since they can damage machinery. Wax-coated juice cartons cannot be recycled since the wax cannot be separated from the paper. This can cause the recycling machinery to break. Sharp items are not recyclable  because they pose a safety hazard to the workers who pick up recycling. If a product is not clearly recyclable, set it aside and research if it is recyclable in Northbrook (www.northbrook.il.us/870/Waste-Recycling). What happens when there are attempts to recycle non-recyclable items? When there is an attempt to recycle non-recyclable products, all the items in that recycling load, whether recyclable or not, have to be sent to a landfill. Food waste contaminates the recyclable materials and prevents them from being turned into new products. For example, when a plastic bottle, still containing liquid, is recycled, it contaminates the other recyclables by making them wet. The wet recyclables can no longer be made into new products, so they are sent to a landfill. Items such as plastic bags and cords cannot be recycled because they can jam the machinery used in the recycling program. TerraCycle TerraCycle is a company that aims to eliminate waste by making new products from materials that are not otherwise recyclable. Individuals can participate in TerraCycle’s programs, one of which is the Zero Waste Box. These boxes recycle products that normally cannot be recycled, such as coffee capsules like Keurig K-Cups, plastic snack wrappers, office materials and cosmetic containers, such as shampoo bottles and mascara tubes. Zero Waste Boxes can be bought online (zerowasteboxes.terracycle.com) so the box can be accepted by TerraCycle when it is shipped back to them. Sources: Advanced Disposal Website TerraCycle publicist Alex Payne Lisa Disbrow, spokesperson of Waste Management of Illinois Inc.

In 2019, the cosmetics industry was valued at some $532 billion, and it’s been growing by nearly 5 percent each year since 2016. The numbers and growth are certainly astounding. And while the beauty industry does much to improve people’s sense of self and wellbeing, it is also responsible for a great deal of waste that has taken a toll on the environment.   Advancements in modern technology means shopping – online and in-store – has never been easier. However, the rapid production and accessibility of any and all products have created a damaging cycle for our ecosystems, wildlife, and planet. And the beauty industry is a big culprit. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a third of the landfill is from the beauty industry with the majority of it coming from color cosmetics because they're using single-use plastics and materials” explains Tiila Abbitt, founder of vegan makeup brand Āether Beauty.   While this information might be a bit daunting, many beauty and hygiene brands are stepping up to combat the negative effects of the industry by bringing shoppers eco-friendly alternatives that don't sacrifice quality. In honor of Earth Month, The AEDITION is looking at sustainability practices within the cosmetics, skincare, and wellness worlds, what it means, and how we can all do better to make our world – and ourselves – more beautiful.  

Sustainability in Beauty

Sustainability in and of itself is the fulfillment of a modern-day need in a way that does not hinder the future or the present through the production of said need. In beauty and personal care, sustainability means recyclable packaging, decreased use of single-use plastics, consciously curated ingredients, safe-to-use components, and small-footprint production from start to finish.       But because many of the products go directly on the skin, hair, or teeth, creating safe and efficacious products adds an additional challenge. “It's about sourcing natural ingredients sustainably,” says Bee Shapiro, founder of clean perfume brand Ellis Brooklyn. “But it’s also looking at how green chemistry and biotechnology can be used in the industry to save trees and natural resources.”  

WHY THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE

In 2015, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics products after research showed its negative effect on the oceans. More recently, brands have started to research and invest in biodegradable alternatives while shifting away from single-use plastics. But there are still aspects of the industry that need addressing.       “I visited a ton of recycling facilities and talked to packaging engineers in this space and realized that, with color cosmetics, you have mixed materials,” Abbitt explains. “There are heavier plastics where there isn't a secondary market to recycle them, and they're being mixed with mirrors, magnets, and screws. There's nobody there taking these pieces apart.” Not to mention, many of those additives are not recyclable. “Mirrors and magnets are completely unrecyclable,” she says. “And they're in almost every makeup component."   While no one expects beauty and personal care to be zero-waste, procedures and protocols can and must change. Currently, much of what the industry produces is a long-term waste. Paper takes two to six weeks to decompose, while plastic needs nearly 1,000 years. This is why shopping smarter is more important than ever.  

CAN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY BE SUSTAINABLE?

