While the global beauty industry continues to create new products for everything from wrinkles to hair oil, fast-paced market consumption is causing havoc to our environment. The worldwide beauty industry produces more than 120 million packaging units each year. “If current consumption levels continue, there will be 12 billion tons of plastic in the landfill,” The UN Environment announced in 2022. “[That is] equivalent to 35,000 Empire State Buildings.”
So, what can we do to reduce the carbon emissions of the beauty industry – without giving up our beloved self-care routines? For starters, all experts recommend using less. Whether using the makeup you have at home, even beyond the expiration date, or regifting a product that didn’t work well, the reduction is the most significant step to helping the climate crisis.
Investing in reusable containers and compostable applicators is another tactic that will help decrease the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills every year. Many mainstream brands, such as Bath and Bodyworks, now sell cardboard milk-like containers for their soaps and lotions. This allows customers to restock their dispensers without throwing out so much plastic. Other sustainable companies sell reusable makeup remover pads. Reusing microfiber pads with a solution like No. 7’s Micro Cleansing Water is better for the environment and will leave you feeling clean and refreshed at the end of the night.
Bite, Sister Collective, and Dental Herb are just some companies selling compostable bamboo toothbrushes. Instead of throwing away a plastic toothbrush in a landfill, these brushes will be composted back into the earth. Companies like No. 7 also sell biodegradable makeup wipes. Like bamboo brushes, these wipes will eventually return to the soil.
Everyone loves a facemask, but cheap sheet masks are only suitable for one-time use. However, at-home face mask recipes can be used without creating so much pollution. Ingredients like avocado, honey, and cucumbers can be as effective as a store-bought mask.
By making simple changes to our daily beauty routines, we can take care of ourselves while still taking care of the planet. Sustainable beauty is a surefire way to keep the earth as healthy as your face.
