Anyone who loves cosmetics is guilty of throwing away packaging after packaging of beauty products. According to reports, the cosmetics industry in the U.S. generated $89.5 billion in 2018 alone. This also equates to billions of packaging that goes straight to landfills since most are non-recyclable or reusable.
As consumers demand more sustainable products, the beauty industry now faces a sustainable dilemma. They can no longer ignore the need to make their products and packaging more eco-friendly. The cosmetic industry is unwilling to lose revenue just because they failed to deliver what their consumers want.
There is a big problem when it comes to recycling cosmetic wastes. Most cosmetics are packaged in non-recyclable materials. Rarely will consumers reuse their old cosmetic packaging to turn into something useful.
So how do cosmetic companies cope? What can you do to make your cosmetic business a lot more sustainable? Here’s how other brands managed to make a sustainable change in their packaging.
Refillable Containers
Some brands already embraced refillable containers to reduce their impact on the environment. By selling products in containers their customers can use again for the same or even a different purpose, this gives more consumers the reason to keep their containers. The more containers are reused and recycled, the lesser wastes they get to produce.
There are some brands that allow in-store refills. They operate in a way that is similar to zero-waste organic grocery stores. One only needs to bring in their refillable containers, pay for the amount depending on the weight of the product and reuse the container all over again.
It is true that eco-friendly refillable packaging may be more complex to manufacture. But it does help reduce the carbon emissions needed to recreate and deliver the products to the consumers. The packaging can be easily disassembled to accommodate the refilling process.
If you are a cosmetics manufacturer, it pays to consider such refillable packaging. You can find a reliable vendor that sells lip gloss tubes that matches your specifications. Some are also offering production services that will enable you to create other products that observe health and safety standards.
Flexible Packaging
Most cosmetics are packed in glass and plastics, making them rigid, heavier, and more fragile. What many consumers don’t like about this type of packaging is the fact these are not refillable. These can’t even keep the products safe from contamination nor fresh for long periods of time.
What other cosmetic companies did is adopt a new type of packaging that is more flexible. These are able to keep the products fresh while reducing the risk of contamination even after opening the products. These give the cosmetic product extra protection against sunlight, oxygen, moisture, and bacteria.
Flexible packaging gives consumers more freedom to choose more eco-friendly packaging. This is why most flexible packaging makes use of aluminum. Aluminum packaging has a glossy surface that adds aesthetics to the products while its malleability ensures the packaging is strong enough to resist pressure.
Paper packaging
Paper packaging is biodegradable, which means even if consumers don’t reuse the packaging, it is still fairly easy to compost. This is why more brands are turning to paper packaging instead of plastics. The good news is, there are different kinds of paper packaging available in the market.
Aside from the traditional boxboards, paper bags, and paper sacks, there’s the greenwrap. nbsp;Greenwraps are an eco-friendly alternative to bubble wraps. It offers just the right cushioning to protect your products during transit while adding beauty and creativity to your packaging.
Corrugated bubble wraps are another bubble wrap alternative. It does contain plastic but it has upcycled corrugated cardboard. These absorb shocks during delivery, keeping your products in tiptop shape until they reach your customers.
Other companies simply print their branding on recycled paper and use that directly to package their products. These work well on solid products like soap, conditioner bars, shampoo bars, and lotion bars. Companies that use such packaging need to be wary of the fact that paper is not waterproof and can get easily pierced by sharp objects.
Many consumers believe that glass is a good option since these are often recyclable. But cosmetics manufacturers would agree that creating glass containers for cosmetics will only increase their carbon footprint. Manufacturing glass makes up tons of carbon emissions, which is something green cosmetic companies are avoiding.
Today rsquo;s innovation makes it easier for brands to make better packaging choices. Now, one can choose between a number of packaging options to reduce their wastes in impact on the environment. Just imagine how much waste we can reduce if only all manufacturers of cosmetic products would do the same.