Despite its massive presence on the global stage and rapid growth, the beauty industry can be more sustainable so long as brands take the necessary steps. “True sustainability is complicated,” says Lejla Cas, founder of biodegradable facemask brand KNESKO. “Balancing cost, sustainability, and safety, you have to find a fine balance between sustainable items that won’t degrade into our skincare, in addition to looking good.”   In order to be sanitary and portable, beauty products tend to come in smaller packaging built to be both ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be sustainable. “When you launch a new product, you need to look for the most sustainable alternative for everything, from the cap to the material used for the tool to the paper, the cellophane, formulations, even the scent,” explains Sue Nabi, founder of clean beauty and fragrance brand Orveda. “We are the only skincare line that is scented with a 98 percent biodegradable scent that does not contain allergens.”  

What Brands Are Doing

While no company can be completely zero-waste, many are doing as much as they can to offset the environmental impact of their formulation and production process, while maintaining quality and safety. Below are a few steps beauty brands have taken toward sustainability.  

1. PACKAGING

When you consider how many layers of shrinkwrap, cardboard, and plastic you have to go through (and discard) in order to open many beauty products, it should come as no surprise that packaging is a major source of waste in the personal care industry.   “Packaging sustainability encompasses everything from design, to production, to transportation, to disposal,” Cas notes. In the case of KNESKO, she says her team is “educating” itself by “exploring new technologies and considering every angle before adopting any new initiatives to always keep improving.”   Mirrors and magnets are two such packaging components in need of an eco-friendly update. At Āether Beauty, Abbitt developed makeup palettes that do not contain either and made sure everything was FSC certified. Additionally, she sought out fair-trade paper from sustainable forests, and she continues to monitor her ink sources to see if recycling is an option.   For Nabi and Orveda, innovation is the natural solution. “We are currently working on sustainable options for the plastic wrap around our products,” she explains. “We have launched the first 100 percent biodegradable and reusable deluxe candles, and we are working on a next-gen, 100 percent sustainable and efficient SPF.”   While moving away from plastic may seem like an obvious solution, it’s not necessarily as simple as it sounds. “If we move from plastic containers to aluminum or paper, where does it come from,” asks Matthew Malin, co-founder of MALIN+GOETZ. “How much more or less energy was used to get it to us and produce it?” Emissions from manufacturing and transportation must be evaluated before deciding on a suitable alternative. “We consider all of our manufacturing and how to keep it local,” he explains. “What ingredients are the most sustainable, effective and best for use? Can we consider and transition to packaging that is more environmentally friendly? And what does that mean?” Such efforts don’t just extend to new products. Legacy brands have made similar commitments to evaluating their own systems and processes. “Last year we conducted a ‘plastics scan’ and analyzed our full line of packaging weighing up its impact on the environment from cradle to grave,” explains Charles Denton, CEO of Erno Laszlo. The findings led to an “approved” packaging list that includes resins with a known, viable recycle stream – such as glass, aluminum, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP).   In keeping with this commitment, the brand also upgraded its iconic double-cleanse method to be more environmentally sound by removing the soap dish and plastic wrap in favor of parchment paper. The result? A fully recyclable customer experience. “Ultimately, I would like to own and operate a closed-loop recycle stream to recover our own plastic waste for repurposing into new packaging that will wind up back in the hands of our consumers,” Denton says.   And he encourages other businesses to move in a similar direction: “Take action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging,” he suggests. “Take action to move from single-use towards reusable models. Where relevant, 100 percent of plastic packaging should be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.”  

2. INGREDIENTS

When speaking about sustainability, product formulations and ingredient sourcing must also be considered. While there is very little FDA regulation in the beauty industry, brands are taking matters into their own hands.   Vegan formulas are increasingly common, as are promises that ingredients are sourced ethically. “There are certain ingredients that you have to be especially wary of, and they generally have to do with wood-derived ingredients,” Shapiro explains. “You can definitely have well-sourced sandalwood, but there is still a shocking amount of sandalwood that is illegally traded or not sustainably grown/harvested at all. Anything palm oil-related also needs a second look.”   Mica, a mineral dust used to add shimmer and sparkle to makeup, is another ingredient with a troubling reputation. “Thirty percent of the world’s mica is child labor-related,” Abbitt laments. “With every single innovation that's happened with ingredients, there's no reason to be supporting brands that source in this way.” As a workaround, Āether Beauty uses synthetic mica when it can’t source ethical mica. “It looks exactly like mica,” she says of the man-made alternative. “But it's clear.” Fragrance is another area in which eco-conscious synthetic ingredients can go a long way. Ellis Brooklyn recently released Iso Gamma Super — a 100 percent synthetic scent. “It is made with green chemistry, completely renewable, and allergen-free,” Shapiro says.   Orveda, meanwhile, has figured out ways to reduce its carbon footprint using technology. “We have decided to use mainly biotechnology sourced natural ingredients to avoid exhausting nature’s resources,” Nabi shares. “We are using less than 5 percent plastic components across all touchpoints and have pure glass packaging, FSC papers, and bin-free point of sales where everything is reusable. Therefore, no single usage items.”  

3. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS

But what about all the less sustainable products currently in the market? Brands and retailers have come up with eco-minded programs to help reduce waste and offset manufacturing processes.   In January, The Detox Market debuted its Sustainability Starts Now initiative, which was inspired by rising global temperatures. Its Earth CPR strategy involves offering clean products, planting more trees, and recycling used beauty products. The goal is to plant 500,000 trees in 2020 and 2.5 million by 2025, in an effort to become carbon negative. The recycling program, meanwhile, is in partnership with TerraCycle and allows anyone to drop off used and/or expired products knowing that it will be recycled properly.  

What Can Consumers Do?

As with all businesses, the basic economic rule of supply and demand plays a key role. Those who want to make their beauty and hygiene routines more sustainable and eco-friendly have to make their purchases based on those values. Here’s how you can make your beauty routine a bit more sustainable.  

1. RESEARCH

There is a lot of greenwashing in the industry,” Cas says. “The words ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are essentially meaningless.” So the best way to know what goes into the product and how it’s made is by doing due diligence. “Consumers can learn about the company by viewing its website and ingredient deck, if available,” she recommends. Resources such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep database verifies beauty and hygiene products based on their chemical makeup to ensure consumers are shopping safely.  

2. SHOP SMARTER

If you are interested in creating a more sustainable routine, look for cosmetic products with a longer shelf life and refillable options that will eliminate the need for single-use products. From fragrance and hygiene to hair, makeup, and skincare products, there are many ways to make your regimen a bit more eco-friendly. “Less is more,” Abbitt says. “Āether Beauty palettes have a huge fill that last three to four years. We're taking the idea of slow fashion into beauty.” Clé de Peau Beauté, Kjaer Weis, L'Occitane, Le Labo, and Rituals are just a few of the brands that offer refillable products.    

3. ELIMINATE WASTE

  For starters, try purchasing reusable cotton rounds instead of single-use cotton swabs. When it comes to small changes, Malin explains that “something as simple as egregious use of unnecessary and unsustainable packaging practices can be worth avoiding to make a small impact daily.” Do an inventory of what products can be substituted with eco-friendly alternatives and how your shopping habits can be changed to decrease the amount of waste.  

4. RECYCLE

What many eco-friendly brands offer is recyclable packaging but finding a place to do it can be difficult. And at times, it’s hard to tell if something can be recycled at all. Brands and retailers including The Detox Market, Garnier, Kiehl's, Lilah B, Lush, Origins, and Summer Fridays allow for customers to return expired and/or used beauty products to ensure that not just the packaging but the remaining formula are disposed of properly. Companies like TerraCycle can be a good alternative for those who cannot find a recycling facility near them.  

The Takeaway

It’s impossible to be perfectly sustainable all the time, but that doesn’t mean a series of small actions can’t make a big environmental impact. Never is that more true than in the beauty and personal care space. When consuming anything, your money speaks for you — so opt for brands that share your values. While it might seem overwhelming, it is important to remember that the power is in your hands. Consider all the factors: Will you use it? What is in it? How was it made? How will you recycle it? And go from there.

