More Sustainable Beauty Products and Packaging
For many of us, learning to do our bit for the planet is a priority. There is greater demand than ever for brands to provide more sustainable beauty products to their consumers, but there can be some confusion around what sustainability looks like in the beauty space.
More sustainable beauty packaging gets a big tick for sure, but formulas designed with the planet in mind can also do a lot of heavy lifting when considering how to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. In fact, there are plenty of ways your beauty purchases can help reduce your impact on the planet – read on for our guide to more sustainable beauty.
What makes beauty products and packaging more sustainable?
When looking for more sustainable beauty packaging, there are a few different things to consider. You can check the label to see whether the product was made from recycled materials, and if it can be recycled itself. Always remember to confirm that your local council accepts the material before you put it in your household recycling bin.
Another thing to look out for is refillable packaging, which helps to reduce the amount of materials and resources needed in production. Garnier is also committed to greener formulas – currently 65% of ingredients used in our products are bio-based or derived from abundant minerals ingredients. Our target is 95% by 2030.
How to spot more sustainable beauty
As a consumer, making more sustainable choices when buying beauty products can help reduce your impact on people and planet. Supporting brands with sustainability at the core encourages others within the industry to adopt similar values and practices. However, if you find it tricky to differentiate between single-use and sustainable products, we’ve outlined some tips to help you identify sustainable beauty practices.
Recyclable, recycled and reusable packaging
Many of us are already in the habit of recycling household waste every day – and this is something we can all strive to do with our beauty products, too. When shopping for your beauty items, try to look for both packaging that can go in your recycling bin and beauty products that are made from recycled materials.
The packaging of the Garnier Micellar range was crafted with this in mind, with hero products like the Micellar Cleansing Water – which is made from 100% recycled plastic – coming in a recyclable bottle. Products that are reusable can also have a positive impact. The Micellar Eco Pads can be used up to 1000 times per pad, allowing you to take off your makeup without any cotton waste.
Organically certified actives
When looking for organically certified products or those containing organically certified actives, be sure to check the label. Eco Cert is one of the world’s most trusted organisations, and so when you see their seal on a product you can be assured the ingredients follow practices that reduce environmental and social impacts. Garnier’s Green Labs range utilises completely natural and organic ingredients, designed to improve the look and feel of skin while minimising impact on the planet. The Green Labs collection is a perfect solution if you’re on the lookout for more sustainable skincare.
Sustainably sourced
Sustainably sourced ingredients are a key focus of Garnier’s commitment to greener formulas. We want our ingredients produced and harvested in way that is sustainable and responsible to the planet. This means considering farming practices, land used, local communities and other sourcing factors. When we select our suppliers, we consider each ingredients’ origins, ethical issues, social factors and environmental impact. As of 2020, 85% of our biobased ingredients are sustainably sourced.
Avoiding ammonia
Ammonia is a common chemical found in hair dye, used to open the hair cuticle to allow the colour to take hold. It can also be persistent in the environment, potentially impacting local ecosystems. Rather than using ammonia in its formula, Garnier opts for organic ingredients like argan and lavender oil which both have antiaging and regenerative benefits for the skin. These oils are fantastic for the skin, but they are also a more sustainable beauty item as these oils are completely natural and biodegradable.
Garnier’s promise to create greener beauty and packaging
Garnier has a strong set of values when it comes to creating organic products with sustainability in mind. All Garnier products are certified organic by Eco Cert – and all formulas are completely vegan. Moreover, 81% of Garnier’s industrial sites involved in the production of our beauty products reached 100% renewable energy in 2023*.
*excluding safety and security installations.
Fructis Hair Food
Our Fructis Hair Food range showcases a range of products that help treat and volumise hair. The formulas are 96% natural origin** and are completely vegan and biodegradable. Moreover, the Fructis Hair Food shampoo and conditioner bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic. This makes them a great choice for shoppers searching for more sustainable beauty.
**We consider an ingredient ‘naturally derived’ if it is unchanged from its natural state or, if it has undergone chemical or other processing which modifies it from its natural state, it retains at least 50% of its molecular structure from the original plant source.
Body Superfood
Our Body Superfood range is a selection of more sustainable beauty products you’re going to want to get your hands on. With four key products you can choose from, each body cream is formulated with ingredients of 96% natural origin** and is completely free from animal-derived ingredients and byproducts. Better still, the Body Superfood range is made in a carbon neutral factory and manufactured with fully recyclable packaging.
Enjoyed our guide to more sustainable beauty products? Next, discover whether organic anti-aging skincare could be right for you.
