Clean Packaging & Sustainability in Clean Beauty

Beyond clean skincare, clean cosmetics, clean hair care, etc., there’s one thing that people tend to forget: clean packaging. There are several environmental issues happening in our world and there are several environmental discrepancies when it comes to sustainability.

Beauty packaging is usually made of plastic and most plastics are made with petrochemicals from oil or fracked gas. What does that mean? Beauty packaging made with those plastics renders them non-recyclable and wasteful. 

The next step in clean beauty is to focus on clean packaging. This blog will discuss some current partnerships in sustainable packaging. We’ll move on to some beauty brands and labs that emphasize clean packaging, then discuss some possibilities of the future that redefines clean packaging. 

It’s a lot to cover, so let’s get to it!

Clean Packaging: Where are we now?

About a year ago, Credo announced new Sustainable Packaging Guidelines for clean packaging and added them to their Clean Standard. The 130+ brands working with Credo must be part of the clean packaging conversation. Each brand must aim to “reduce the use of single-use items, virgin plastic, and non-recyclable materials.” They also rolled out a new sustainable timeline:

• Phase One (2021): Reduce and Recycle

  • Credo eliminates all single-use plastic (including sheet masks, single-use wipes, and pads).

• Phase Two (2023): Better Materials

  • Packaging at Credo derived from petroleum must be made from 50% recycled content or replaced by a more sustainable material.

• Phase Three (Ongoing): Smart Design

  • Refillable packaging, clear instructions for disposing of packaging, and analysis of materials.

• Phase Four (Ongoing): Circular Systems

  • Reusable/refillable packaging and start to zero landfill waste.

Beauty brands Committed to Clean Packaging

Axiology

This beauty brand advertises vegan color cosmetics and products made with 10 ingredients or less. Their founder, Ericka Rodriguez, is a vegan and embarked on a long journey to create a beauty brand that is 100% animal-free. Besides clean beauty, Axiology is committed to clean packaging that includes no plastic use.

Try their Balmies, for example. This product is a 3-in-1 crayon that’s made completely plastic-free, wrapped in recycled paper. The Balmies are also stored in boxes made from 100% recycled paper waste. When you’re finished with the product, feel free to recycle and compost!

Bybi Beauty

Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic, founders of this beauty brand, avoid practices like single-use plastic and using unrecyclable components. One of the biggest environmental struggles Bybi has been trying to face is carbon. Their company pledged to be a net-zero carbon brand by the end of last year (2020), but have since postponed that date to the end of 2021 (which makes sense).

There was a pandemic, plus disassembling carbon emissions is no easy feat. Bybi Beauty is also 100% vegan and cruelty-free as their skincare products are plant-powered. They believe healthy skin can come with a healthy planet: best of both worlds!

Beauty Labs Committed to Clean Packaging

S& V Labs

37 years of experience gives this beauty lab fully focused on helping people create eco-friendly brands. Their formulas are natural and organic that can be biodegradable and petrochemical free. Additionally, they keep many of their formulas concentrated to help decrease fuel consumption and pollution from harmful things like shipping water. As for clean packaging, the Smith & Vandiver (S&V) beauty lab includes recyclable and compostable packaging options.

SeaCliff Beauty

This beauty lab is committed to clean packaging and can help you find sustainable packaging for your brand. They offer turnkey packages and custom packaging. Some of their products include PCR (post-consumer resin), bio-resins, and refillable packaging!

With over 20+ years of experience, SeaCliff Beauty’s clean packaging services are not to be messed with. Vonda Simon founded this clean packaging beauty lab and seeks to keep customer satisfaction at a high. You’ll be happy to find a clean packaging lab here that cares about you. 

Clean Packaging Possibilities

Genie Supply & Clean Packaging

Currently, our options for clean packaging are a little limited. To be fair, we only opened up our lap about 3 years ago. That doesn’t mean we’re not committed and fully focused on everything clean beauty (clean packaging included). Our products are clean clean clean, and we’re working to have more options for clean packaging.

Currently, all of our boxes are made of recycled material and a lot of our packaging also includes glass. For full transparency, those glass jars do unfortunately have plastic lids. We also have Paper Tubies that can be filled with lip balms or other paints. Though we have limited options now, we’re constantly working on ways we can be better. 

Update:

FINALLY after years of planning, Genie Supply now offers 50% PCR packaging. Our PCR (post consumer recycled) packaging is all made in the United States and uses 50% recycled product for an earth friendly, but still clean look. Check out our new 50% PCR packaging and even order a sample to see for yourself!

How can you start investing in clean beauty?

Check out this blog about how you can Start Private Labeling Clean Beauty Today!