One hundred and twenty billion. That’s the number of beauty-related packages produced globally each year by the cosmetics industry. Between the plastic outer wrapping, cardboard packaging, tubes, pots and add-ons like mini spoons and brushes, that’s a hell of a lot of waste.
However, there are a number of brands turning their back on traditional and often unnecessary packaging bells and whistles for a more naked and earth-friendly approach. And best of all, clean ingredients are also at the heart of their products.
Here are some of our current favourites.
Biode
This home compostable lifestyle brand features high-performing products like natural deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body bars, exfoliators and a hard-working multipurpose balm. Its packaging is no BS, uses plant-based inks and is home compostable. You can literally plant the packaging in an indoor pot and watch it break down over a matter of weeks.
Instagram: @biode.official
Simple as That
While its physical sunscreen does come in plastic tubes, its range of face and skincare products are all housed in clear glass jars, making them A1 to throw in your curb-side recycling bin. Our favourite is the matcha mask and exfoliant, and its skincare bundles make great gifts—even if it’s for yourself!
Instagram: @simpleasthatskin
Mukti
This certified organic beauty brand not only uses high-quality bioactive ingredients, it comes in violet glass containers, specifically designed to increase the shelf-life of the product without the use of synthetic preservatives. Mukti has also recently implemented their own recycling program whereby old items can be returned to them (free of charge) and given new life.
Instagram: @muktiorganics
Edible Beauty
From sustainable and wildcrafted ingredients to recyclable and biodegradable packaging Edible Beauty is the real deal when it comes to low-waste skincare and wellness ingestibles. Edible Beauty also partners with Terracycle to recycle their tricker items like pumps and caps that can’t be thrown in your regular recycling at home.
Instagram: @ediblebeautyau
Seed + Sprout
Seed + Sprout started out with a pretty epic stainless-steel bento style lunch box and has since expanded into beauty and personal care products. Its face oil is truly sustainable from the glass jar right down to the cork-lined aluminium cap—not one bit of plastic has made its way through to the finished product. Lip balm and deodorant is housed in neat little aluminium containers while its dry shampoo comes in a home compostable cardboard tube.
Instagram: @seedandsproutco
NueBar
NueBar has made plastic packaging a thing of the past. As well as shampoo and conditioner bars, it also boasts a range of skin bars too. There’s face wash, body wash and exfoliators as well as a super hydrating body moisturiser—all the basics that add up to a lot of plastic on your bathroom shelf. The tiny bars also make packing for a weekend away—or longer—a dream.
Instagram: @nuebar_australia
