The Ultimate Guide to Clean Beauty Packaging
Clean Beauty Buzz - The Problem With Packaging
Clean beauty is bigger than ever with consumers seeking eco-friendly, natural products to add to their beauty routines. We’ve seen the beauty industry adapt to the growing need for products with ingredients that you can trust (and pronounce), but what about the packaging? What good is a “clean” product that comes in a box that will end up in a landfill?
At Genie Supply, we believe in products that are clean, sustainable, and kick ass. Products that are kind to your skin and the environment are becoming a must-have for beauty consumers.
Let’s take a deep dive into clean beauty packaging options and must-know industry standards. Have your cake and eat it too with clean products packaged in eco-friendly materials!
Every industry has its flaws and the clean beauty landscape is sorely lacking clear, industry-wide standards for what it means to be “clean.” With greenwashing and clean beauty phonies littering the beauty industry, consumers are confused to say the least.
Clean beauty products paired with sustainable packaging “...give beauty brands an all-inclusive message about ingredients and packaging when it comes to safety, for both consumers and the environment.”
- Vonda Simon, President of SeaCliff Beauty
Trusted retailers, such as Credo Beauty and Sephora, hit the clean beauty scammers where it hurts with their strict guidelines and clarifications of what it means to be “clean.”
Each retailer perpetually adjusts its standards for clean beauty and its packaging to ensure that sustainability is something that both consumers and brands can comprehend.
Credo Beauty’s Sustainable Packaging Guidelines
Only 10% of 122 billion beauty packages manufactured per year are recycled (Source). Recently, Credo Beauty updated its guidelines to combat the clean beauty packaging crisis by:
● Blacklisting sheet masks (single-use items / single-use plastics)
● Requiring 50% post-consumer recycled content (PCR) on packaging by 2024
● Committing to business practices that promote refillable products
● Condemning packaging that contributes to landfill waste
View the full description of Credo’s Sustainable Packaging Guidelines here.
Sephora’s Clean + Planet Positive Guidelines
Sephora follows closely behind Credo Beauty as one of the leading voices in clean beauty packaging and business practices. To satisfy Sephora’s take on clean beauty packaging, brands must:
● Commit to recyclable materials in formula & packaging
● Implement refillable components and eliminate waste
● Incorporate PCR materials anywhere possible
To learn more about Sephora’s sustainable packaging guidelines, click here.
Crazy enough, Credo Beauty and Sephora are lonely soldiers when it comes to the fight to keep our planet green in the beauty industry.
Without a federal mandate in sight to protect consumers from harmful ingredients and wasteful plastics, the quest for clean beauty packaging can seem daunting. However, consumers’ need for guilt-free cosmetics and skincare remains at the forefront of beauty trends for the foreseeable future.
Clean Beauty Packaging – What Gives?
Before talks of clean beauty or sustainable packaging, the industry standard was cold, hard (virgin) plastic. With its maximized durability and customizability, plastic seemed like a no-brainer for manufacturers everywhere.
Not to mention, plastic can be flexible or rigid depending on your needs.
However, not all types of plastic are recyclable and meet their fate in various landfills around the globe. In fact, it’s almost impossible to create 100% recyclable plastic due to its brittle components. One rule to remember is that plastic is not indefinitely recyclable.
We know what you’re thinking–Great, so what’s the alternative? Glass, paper, and aluminum are commonly used as substitutes for the dreaded plastic, but plastic doesn’t have to be (and in most cases can’t be) eliminated altogether.
The truth is, we still need plastic for flexible options like pumps, sprays, and sometimes caps. A happy medium for eliminating waste while still using plastic is to use post-consumer waste (PCR) components.
Genie Supply is proud to be the only clean beauty lab that commissions our own PCR packaging that we manufacture exclusively in-house.
There’s still a lot to unpack when it comes to packaging options. We made it easy by rating and compiling the best selections for clean beauty packaging and where to find them.
We’ll get into the nitty-gritty – labels, boxing materials, and stickers. Let’s get started!
Sustainability in Labeling: Your Options
Standard labels, despite their undeniable chemistry with beauty products (thanks to their high water and oil resistance), are made from non-biodegradable materials–including the adhesive.
Overall, we think it’s time to break up with standard labels. As your clean beauty matchmaker, we set you up with these eco-friendly alternatives instead!
To receive labeling through Genie Supply, create a custom upgrade to your private label order by contacting your representative.
Pros
● Mixed Material: 50% hemp, 50% post-consumer waste
● No fossil fuels required for manufacturing
● Fully Biodegradable
● 50% less water is required to manufacture compared to standard labels
Cons
● Not 100% recyclable, despite being biodegradable
Pros
● No trees, water, or chemicals are used in production
● Uses significantly less water for production compared to wood pulp paper
● Longer period for recycling (100+ years)
● Degrades under UV light
Cons
● Cannot be recycled like regular paper (requires UV light)
Pros
● 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer waste material
● Durable packaging
● Available in recycled or virgin paper
Cons
● Neither water nor oil-resistant
● Non-recyclable adhesive
● Production requires wood pulp
Pros
● Biodegradable
● Returns nutrients to the Earth upon biodegrading
● Renewable in less than one year (wood pulp products take 7-10 years)
● Recyclable adhesive
Cons
● Not recycled
Overall, labeling options that do not include wood pulp are the best alternatives for standard paper labeling. Don’t forget to check out the FDA Cosmetic Labeling Guide to make sure you check all the boxes when it comes to federal labeling policies.
