HOW TO REDUCE PLASTIC IN YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE
If, like us, you’re a 10-stepper when it comes to your skin care routine, or you like to really do *everything* in your Everything Shower, your beauty shelf is probably (read: definitely) full of products. While some of those products might come in aesthetically pleasing glass jars or compostable paper pouches, the majority probably come in partlialy (if not entirely) plastic packaging. So, for those of us who can’t face condensing our skin care routines, is there a way to adopt a more conscious approach?
“While there are many benefits to using plastic, our society’s heavy reliance on this material has created a ‘throw away culture’ with around two-thirds of plastic being short-lived products that often become waste,” says Cult Beauty’s Sustainability Communications Project Assistant, Sian Lewis. “Plastics have a long lifecycle (some take hundreds of years to degrade) and are often inadequately collected and disposed of. This has created a plastics problem, which has now become one of the most pressing environmental issues our society faces,”
It’s a problem we’re constantly grappling with – and, thanks to Cult Conscious (which encompasses our newly relaunched recycle:me scheme) – we’re already making it easier to curb your carbon footprint.
IN THIS ARTICLE
RECYCLE:ME
Although there's an ever-expanding range of refillable options available, if your favourite beauty buy is yet to catch up and you’re slowly (or quickly!) amassing a mountain of tough-to-recycle detritus, our simple recycle:me scheme is for you. By processing typically non-recyclable materials, we’re doing our bit to keep waste out of landfill – and rewarding you for your support!
Simply download the recycle:me app, scan the products you wish to return and you’ll get confirmation about which we’re able to process. You then clean them and package them (in recycled packaging if possible!), and use the app to organise collection. We’ll do the rest – including sending you £5 worth of Status Points for your planet-positive endeavours.
But this isn't all you can do. Read on to discover some simple ways to make your days a little more sustainable.
ONE STEP AT A TIME
“As with any lifestyle change, it’s always difficult to change your habits overnight!” explains Sian. “I think most people feel that if they’re not doing something ‘perfectly’, they shouldn’t bother at all. But this isn’t the case. Small actions accumulate over time, making a big difference.”
If you’re trying to reduce plastic in your everyday life, Sian shares her top three tips to start off with:
- Bring a reusable cup to your local cafe
- Bring reusable tote bags (or existing plastic bags) with you when shopping (and keep them in your bag or car so you don’t forget)
- Shop at local markets where packaging is often reduced
And there’s more, as one of the biggest changes you can make, according to Sian, is purchasing refillable beauty products. “We are increasingly seeing more plastic packaging alternatives,” she says. “Conversations around the use of plastic packaging in the beauty industry are growing. Many brands are undertaking Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to understand the impact of plastic packaging across the whole production cycle.”
However, Sian explains that sometimes, the alternative to plastic isn’t an option. “For some brands, due to the weight of transportation and energy needed to produce other materials such as glass or metal, plastic can be the more environmentally conscious choice,” she says.
SIAN’S PLANET-POSITIVE PICKS
“There are so many great brands offering reduced plastic products,” Sian says, listing some of her favourites like the Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser and Votary’s Face Cloths. Also on her list of must-buys is Conserving Beauty's Thirsty Face Dissolving Sheet Mask along with The Outset’s Botanical Barrier Rescue Balm."
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FINDING CULT CONSCIOUS FAVOURITES
Want to shop more planet-positive options? Enter: Cult Conscious.
AND DON'T FORGECT RECYCLE:ME
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
