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Frequently asked questions
recycle:me
Below are the most frequently asked questions for this topic
When you’ve finished browsing and you’re ready to check out, simply search ‘recycle’ on the Cult Beauty website and add your recycle:me bag to your basket (it’s free!).
Yes, you can. You can use your delivery box or any other packaging. Simply scan your items as normal in the recycle:me app and arrange a Royal Mail Doorstep Collection.
Once you’ve downloaded the recycle:me app, you can scan the products you wish to send back. Those products will then go through an approval process (this usually takes less than 24 hours), and we’ll let you know which ones we can accept.
It can take up to 14 days for points to be added to your account
Pack up your items (remember you need a minimum of five eligible items to receive your reward) and, in the recycle:me app, arrange a collection for a day that suits you. Then leave the item in a safe place or on your doorstep (you can also return to one of over 14,000 drop-off locations too) and it’ll be sent straight to our recycling partner. Don’t worry about a label; the postal worker will do that for you.
Nothing, it’s all free.
Yes, you can.
It’s estimated that the global beauty industry produces more than 120 million units of packaging each year, accounting for 70% of our industry’s waste; 95% of this packaging is thrown away with only 9% recycled. A lot of beauty waste can’t be recycled due to the materials used in manufacture.
As part of the beauty industry, we believe we have the responsibility to do better and leave the world in a better place than we found it. Our aim is to take 1 million units out of circulation every year. All our brand partners contribute towards the operational cost of the scheme as part of doing business with us.
recycle:me takes hard-to-recycle waste and, using our recycling partner MyGroup, breaks down the components before making them into durable plastic board, which can be reused for new projects such as creating crates in our warehouse or new equipment for schools, or – currently still in development – as packaging for future beauty products.
A lot of beauty products actually can’t be recycled via curbside recycling and end up in landfill. This includes glass items such as fragrance bottles (which often also contain plastic and metal that are difficult to separate), mascara tubes, eyebrow gels, make up packaging, plastic lip products, samples and sachets, make up sponges, plastic jars, tubes and tubs.
You can send back as many products that will comfortably fit in a recycle:me bag or in the box you wish to send back to us. You need a minimum of five eligible items to earn a reward. You are given one reward per recycle:me bag or box returned.
Yes, you can do this in the recycle:me app, there are over 14,000 locations nationally.
Yes, it is. It is free to register an account too. Make sure you use the same email address to register on the app as the one you use to shop with your chosen beauty retailer.
From all the usual Apple and Android App Stores.
Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.metrisk.scan2recycle.thg
iOs https://apps.apple.com/app/recycle-me/id6670749154
Once you have downloaded the App create a recycle:me account by clicking here
Enter your details where prompted.
When signing up, use the same email you used to sign up to Cult Beauty and/or Look Fantastic so you can receive your points directly to your account.
Don’t have a Look Fantastic or Cult Beauty Account?
Sign up here for Look Fantastic
Sign up here for Cult Beauty
If you have 2 different emails for your Cult Beauty & Look Fantastic accounts, use one of these email addresses and when you choose which points you would like to receive you can enter in the correct email account address.
We ask you use the same email as these accounts so that we can issue your loyalty points directly to your chosen account.
Recycle: Me takes back your hard-to-recycle beauty empties and has them re-manufactured into new products and rewards you for your efforts by giving Cult Beauty or Look Fantastic points directly to your choice of Look Fantastic or Cult Beauty (you can select which account at the time your recycling is validated and collected/deposited)
Once you have created a recycle:me account follow these steps:
- Upload pictures of your eligible beauty items into your account and label them
- We’ll approve the items within 24 hours (Mon-Fri business days only)
- Select ‘Recycle Now’
- Ship 5 approved items back to us by selecting 5 approved items
- Select Collection - verify the collection address, and select your chosen collection date
- Package up your selected Recyclables in your Recycle: Me bag or your own packaging
- Once collected and the package contains 5 approved items you will be able to select if you would like loyalty points added to your Cult Beauty or Look Fantastic account from your reward section
- If you want to drop your parcel at the post office select ‘Drop Off’ then ‘Post Office’
Go to the Recyclables section, select ‘Add Recyclable’
Take a clear picture of the whole product with the brand and product name shown – (do not upload a picture of the barcode or the back)
Label your items with the brand, product, and packaging type
If a product is not listed then it is not eligible for a reward, if the brand isn’t listed you can manually enter by entering ‘other’ and then typing out the brand name.