Stick It to Plastics With Sustainable Stickers!
Standard sticker options are typically uncoated, 100% post-consumer waste stock in white or kraft options. Some companies also offer water-based ink to kick sustainability up a notch. From kraft to seed paper, let’s dive into clean beauty sticker alternatives!
To receive stickers through Genie Supply, create a custom upgrade to your private label order by contacting your representative.
Pros
● 100% recycled zero waste liner
● 100% post-consumer waste facestock
● Recyclable adhesive
Cons
● Low level of durability due to the lack of top paper
Pros
● 100% post-consumer waste
● Recyclable when placed on paper
Cons
● Non-recyclable standard paper liner
● Low durability level
Pros
● 100% recycled zero waste liner
● 100% post-consumer waste white paper
● Plastic-free matte coating
● Protection against light moisture
Cons
● Lack of sustainable ink options
Stickers can be tricky when searching for a sustainable alternative to harmful chemicals and plastics. Be sure to always check for water or oil resistance qualities—especially if you are packaging a product that is oily or has high moisture.
Sustainable Boxes - A Home for Clean Beauty
Clean beauty products are not complete until they have sustainable boxing to pair with it. Let’s go through our favorite eco-friendly boxing options to help you get a better idea of what is available!
To receive boxing through Genie Supply, create a custom upgrade to your private label order by contacting your representative.
Image Source: Botanical Paperworks
Pros
● Biodegradable
● No trees required for production
● Zero waste alternative for virgin paper products
● Supports North American biodiversity
● Free from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
Cons
● More expensive in comparison to other options
Pros
● 70 % of water removed in production is returned to the Earth
● Durable packaging
● 5x more carbon dioxide absorption than wood pulp products
● Biodegradable
Cons
● Expensive production process
● Most sustainable when production is only 500 miles away from the bamboo source
Boxing is a major aspect of product presentation and should be carefully considered when choosing clean beauty packaging. Overall, it’s best to avoid packaging options that overuse natural resources such as trees and water.
Genie Supply’s Clean Beauty Packaging
Of course, we’re a little biased when it comes to our first choice for your cosmetic packaging needs. At Genie Supply, we’ve got you covered with our clean products and the pretty packaging that they come in.
Explore the Packaging Catalog on our website to get the full scoop on our available options. Utilize our Contact Us page, order directly from our website, or speak with your representative to receive samples of packaging. For now, here are a couple of our favorites!
Pros
● Recyclable Jar/Cap
● Cap made from 50% post-consumer waste by June 2022
● Can be custom painted to any Pantone color (matte finish)
● Perfect match with #125007 SKU
● Available in sizes 5ml, 10ml, 20ml, 30ml, 50ml
● 50% PCR materials
Cons
● Cap cannot be recycled again
Pros
● Recyclable (bottle, ring)
● Ring made of 50% PCR by June 2022
● Sleek, modern, minimalistic design
● Can be custom painted to any Pantone color (matte finish)
● Available in sizes 20ml, 30ml
Cons
● Cap cannot be recycled again
Pros
● Available in sizes 10-60ml
● Recyclable bottle (glass)
● Can be custom painted to any Pantone color (matte finish)
Cons
● Cap cannot be recycled again
Pros
● Available in sizes 50ml & 100ml
● FDA approved epoxy phenolic material
● Fully recyclable
● Will not rust or deteriorate upon exposure to oil, water, or cosmetic chemicals
Cons
● Not the best choice for liquid products
Pros
● Frosted clear glass jar, with cap choice; white, black, or chrome
● Polypropylene (PP) cap – will be made from 50% PCR by end of 2022
● Can be custom painted to any Pantone color (matte finish)
● Recyclable Jar, Cap
● Available in sizes: 5ml, 10ml, 20ml, 30ml, 50ml
Cons
● Cap cannot be recycled again
Pros
● Frosted clear glass jar, with cap choice; white, black, or chrome
● Polypropylene (PP) pump/spray – will be made from 50% PCR by end of 2022
● Can be custom painted to any Pantone color (matte finish)
● 20ml, 30ml, 40ml, 60ml, 80ml, 100ml, 120ml
Cons
● Cap cannot be recycled again
You’ve Got the Deets—What’s Next?
At Genie Supply, we’re tapped into the clean beauty buzz and are dedicated to providing our clients with products and packaging that adhere to leading industry guidelines.
By June 2022, several Genie Supply product SKUs will be converted to 50% PCR materials.
We love to stay ahead of the game with our selection of Green + Clean products that already adhere to Credo’s Clean Standard and Sephora’s Clean + Planet Positive guidelines. Combine our Green + Clean product offerings with our new 50% PCR packaging and create the clean beauty masterpiece of your dreams!
Questions? Comments? Feel free to reach out to us at customerservice@geniesupply.com or give us a call at 812-329-1105.