As creators of the world’s first fully-recyclable eyeshadow palette and first fully recyclable & 100% recycled plastic lip component, we take sustainable packaging seriously. In fact, we refuse to launch any product until we’ve found a fully recyclable, sustainable way to package it.
That’s why we’re so excited to announce our new partnership with Terracycle, a recycling company that’s taking waste-transformation to the next level!
Keep reading to learn more about:
Terracycle is a recycling company that specializes in difficult-to-recycle items. They work with cities, individuals, manufacturers, and brands to reuse, upcycle, recycle, or compost items that would otherwise be landfilled.
Visit the Terracycle site to find brands that offer this service for free. And you can also purchase Zero-Waste Boxes for your house or office to recycle other items your city program doesn’t accept!
While all our products are easily recyclable in your standard household recycling bin, the problem is - recycling isn't happening like we think. Over 300 recycling plants have closed in the US since March last year, and as a result, many recyclables are being incinerated instead. We want to ensure our products truly do end up recycled so we're offering this option for free so that everyone (even those in areas without recycling facilities) can recycle their Āether Beauty goodies.
HOW IT WORKS
Credo Beauty has a similar program with Terracycle so you can recycle all your clean beauty products! And even better: you earn rewards for your waste, which can either go towards buying products or to a charity of your choice.
If you have access to standard recycling bins (and there are reliable recycling facilities nearby), you can also recycle your Āether Beauty products at home! Keep reading for instructions on how to recycle each item:
Our Radiant Ruby Lip Crème is the first 100% recycled plastic liquid lip component that's also 100% recyclable! By using 100% PCR recycled plastic, we create 25% less carbon emissions than virgin plastic. How to recycle the packaging:
The plastic-heavy cosmetics industry makes up 1/3 of all landfill space, producing over 120 billion units of packaging every single year.
And the vast majority of these products are completely unrecyclable. They’re either made from hard plastics, mixed materials, unrecyclable inks or dyes, contain magnets, mirrors, or pumps, or are just too complex to separate and repurpose.
And the result of all this disposable packaging? Trillions of tons of garbage that winds up polluting our soil and contaminating oceans. And the truth is: The Earth has a limited amount of space – pretty soon this trash will start encroaching on our everyday lives (it’s already severely impacting marine life).
And it's not just waste: it's climate change! Virgin plastics generate heat-trapping gases at every stage of their life cycle. As plastic breaks down in landfills and oceans, they release damaging greenhouse gases into the environment. And on a less visible level, as ocean plankton consume more microplastics, they’re less able to do their vital job of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. And more carbon dioxide means faster heating of the planet.
You can see the global temperature rises in the image below.
Warming Stripes for GLOBE from 1850-2018 #showyourstripes
Yes, the situation is dire, but the good news: awareness is spreading, consumers are demanding better, and the industry is beginning to make some much-needed changes. So what can you do on a personal level to lessen cosmetics waste and its impact on the planet?
Buy from brands with sustainable, recyclable packaging, those that participate in Terracycle recycling programs, and retailers with sustainability initiatives.
Credo Beauty - accepts all product packaging back and recycles through Terracycle.
The Detox Market - has just launched their Earth CPR Initiative to plant at least 2.5 million trees and become carbon negative by 2025. They'll plant a tree for:
At Āether Beauty, we only use fully recyclable packaging, offer carbon-neutral shipping, and donate 1% of all sales to 1% For The Planet, who support global environmental initiatives making real impact with climate, pollution, water, food, and wildlife.
We’ve all succumbed to an IG glimmer gloss or unicorn mask (and worn once and then forgot about), but the truth is, these single-use, novelty products are entering our landfills by the millions. Focus on finding those staple, holy-grail products that work amazingly, are packaged sustainably, can do double duty, and don’t create more skin woes you have to fix/hide with more products!
One of the most environmentally damaging parts of plastics is their end-of-life. When landfilled or incinerated, these materials release massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. So to ensure we save them from becoming waste, it's important to know the basics of recycling:
Even if all individual components of an item are recyclable, unless they're taken apart before going in the recycling bin, that item ends up in the landfill.
An example: our Eyeshadow Palettes are 100% recyclable, however, you still have to remove the metal eyeshadow pans from the palette before recycling.
Why? Different companies collect each raw material: metal, plastic, paper, etc., and there’s no one separating items to their individual components. So, if the item goes in the bin without being separated, it goes straight to the landfill.
What you can do: separate components where it’s possible to do so. And try to purchase single material products/packaging whenever you can.
The post-market buyers that purchase recyclables won’t take recycled material that is dirty or “contaminated”. If it isn’t clean, it goes straight to the landfill.
What you can do: wash all plastic containers before recycling. For paper food containers, you cannot recycle them once there’s food residue on them. You can compost them, however.
There are many different types of plastics and only a few are recyclable. Also, if an item is made up of multiple different plastics, and one of them is not recyclable, this renders the whole item trash.
For example, the pumps you see in cosmetic and skincare products are made of several different plastic compounds, and so cannot be recycled. Avoid products with pumps wherever you can - it might be less convenient, but it’s one less piece of waste!
All plastics are labeled with a number from 1-7, usually on the bottom of the container. These numbers tell you if the item is recyclable or not. Look for them when you’re shopping and try to avoid the unrecyclable plastics:
Always Recyclable (if cleaned)
#1 PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): water bottles, soft drink bottles, juice containers.
#2 HDPE (High density Polyethylene): milk jugs, cleaning & detergent bottles, shampoo bottles.
Not Recyclable
#3 PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): vinyl, food wrap, fruit trays.
#4 LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene): plastic wrap, plastic bags, bread bags.
#6 PS (Polystyrene): styrofoam, toys, disposable cutlery, insulation.
#7 (Other): thicker plastic items (sippy cups, multi-gallon water jugs)
Sometimes Recyclable
#5 PP (Polypropylene): disposable cups and plates, certain cosmetic containers.
There are some cities and recycling programs that will accept #5 plastics. Your best bet is to call your local program and check on their policies.
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Thanks for supporting #sustainablebeauty and making choices for a cleaner planet. Collectively we can turn around the wasteful world of beauty!
- Āether Beauty xo
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The first new moon of 2021 falls in the steadfast, tireless, goal-oriented sign of Capricorn. As a cardinal earth sign, Capricorn is the initiator of projects – always presenting groundbreaking new ideas, and working hard to bring them to fruition.
New Moons are a time for recharging, resetting, and planning for the month ahead. It’s a time of new beginnings and direction changes. With Capricorn in charge this month, we’re inspired to #makeithappen, achieve our goals, and lay the groundwork for our future.
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For more eyeshadow inspo, read our Favorite Summer Solstice Looks, Our Favorite Yellow Diamond Highlighter Looks, Our Favorite Joshua Tree Looks, and Our Favorite Rose Quartz Looks.