In 2019, the cosmetics industry was valued at some $532 billion, and it’s been growing by nearly 5 percent each year since 2016. The numbers and growth are certainly astounding. And while the beauty industry does much to improve people’s sense of self and wellbeing, it is also responsible for a great deal of waste that has taken a toll on the environment.   Advancements in modern technology means shopping – online and in-store – has never been easier. However, the rapid production and accessibility of any and all products have created a damaging cycle for our ecosystems, wildlife, and planet. And the beauty industry is a big culprit. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a third of the landfill is from the beauty industry with the majority of it coming from color cosmetics because they're using single-use plastics and materials” explains Tiila Abbitt, founder of vegan makeup brand Āether Beauty.   While this information might be a bit daunting, many beauty and hygiene brands are stepping up to combat the negative effects of the industry by bringing shoppers eco-friendly alternatives that don't sacrifice quality. In honor of Earth Month, The AEDITION is looking at sustainability practices within the cosmetics, skincare, and wellness worlds, what it means, and how we can all do better to make our world – and ourselves – more beautiful.  

Sustainability in Beauty

Sustainability in and of itself is the fulfillment of a modern-day need in a way that does not hinder the future or the present through the production of said need. In beauty and personal care, sustainability means recyclable packaging, decreased use of single-use plastics, consciously curated ingredients, safe-to-use components, and small-footprint production from start to finish.       But because many of the products go directly on the skin, hair, or teeth, creating safe and efficacious products adds an additional challenge. “It's about sourcing natural ingredients sustainably,” says Bee Shapiro, founder of clean perfume brand Ellis Brooklyn. “But it’s also looking at how green chemistry and biotechnology can be used in the industry to save trees and natural resources.”  

WHY THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE

In 2015, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of microbeads in cosmetics products after research showed its negative effect on the oceans. More recently, brands have started to research and invest in biodegradable alternatives while shifting away from single-use plastics. But there are still aspects of the industry that need addressing.       “I visited a ton of recycling facilities and talked to packaging engineers in this space and realized that, with color cosmetics, you have mixed materials,” Abbitt explains. “There are heavier plastics where there isn't a secondary market to recycle them, and they're being mixed with mirrors, magnets, and screws. There's nobody there taking these pieces apart.” Not to mention, many of those additives are not recyclable. “Mirrors and magnets are completely unrecyclable,” she says. “And they're in almost every makeup component."   While no one expects beauty and personal care to be zero-waste, procedures and protocols can and must change. Currently, much of what the industry produces is a long-term waste. Paper takes two to six weeks to decompose, while plastic needs nearly 1,000 years. This is why shopping smarter is more important than ever.  

CAN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY BE SUSTAINABLE?

Despite its massive presence on the global stage and rapid growth, the beauty industry can be more sustainable so long as brands take the necessary steps. “True sustainability is complicated,” says Lejla Cas, founder of biodegradable facemask brand KNESKO. “Balancing cost, sustainability, and safety, you have to find a fine balance between sustainable items that won’t degrade into our skincare, in addition to looking good.”   In order to be sanitary and portable, beauty products tend to come in smaller packaging built to be both ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be sustainable. “When you launch a new product, you need to look for the most sustainable alternative for everything, from the cap to the material used for the tool to the paper, the cellophane, formulations, even the scent,” explains Sue Nabi, founder of clean beauty and fragrance brand Orveda. “We are the only skincare line that is scented with a 98 percent biodegradable scent that does not contain allergens.”  

What Brands Are Doing

While no company can be completely zero-waste, many are doing as much as they can to offset the environmental impact of their formulation and production process, while maintaining quality and safety. Below are a few steps beauty brands have taken toward sustainability.  

