Know how varieties of disposable cosmetics can change your life

When it comes to plastic waste, the beauty industry is one of the worst offenders in the packaging space. Following Plastic Free Beauty Day 2021 on June 17, we hear from design and marketing experts about how the beauty industry can improve sustainability and reduce plastic waste.

How cosmetics companies may keep their eco-friendly promises

Sustainability has become a crucial motivator of consumer purchase, thus it is in a company’s best advantage to living up to its green pledges. Despite this, 71% of customers say that cosmetics companies are not doing enough to reduce waste.

Rising environmental pressure has resulted in good change, with beauty firms of all sizes introducing creative eco-packaging solutions. An increasing number of new online players are also creating change in the sector by leveraging packaging as a significant differentiation in the market.

Greenwashing is no longer acceptable

With nearly 40% of people in the UK concerned about climate change, the public is becoming more aware of greenwashing — the practice of firms distorting statistics or masking ill eco-practices through smart marketing efforts.

But it’s still going on. Innisfree, a Korean cosmetics business of Facial Gown, was recently accused of greenwashing after a product claiming to be a paper bottle was discovered to be largely plastic.

This has major consequences for both the environment and brand reputation. If a big number of people are misled and purchase eco-friendly products, environmental targets will not be met.

As more businesses are held accountable and make genuine changes to become more environmentally friendly, those who continue to greenwash and deceive the public will have their reputations shattered, face penalties if they do not comply with tightening regulation, and lose customers to genuine eco-conscious brands.

Refill rather than landfill

By 2021, many more brands – including some of the world’s largest ones – will have switched to refillable packaging.

This aspires to entirely eliminate single-use packaging and encourages firms to invest more in packaging design and long-lasting materials – such as glass, wood, and metals – to produce items that last for years.

Introducing beautiful packaging made of long-lasting materials such as glass or metal can help encourage a a’refill-first mentality.’ Refills are then sold in simple glass bottles that are easily recyclable.

L’Occitane is a cosmetics company that was probably one of the first to abandon traditional packaging, introducing its first refill concept in 2008, allowing customers to top up old items with replacements in biodegradable sachets.

They estimate that they use 90% less plastic per bottle and save over 170 tonnes of plastic each year.

The appearance of the refillable device is particularly essential to the “Instagram generation” while making purchasing decisions. Maintaining the emphasis on experiential and visually pleasant main packaging that works so well, cosmetics businesses of Toning Face Mask must provide consumers with beautifully designed long-life bottles and containers along with Disposable Parlour gown for these refills — without diminishing their brand or the product experience.

Consumers can also benefit from lower price points because they have already invested in the delivery device. Repeat purchases are made solely for the product and not for the package.

Changes in substance

Because of its durability and low cost, plastic has long dominated the packaging market. However, with a global fight against single-use plastic in full gear, alternatives like Wax Strips must be created and accepted faster than ever before.