Recycling cosmetic packaging sure is tough, because of how it's made and what it's made of. Cosmetics often come in containers made of different materials or complicated plastics like pumps, sprayers, or tubes with many layers. They are difficult to sort and recycle properly because of their small size, odd shapes, or made of mixed materials. Even if our intentions are good and we want to recycle them, regular residential recycling plants struggle to handle cosmetic packaging properly, which means less gets recycled and more goes to waste.
In Canada, many local recycling programs aren't set up to deal with small or complicated cosmetic packaging, which means people don't have many choices for recycling them. Without special recycling options or knowing how to get rid of them properly, cosmetic packages usually end up in the trash, and thus in the landfill.
Ever heard of Terracycle?
Terracycle is one of the groups trying to fix this issue by running special recycling programs for cosmetic packaging and other hard-to-recycle packaging – from snack wrappers, coffee capsules and juice pouches, to pens, electronics, medical packaging and more.
At Truu by Nature, we are proud to support Terracycle's mission and their retail partners.
How does Terracycle make it work?
Terracycle's equipment and processes are different from common recycling equipment used in residential curbside programs – especially when it comes to handling small pieces of plastic, such as those often used in cosmetic packaging:
Unlike regular recycling places that mainly use conveyor belts and people sorting by hand, Terracycle's technology is better at separating small plastic items mixed with other recyclables.
Terracycle has specific methods to clean small plastic packaging by removing leftover content inside. While regular recycling programs might clean things just a little, Terracycle's methods are more detailed and made to fit the needs of cosmetic packaging materials.
Terracycle uses advanced techniques to recover materials from small plastic packaging, like shredding them into tiny pieces or melting them down to make new products like garden pots, sturdy tote bags, or outdoor park benches. These methods are different from what regular recycling places do, which mostly deal with bigger items like larger plastic shampoo bottles or cardboard boxes.
Terracycle doesn't just recycle – they also find smart ways to make new products using the recycled materials they just processed. By doing this, they're not only recycling but also creating new products that help keep the recycling process going and divert from landfills.
Is it a permanent solution to plastic pollution?
Definitely not, but it’s progress that helps to divert plastic from otherwise ending up in landfill. In a perfect world, the solution to plastic pollution would involve a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastic production, consumption, and disposal – from changing the mindset of the consumer to the reduction of single-use plastics and transitioning to fully sustainable materials, to global cooperation and clean-up efforts.
How are we making a difference?
At Truu by Nature, we’ve taken every step possible to ensure our hair products do not include any microplastic particles, that our ingredients are not eco-toxic or petroleum-derived, and that the packaging of our products is either zero-waste or housed in infinitely recyclable aluminum. As the pumps and lids of our packaging are unavoidably made using plastic (which makes up 2% of our total packaging materials) for our customers to be able to use them safely and efficiently, we have implemented EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) policies, such as:
encourage our customers to return our tiny lids and pumps (and that of other cosmetic products they may use) to their local Terracycle retailers, and/or
return our packaging pumps to us, where we can return them to Terracycle retail partners for efficient recycling
Our shampoo bars are a sustainable, plastic-free cleansing and conditioning option.
Each shampoo bar is individually wrapped in an unbleached paper filter and packaged in a kraft paper box, filled with paper shred. How is your current hair product packaged?
Our Hair Renew Mask treatment is packaged in an aluminum tube. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable and light to ship. The lids are made of plastic, and as such, we encourage our customers to ship them back to us for recycling with Terracycle – or participate in their local Terracycle retailer program.
Aluminum lids are not available for aluminum tube packaging as they would compromise
the safety of the product in this type of packaging.
How can you participate?
Visit Terracycle.com
Sign up and create an account!
Hover under the “Recycle” menu and select “All Services”
Under “search” type in “cosmetics” (or whichever item you’d like to recycle)
When the options appear underneath, click on one (ie: L’Occitane or L’Oreal) and select “drop off near you”. Type your city and Province. Many of Terracycle’s partner retailers accept items from more than their own brands (although some do not). Many retail partners will even send you free shipping labels if you do not have access to nearby drop-off points.
By participating in Terracycle's recycling program for cosmetic packaging, consumers can contribute to environmental sustainability by diverting plastic waste from landfills and supporting the creation of new products made from recycled materials. Additionally, consumers can take pride in knowing that their actions are making a positive impact on the planet and promoting responsible consumption habits.
We have signed up and are actively participating – are you going to? Comment below:
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