Best Materials for Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Packaging

The clean beauty movement is all about being kind to the earth, and that includes using eco-friendly cosmetic packaging. In this post, we’ll take a look at what eco-friendly cosmetic packaging is and how you can use it in your business!

Consumers want to know that the businesses they’re supporting care about more than just profits. They want to see a commitment to things like environmentalism, and the cosmetics industry is no different.

A study by Klarna found that consumers of all ages are worried about sustainability when they buy beauty products.

The clean beauty movement isn’t just about organic products or using fewer chemicals – it also encompasses eco-friendly packaging. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of eco-friendly cosmetic packaging, the different types of materials used, and how you can implement it in your business.

What is sustainable packaging?

Sustainable packaging is any packaging that doesn’t harm the environment. This could include using less disposable packaging, and instead opting for materials that can be reused, recycled, or refilled.

In the cosmetics industry, this is a growing trend as more and more people become aware of the harmful effects of disposables on the environment.

Besides the environmental aspects of packaging, there are also economic and social factors to consider. For example, using plants to create eco-friendly cosmetic packaging shouldn’t put the rainforest at risk or disrupt the ecosystem.

Finally, the end result shouldn’t justify the means. Paper is a great sustainable packaging material, but more often than not, paper production is quite resource-intensive, involving a great deal of water, fossil fuels, and chemicals.

It’s only sustainable when manufacturers adopt environmentally friendly paper-making methods or replenish the resources they consume.

 Sustainable vs Zero-waste Packaging

Zero-waste packaging is not only environmentally friendly, but it also doesn’t leave behind any waste at all. This is a much higher standard than sustainable packaging, which still results in some level of waste.

Zero-waste packaging follows a circular life cycle, which means that the packaging doesn’t end up in landfills. Instead, it can be recycled, refilled, or reused.

One great example of zero-waste packaging is SOAPBOTTLE. The company designs packaging made of soap for products used for personal care and hygiene. After using up the product, the customer can then use the container as hand soap.

The importance of eco-friendly cosmetic packaging

The cosmetics industry has seen a dramatic rise in eco-friendly packaging options in recent years. Here are the main reasons for this trend:

Today’s consumers are interested in companies that design products with recyclability and reusability in mind. By using eco-friendly cosmetic packaging, your brand can show its commitment to sustainability. Not to mention, eco-friendly packaging often requires fewer materials to create, which reduces production costs. Bulk purchasing is also an option with eco-friendly materials, which lowered the price per unit. These materials can also be repurposed instead of going to waste, and most biodegradable materials are compostable.

Reducing shipping costs is one of the main benefits of eco-friendly packaging. These materials often weigh less than plastic, which can save you money on shipping from your supplier. And if you offer free shipping to your customers, you can save even more.

Being socially and environmentally aware is excellent for brands. Environmental advocacy plays a significant role in boosting customer loyalty. In fact, 47% of consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products, making it a beneficial move for your brand.

Sustainable packaging is not only aligned with current government agendas but is also becoming increasingly more popular among global citizens. Many countries are enacting bans on materials that contribute to climate change and many organizations are beginning to give perks to those companies that use sustainable packaging.

6 Types of eco-friendly cosmetics packaging

Though many cosmetics, skincare, and hygiene products come in plastic packaging, there are sustainable materials to consider if your brand wants to be more eco-friendly. For example, some brands are using bamboo or paper packaging instead of plastic. Others are using recycled materials or finding ways to package their products without any waste at all. Find and design your cosmetics packaging online.

Bamboo

There are many reasons why bamboo packaging is becoming a more popular choice, especially for eco-friendly and sustainable brands. Bamboo is a renewable resource, as it grows quickly and doesn’t require harmful chemicals or pesticides to thrive. Bamboo packaging is also lightweight and durable, making it ideal forcosmetic containers. Plus, it looks sleek and luxurious!

Tay Skincare was one of the first cosmetic brands to use bamboo packaging. Their bottles and jars are beautiful and functional, designed to be refilled and reused. By choosing bamboo packaging, Tay Skincare has set a precedent for other sustainable brands.

