The challenge of skincare packaging
The beauty and personal care industry produces an estimated 120 billion units of packaging every year. Yet, when it comes to disposing of empty skincare packaging, many consumers are unsure how to sort it or where it belongs. As a result, packaging can end up in general waste, recycling bins where it may not be accepted, or other waste streams, rather than being directed to the appropriate collection and processing systems. Making it easier for consumers to understand where and how to dispose of their skincare packaging is an important step towards improving how these materials are handled after use.
At Bioli, packaging is an essential part of the approach to skincare. Its jars, bottles and pipettes are made from fermented microorganisms and are certified home compostable, offering an alternative to conventional packaging materials.
New collection points for skincare packaging
Across the US and Canada, Pact Collective provides collection points where eligible beauty and personal care packaging can be dropped off for sorting and processing. The network includes selected locations at Aesop, Sephora, Nordstrom and other retailers.
In the UK, MYGroup works with retailers on collection schemes for used beauty and cosmetics products. Its network includes schemes at Boots and Harrods, among others, with collection boxes available in more than 800 stores for eligible packaging.
These initiatives offer consumers more opportunities to return eligible packaging through dedicated collection schemes. Work is also underway to develop similar collection opportunities in mainland Europe.
Raising awareness of bio-based packaging
Greater awareness of how skincare packaging is sorted and processed can also spark curiosity about the materials themselves.
“When consumers become more aware of how skincare packaging is sorted and disposed of, they also start asking questions about the materials themselves. That curiosity is important. The more attention we give to packaging, the greater the opportunity to rethink the materials used across the beauty industry and explore alternatives to conventional plastic.” – Nina Wiberg Rosenquist, Founder of Bioli
For Bioli, this is part of a broader approach to skincare. Its jars, bottles and pipettes are made through the fermentation of microorganisms and are certified home compostable. The packaging can also be dropped off at suitable collection points where the material is accepted. If neither home composting nor a suitable collection scheme is available, it can be disposed of with general waste. As the packaging is made from plant-based rather than fossil-based carbon, the carbon released during incineration comes from the natural carbon cycle. Better skincare is about more than what goes inside the packaging. What it comes in matters, too.