1. PACKAGING

When you consider how many layers of shrinkwrap, cardboard, and plastic you have to go through (and discard) in order to open many beauty products, it should come as no surprise that packaging is a major source of waste in the personal care industry.   “Packaging sustainability encompasses everything from design, to production, to transportation, to disposal,” Cas notes. In the case of KNESKO, she says her team is “educating” itself by “exploring new technologies and considering every angle before adopting any new initiatives to always keep improving.”   Mirrors and magnets are two such packaging components in need of an eco-friendly update. At Āether Beauty, Abbitt developed makeup palettes that do not contain either and made sure everything was FSC certified. Additionally, she sought out fair-trade paper from sustainable forests, and she continues to monitor her ink sources to see if recycling is an option.   For Nabi and Orveda, innovation is the natural solution. “We are currently working on sustainable options for the plastic wrap around our products,” she explains. “We have launched the first 100 percent biodegradable and reusable deluxe candles, and we are working on a next-gen, 100 percent sustainable and efficient SPF.”   While moving away from plastic may seem like an obvious solution, it’s not necessarily as simple as it sounds. “If we move from plastic containers to aluminum or paper, where does it come from,” asks Matthew Malin, co-founder of MALIN+GOETZ. “How much more or less energy was used to get it to us and produce it?” Emissions from manufacturing and transportation must be evaluated before deciding on a suitable alternative. “We consider all of our manufacturing and how to keep it local,” he explains. “What ingredients are the most sustainable, effective and best for use? Can we consider and transition to packaging that is more environmentally friendly? And what does that mean?” Such efforts don’t just extend to new products. Legacy brands have made similar commitments to evaluating their own systems and processes. “Last year we conducted a ‘plastics scan’ and analyzed our full line of packaging weighing up its impact on the environment from cradle to grave,” explains Charles Denton, CEO of Erno Laszlo. The findings led to an “approved” packaging list that includes resins with a known, viable recycle stream – such as glass, aluminum, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP).   In keeping with this commitment, the brand also upgraded its iconic double-cleanse method to be more environmentally sound by removing the soap dish and plastic wrap in favor of parchment paper. The result? A fully recyclable customer experience. “Ultimately, I would like to own and operate a closed-loop recycle stream to recover our own plastic waste for repurposing into new packaging that will wind up back in the hands of our consumers,” Denton says.   And he encourages other businesses to move in a similar direction: “Take action to eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging,” he suggests. “Take action to move from single-use towards reusable models. Where relevant, 100 percent of plastic packaging should be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.”  

2. INGREDIENTS

When speaking about sustainability, product formulations and ingredient sourcing must also be considered. While there is very little FDA regulation in the beauty industry, brands are taking matters into their own hands.   Vegan formulas are increasingly common, as are promises that ingredients are sourced ethically. “There are certain ingredients that you have to be especially wary of, and they generally have to do with wood-derived ingredients,” Shapiro explains. “You can definitely have well-sourced sandalwood, but there is still a shocking amount of sandalwood that is illegally traded or not sustainably grown/harvested at all. Anything palm oil-related also needs a second look.”   Mica, a mineral dust used to add shimmer and sparkle to makeup, is another ingredient with a troubling reputation. “Thirty percent of the world’s mica is child labor-related,” Abbitt laments. “With every single innovation that's happened with ingredients, there's no reason to be supporting brands that source in this way.” As a workaround, Āether Beauty uses synthetic mica when it can’t source ethical mica. “It looks exactly like mica,” she says of the man-made alternative. “But it's clear.” Fragrance is another area in which eco-conscious synthetic ingredients can go a long way. Ellis Brooklyn recently released Iso Gamma Super — a 100 percent synthetic scent. “It is made with green chemistry, completely renewable, and allergen-free,” Shapiro says.   Orveda, meanwhile, has figured out ways to reduce its carbon footprint using technology. “We have decided to use mainly biotechnology sourced natural ingredients to avoid exhausting nature’s resources,” Nabi shares. “We are using less than 5 percent plastic components across all touchpoints and have pure glass packaging, FSC papers, and bin-free point of sales where everything is reusable. Therefore, no single usage items.”  

3. ADDITIONAL EFFORTS

But what about all the less sustainable products currently in the market? Brands and retailers have come up with eco-minded programs to help reduce waste and offset manufacturing processes.   In January, The Detox Market debuted its Sustainability Starts Now initiative, which was inspired by rising global temperatures. Its Earth CPR strategy involves offering clean products, planting more trees, and recycling used beauty products. The goal is to plant 500,000 trees in 2020 and 2.5 million by 2025, in an effort to become carbon negative. The recycling program, meanwhile, is in partnership with TerraCycle and allows anyone to drop off used and/or expired products knowing that it will be recycled properly.  

What Can Consumers Do?

As with all businesses, the basic economic rule of supply and demand plays a key role. Those who want to make their beauty and hygiene routines more sustainable and eco-friendly have to make their purchases based on those values. Here’s how you can make your beauty routine a bit more sustainable.  

1. RESEARCH

There is a lot of greenwashing in the industry,” Cas says. “The words ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are essentially meaningless.” So the best way to know what goes into the product and how it’s made is by doing due diligence. “Consumers can learn about the company by viewing its website and ingredient deck, if available,” she recommends. Resources such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep database verifies beauty and hygiene products based on their chemical makeup to ensure consumers are shopping safely.  