Images are reviewed and verified within 24 hours Mon - Fri, excluding UK public holidays
Once these are verified you will see them in your approved section under 'Recyclables', which means they are eligible to ship or deposit for a reward!
You will need 5 approved items to receive a reward
We accept most hard-to-recycle beauty products including:
- Make-up and skincare jars, tubs, pots, tubes, pallets and compacts
- Mascara, eyebrow gels, and eyeliners
- Lipsticks, lip stains, and lipliners
- Samples, refill pouches, face and body mask packets, sachets, minis and travel sizes
- Make-up brushes, makeup sponges, hairbrushes and combs
- Perfumes and body mists and more…
To identify if your product is made of hard-to-recycle plastic look for the following numbers:
- · 3 – PVC
- · 4 – LDPE
- · 6 – PS
- · 7 – Other
Any item that can be accepted in kerbside recycling or has the following symbol:
- · 1 – PET
- · 2 – HDPE
- · 5 – PP
Any plastic packaging that is labelled as ‘recyclable/widely recyclable’ or has equivalent signs
- Cardboard or paper packaging
- Glass containers (small pots and jars accepted)
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Shower gels and body washes
- Dental products
- Electronic goods
- Aerosols
- Medicines or licensed medicines
- Food waste or non-beauty products
Uploaded images are verified within 24 hours Mon - Fri, excluding UK public holidays.
- Items that require verification will be located in your pending recyclables
- Approved items are in your approved recyclables
- Rejected items appear in your rejected recyclables, and a reason for the rejection will be shown
How many small make-up, and beauty items do I need?
If your products are small make-up applicators, and beauty items that are sold in packs you will need to photograph a minimum of 5 together in one photo, in order for these to qualify as one item.
For example, if you have a pack of make-up sponges, include all 5 sponges in one image and deposit them all together for this to count as 1 item. Examples of small items:
- Mini make-up brushes
- Make-up sponges
- Single dose units (e.g. eye drops)
When you recycle 5 approved items you will receive £5 worth of Loyalty Points directly into your selected account for Cult Beauty or Look Fantastic account
Rewards will be added directly to your account within 14 days on validation
You can only receive 1 reward per day and create 1 shipment or deposit per day
If you have a recycle:me bag, please use this to ship your items to us
If you are using your own box or bag, please make sure they are no bigger than 35cm x 23.5cm x 13.5cm
All parcels should be no heavier than 1kg
Select Collection or Drop-off
Select at least 5 approved items (you can ship 5 items before they are approved, however, you will not get a reward if you only have 0 – 4 items approved)
For collection, you will be able to select a Royal Mail collection date and time, and you will also be able to enter an alternative location if different from your registered address
For drop off check your nearest Royal Mail location and we will issue a QR code for shipping back to us
If you need information on tracking your parcel, go to https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item, you will also receive email updates to your registered email address.
If you have created a shipment and want to cancel, before it has been collected or dropped off, you can cancel your shipment in the deposit section of your account.
To update your personal information please email recycleme@scan2recycle.com with the following information:
- Name on account
- Email address
- Phone number
Please also confirm the changes that you would like to be made, for example, update your email address and include your new email address.
To request your account to be deleted, go to the personal details section in your recycle:me account, select ‘request account deletion’ check, and then send the email template generated to us.
The beauty industry is one of the key contributors to landfills every year, which compromises our land, oceans, and atmosphere. If we can help people make minor changes and give them the facility to recycle their hard-to-recycle items, together we can make a difference.
Recycled materials we receive are repurposed into strong durable boards to make end products such as tables, benches, chairs, and more.
All materials are returned to MYGroup, our UK-based recycling partner.
Hard-to-recycle materials that cannot go through traditional recycling streams, can be processed by MYGroup to make into other products, such as street furniture or shop fittings. They also make up proprietary material called MYBoard. Originally designed as a replacement for wooden plyboards to help reduce the demand and overuse of forestry products, this versatile material is now used in a huge array of products by many joiners, shop fitters, building merchants, and general home users.
MYGroup offers full traceability - a key element in protecting our seas and environment from plastic waste. You can read more about them here.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact us via:
- Email: recycleme@scan2recycle.com
- Phone: +44 (0) 204 553 6215
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm excluding public and bank holidays (Standard UK geographic number, normal phone provider call rates apply.