Why? The high street has seriously upped its game!
THROWAWAY
FACT
1 billion lipstick cases go to landfill each year
Lipsticks, mascaras, foundations etc have been notoriously (impossible) to recycle - just too small and complex for mass recycling machines. There’s been superb sustainable brands leading the charge with refillables etc but nothing mainstream.
Till now…with the arrival of in-store drop off points to recycle empty cosmetics! Accepting all brands, they’re making it super easy for us to keep the (crazy) waste out of landfill.
But caveat, caveat, caveat! Recycling is always the last option. Go Naked (packaging free) or refillable if you can. Always look for brands using recycled as well as recyclable packaging vs virgin materials. And don’t forget packaging is only one aspect, there’s animal testing, responsible supply chains, ethical ingredients and a host of other things. Our top picks in the shop.
3 easy any-brand cosmetic recycling schemes:
First up is good old John Lewis. They launched their BeautyCycle scheme in 2019 but it went on pause because of the pandemic. Now it’s back on. Basically you can take in your empties AND get paid for the privilege. They treat you to £5 off your next beauty purchase every time you return five beauty empties. Create a free My John Lewis account and you’re up and off. Never knowingly under sold.
Maybelline partnered with the fabulous Terracycle and you can take any brand of empty makeup into participating supermarkets and just pop them straight into the special recycling bin. Sainsburys, Tesco, Superdrug and Boots are in and it’s available at about 1000 stores nationwide, so you should be able to find one near you.
There’s also a scheme called Recycle Me, where you sign up, print a QR off at home and then drop it off at various points. We haven’t done this one as they ask for your address, number etc, so the others seem easier! Good if you’re not near a major store.
The high street sustainability leaders like Body Shop and Lush all take empties back in store so do take them directly in. Lush is doing some amazing things, including refillable lipsticks and ‘owning’ their packaging, that customers ‘rent’ and return, to keep it the loop. Body Shop’s service is currently paused because of COVID.
We…
Aimee: This is such a great step forward, not least, because it starts to make us all think about our packaging waste which will plant the seed in our minds the next time we shop.
Sonia: Soooo handy! Just brilliant isn’t it to see things like this go mainstream. Time’s a changing..!
Have a comment? Just post it below. And are you proud of something, big or small (reusuable Q tips bought, pension switched)? Email us, so we can feature you on our Shout Out. And don’t forget you’ve got the help desk if you have a question or request.
“Lipstick on my collar...”