This may sound like a familiar scene: You’ve reached for the final pump of a beloved serum or the last tint application of a tube of mascara, and before you throw the container away, you look over and wonder, “Can I recycle this?” ?” For many beauty products, the answer is often a pointlessly murky “sort of.” Aside from the grim recycling realities that have come to light in recent years, there are questions about what plastics are commonly recyclable in a dumpster, how the various components should be disassembled, and whether hidden bombs are a disqualifier. It also leaves you wondering if all this packaging was necessary to begin with.
Brands know you’re thinking this, of course. Some are even run by people who strive to do the same. Today, you’ll see marketing for post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, compostable bioplastics, “forever bottles” designed for easy refilling, and “infinitely recyclable” aluminum tubes. There’s even an international circular packaging system called Loop, with refill options from participating mass brands like Pantene and Crest (navigable via the accompanying app). The intention is to be the milkman of the 21st century of beauty and beyond.
“The proliferation of single-use products has increased exponentially in recent decades and has resulted in a global waste crisis that threatens our oceans, our ecosystems and human health,” says the founder of Loop and TerraCycle. Tom Szaky. “Today, less than 10% of all single-use packaging is recycled, leaving the remaining 90% in landfills, incinerated, or discarded, and ending up in our oceans.”
While there is no definitive solution in terms of sustainable packaging, the latest innovations are proving to be creative and ambitious, without compromising the quality and efficacy of the beauty products themselves. Here, 16 brands that are moving the needle with the planet in mind.
All the products presented in vanity fair are independently selected by our editors. However, when you purchase something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Source: www.vanityfair.com