2. SHOP SMARTER

If you are interested in creating a more sustainable routine, look for cosmetic products with a longer shelf life and refillable options that will eliminate the need for single-use products. From fragrance and hygiene to hair, makeup, and skincare products, there are many ways to make your regimen a bit more eco-friendly. “Less is more,” Abbitt says. “Āether Beauty palettes have a huge fill that last three to four years. We're taking the idea of slow fashion into beauty.” Clé de Peau Beauté, Kjaer Weis, L'Occitane, Le Labo, and Rituals are just a few of the brands that offer refillable products.    

3. ELIMINATE WASTE

  For starters, try purchasing reusable cotton rounds instead of single-use cotton swabs. When it comes to small changes, Malin explains that “something as simple as egregious use of unnecessary and unsustainable packaging practices can be worth avoiding to make a small impact daily.” Do an inventory of what products can be substituted with eco-friendly alternatives and how your shopping habits can be changed to decrease the amount of waste.  

4. RECYCLE

What many eco-friendly brands offer is recyclable packaging but finding a place to do it can be difficult. And at times, it’s hard to tell if something can be recycled at all. Brands and retailers including The Detox Market, Garnier, Kiehl's, Lilah B, Lush, Origins, and Summer Fridays allow for customers to return expired and/or used beauty products to ensure that not just the packaging but the remaining formula are disposed of properly. Companies like TerraCycle can be a good alternative for those who cannot find a recycling facility near them.  

The Takeaway

It’s impossible to be perfectly sustainable all the time, but that doesn’t mean a series of small actions can’t make a big environmental impact. Never is that more true than in the beauty and personal care space. When consuming anything, your money speaks for you — so opt for brands that share your values. While it might seem overwhelming, it is important to remember that the power is in your hands. Consider all the factors: Will you use it? What is in it? How was it made? How will you recycle it? And go from there.

Pioneering vegan brand Follow Your Heart (FYH) recently implemented a series of new recycling measures to divert most of its waste away from landfills and the ocean. Since 2016, the company has already diverted 98 percent of its waste through traditional recycling, composting, reducing, and reusing programs, and FYH teamed with waste management company TerraCycle to further eliminate waste that cannot be recycled through traditional methods due to the complexity of the materials.   The program consists of three zero-waste boxes set up around FYH’s offices and warehouses: The Candy and Snack Wrappers Box (which collects waste in break rooms); The Office Supplies Box (which is meant to collect pens, paper clips, label sheet backing, tape dispensers, and more); and the Plastic Packaging Box (which collects flexible and rigid plastic packaging waste). All of the waste materials collected can then be repurposed into items such as park benches, bike racks, shipping pallets, and recycling bins.   Additionally, FYH recently changed the adhesive on its products to make it easier to remove labels (another recycling challenge) and modified the backing on their labeling rolls to a recyclable alternative, which amounts to diverting 1,000 pounds of waste from landfills each month. “Sustainability is simply an important part of being a responsible business in today’s world,” FYH Founder Bob Goldberg said. “It’s time for every business to contribute to changing the world for the better.

Vegan brand Follow Your Heart (FYH), makers of Vegan Egg, Vegenaise, and several dairy alternatives, has partnered with the waste management company, TerraCycle, to repurpose its hard-to-recycle office waste. FYH has already diverted 98% of its waste through traditional recycling, composting, reducing, and reusing programs. ©Follow Your Heart The much-loved vegan brand has been operating for 48 years, has over 60 products on sale in 25,000 retail outlets in more than 25 countries. The privately-owned company employs over 200 employees. As part of a sustainability plan, FYH is distributing three boxes to collect waste throughout its offices and warehouses, to gather candy and snack wrappers, office supplies, and plastic packaging. The materials gathered can then be repurposed into park benches, bike racks, shipping pallets, and recycling bins. FYH has also amended the labelling of their products so they are easier to remove in order to make them more recyclable. “Sustainability is simply an important part of being a responsible business in today’s world,” Follow Your Heart Founder Bob Goldberg said to VegNews. “It’s time for every business to contribute to changing the world for the better. FYH has also recently launched an avocado oil mayonnaise, which will soon be available at locations including Sprouts Markets and select regions of Whole Foods Markets.