Silicone Packaging

Silicone comes from the same place as sand – silica. It’s similar to plastic in that it’s very durable. However, it’s reusable and doesn’t release toxic substances when reused or in contact with water and soil. It can be used as a heat-resistant, flexible, and long-lasting substitute for plastic bottles.

Glass

There are a variety of materials that can be used to make glass, but the three most common ingredients are sand, soda ash, and limestone. Unfortunately, none of these materials is renewable. However, they are all plentiful. Additionally, glass containers are pretty easy to recycle. This makes them a good choice for eco-conscious consumers. When it comes to cosmetic products, it’s pretty common to see liquid products packaged in brown glass bottles, and glass jars are commonly used to store creams. Design Mockup Online!

Metal

Metal containers have a lot of good qualities that make them ideal for holding cosmetics. For one, they don’t corrode easily, so you can wash and reuse them. They also have a low melting point, so recycling them requires less energy. And because they’re sturdy, cosmetic brands can use less of other materials in their packaging, which decreases the bulk and weight. However, some customers might not appreciate that metal containers are opaque because it makes it difficult to see how much product is left.

Biodegradable paperboard and other paper products

Biodegradable paperboard is a recyclable product. Unlike regular paperboard, it breaks down quickly without damaging the environment or harming living organisms. This makes it an ideal material for outer packaging, but some innovative cosmetic manufacturers have begun using it as primary packaging.

Other organic materials

As technology advances, so does the creativity and sustainability of cosmetics packaging. More and more, we are seeing natural materials like cornstarch, seaweed, mushrooms, and beeswax being used as excellent substitutes for traditional packaging materials.

Each of these materials has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, if cornstarch packaging became more widespread, it could potentially disrupt the food supply chain. On the other hand, seaweed packaging works great for liquid-based cosmetics but might be better suited for food products since it is edible.

In the end, it is up to manufacturers to weigh the pros and cons of each material to determine which is best suited for their needs.

Tips for implementing eco-friendly cosmetics packaging

When it comes to choosing the right material for packaging, there are a lot of important factors to consider. If you’re looking to move to more sustainable packaging solutions, here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Work with a sustainable packaging supplier

Startup beauty brands might have difficulty finding the right supplier to work with, but it pays to do some research. It’s crucial to work with a reliable and consistent supplier who’s familiar with renewable materials.

Knowing recycling and waste separation techniques enables them to create more appealing recycled materials. For instance, noissue uses natural materials and bio-polymers exclusively in their products and supports reforestation programs.

2. Invest in technology and research

These days, cosmetics buyers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable product packaging. So it might pay off to acquire good technology or engage in research and development. You can create a brand that sets itself apart from the competition through eco-friendliness.

3. Prepare a budget before you start

Many brands find it difficult to switch to sustainable packaging due to its higher cost than plastic materials. So when moving to eco-friendly cosmetic packaging, make sure you are financially ready. The good news is that aside from being part of a good cause, you can charge higher prices because sustainability will be a strong point of differentiation for your brand.

4. Reduce the materials used in your cosmetic packaging

Elaborate packaging has always been an essential aspect of the beauty industry, but it’s also often unnecessary. You can start removing wasteful elements from your current packaging even if you can’t wholly transition to sustainable packaging.

Rethink your existing packaging and leave out details that have no clear purpose or are wasteful, like single-use plastic. It’s still possible to offer your customers beautiful and perfectly tailored packaging by adding inexpensive, eco-friendly additions such as a stamp or tissue.

5. Don’t tackle it alone

Eco-friendly brands should promote carbon footprint reduction initiatives. Work with your employees and brainstorm ideas to support your initiatives, such as offering a refilling or recycling program — post about it on social media or leverage email marketing to encourage your customers to join the conversation.

Getting your staff and potential customers involved also helps to promote your products and cause. And the best part is that you can reduce wasteful post-consumer packaging when you spread awareness.

Wrapping it up

As far as sustainability is concerned, beauty and cosmetics are still far from achieving their full potential. Because of this, the cosmetics industry is increasingly looking for sustainable packaging options.

Making a conscious effort to reduce your carbon footprint through your packaging is a good start and can help long term. To get quality results, it’s vital to choose the right materials and work with the right supplier.