The 6 Best Beauty Products with Eco-Friendly Packaging
Anna Jimenez , Editorial Video Director |
Each year we celebrate a day that reminds us that we alone can make a difference. It’s Earth Day.
The mission is to activate the environmental movement worldwide to keep this planet beautiful and thriving. This year, we wanted to take a look at beauty packaging. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, every year packaging from things like wrappers, tubes and boxes makes up one quarter of landfill waste, a fact that big and small beauty companies are taking into account and so should you.
Today we are highlighting the beauty brands that do their part every day of the year by creating eco-friendly packaging so that you can shop smarter.
When shopping for beauty products it’s important to think about a product’s general recyclability. That’s why we love the packaging from S.W. Basics. They use all glass bottles to house their beautiful cleansers, creams and exfoliants. So why is glass so great? Because it is infinitely recyclable—meaning, it can be recycled over and over again and still retain its original material integrity. Simply put, it’s extremely eco friendly. This brand also creates reusable cotton rounds that can be washed along with your laundry so you never have to buy a plastic bag full of cotton balls again.
Another line to love is Olvine Atelier, which makes everything from perfume oil to sea salt spray for your hair. All products are cruelty free, organic when possible, and feature gorgeous, eco-friendly glass packaging. Along with a mission to spread love and peace, this brand is truly beautiful on the inside and out.
We are sure you are familiar with L’Occitane and their ability to create sensory delight, but did you know what they are doing to keep their packaging as pleasing? This brand follows strict guidelines when it comes to the materials they use. They choose resources that are renewable or that come from sustainably managed forests, and rely on easily recyclable packaging. They have also stopped using outer packaging whenever possible and have reduced the weight of primary packaging to create less waste. Finally, they offer refill pouches for most of their best-selling product formulas — soaps, face wash, shampoo, etc. — which is the perfect way to refill your bottle or jar without having to purchase another container.
If you are looking for makeup that won’t harm the planet, look no further than Kjaer Weis—a beauty line that proves that being “green” doesn’t mean being boring. Founded by veteran makeup artist Kirsten Kjær Weis, all the cosmetics are either Certified Natural or Certified Organic and are presented in refillable packaging. So when you buy one compact, you keep it forever.
Beautiful products should contribute to your health, not compromise it, says skin care brand Tata Harper. They create 100 percent natural and non-toxic products that are housed in recycled paper and recyclable glass. Not only that, they buy renewable energy from the state of Vermont to run their facilities. The result? Beautiful packaging, beautiful products and a more beautiful planet.
Have you heard of plantable packaging? Well, it’s a thing. This fiber-based material that kind of looks like an egg carton is not only biodegradable but can also be replanted back into the earth. Pangea Organics’ packaging for its soaps, is embedded with herbs or wildflower seeds and after soaking it can be planted in an inch of soil.
But are the L’occitane refill pouches recyclable? I don’t think they are which makes me sad because the intentions are there!
I am working on becoming plastic free. I dump many lbs of plastic waste from personal hygiene and make up products. I hate it. This is an excellent resource. Thank you!