Beauty Brands that Reward YOU for Recycling May 21, 2019
Did you know that plastic packaging alone accounts for 40% of the world’s total plastic usage? Although plastic packaging is used for far more than cosmetics, a high volume of cosmetic-related waste is being generated every year. Thankfully there are brands that are trying to reduce their impact. Read about 6 beauty brands that reward you for recycling.
About Beauty-Related Plastic Waste
The World Wild Life Fund estimated that the UK used 10.8 billion wet wipes and 13.2 billion cotton buds in 2018 alone. According to National Geographic, 91% of all global plastics have not been properly recycled.
Unfortunately for beauty lovers, plastic-packaged products are often difficult to recycle. Thankfully, some beauty brands are actively trying to reduce waste and encourage consumers to recycle.
The below list is a compilation of 6 beauty brands that reward you for recycling.
6 Beauty Brands That Reward Recycling
The list of brands that reward recycling is growing. The below programs are some of the most well known recycling programs for US beauty consumers.
GARNIER | Beauty Brigade with TerraCycle
Did you know that Garnier donates to charity when you recycle? In fact, Garnier teamed up with recycling company, TerraCycle, to recycle CPG packaging. Also, the brand will donate 2 points (or $0.01) per unit recycled in shipments larger than 10 pounds.
Here’s how it works:
Create a free account. Collect your old packaging. Then, ship them to TerraCycle to be recycled!
- Items that can be returned via this program: shampoo caps, conditioner caps, hair gel tubes, and caps, hair spray triggers, and hair paste caps
- Skin care packaging: lip balm tubes and caps, soap dispensers and tubes, body wash caps, lotion dispensers and caps
- Cosmetics packaging: lipstick cases, lip gloss tubes, mascara tubes, eye shadow cases, bronzer cases, foundation packaging, powder cases, eyeliner cases, eyeliner pencils, eye shadow tubes, concealer tubes, concealer sticks, and lip liner pencils
Click here to read more about this program and to sign up.
INNISFREE | Eco-Recycling Program
Innisfree allows consumers to drop off their empty Innisfree packaging to any retail location in the US. The goal is to transform or upcycle the returned packaging into other products.
Innisfree partners with TerraCycle. In exchange for returning these items, consumers receive points via the Innisfree loyalty program.
Click here to read more about the Innisfree Recycling Program.
KIEHL’S | Recycle & Be Rewarded
Kiehl’s customers receive a “stamp” for every full-size product they recycle in-store. Then, once a customer accumulates 10 stamps, he or she can redeem a trial-sized product. Each travel-size product has a value of up to $11.00.
Here’s how it works:
For every 10 empty, full-size products a customer returns to store, he or she can receive one trial-sized product.
Also, deluxe samples and other complementary products can be returned and recycled. However, these items do not count towards a customer’s stamps. Additionally, a customer may only redeem their stamps for one free product a month.
To read more about the program click here.
LUSH | 5 Pot Program
As devoted LUSH fans already know, the black pots at LUSH are made entirely from recycled material. However, new fans may not be aware of the brand’s recycling program. Consumers are eligible to receive a free Fresh Face Mask if they return 5 empty, clean black pots in-store.
Click here to read more about the 5 Pot Program.
MAC Cosmetics| Back to MAC
MAC’s Back to MAC program enables customers to return used product packaging. To date, it is one of the most well-known recycling initiatives.
Here’s how it works:
First, a customer returns 6 products (either online or in-store). Then, he or she is eligible to receive a complimentary lipstick. However, customers need to bring back all 6 old products at the same time.
Additionally, the brand offers extra incentives to customers who are enrolled in the brand’s MAC Lover Loyalty Program. Customers enrolled in MAC Lover may redeem their 6 returned products for a wider range of products. This includes one lipstick, lip glass, or single shadow. Also, MAC Lovers may return products in-store at their own pace. MA.C. will keep track of the number of products returned.
Click here to read more about the Back to M.A.C program.
ORIGINS | Return to Origins
Did you know that Origins was the first brand in the beauty industry to offer a recycling program specifically for cosmetic packaging?
In 2009, the Return to Origins program launched. Also, Origin’s program enables customers to recycle empty primary packaging to any of its retail stores or department store locations.
Additionally, the brand will take back most primary packaging. However, the following items CANNOT be returned to Origins:
- paper boxes or plastic wrapping
- sample or trial size packaging
- applicators like sponges or tools like tweezers.
Click here to read more about Origins commitment to recycling.
Final Thoughts on Brands that Reward Recycling
Hopefully, more beauty brands reward you for recycling in the future. Global plastic waste is a huge problem. Therefore, programs like the ones above are essential. Overall, these programs help consumers reduce their impact on the environment.
If you want to go beyond recycling, please check out these tips for making your beauty routine more sustainable.
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How do you recycle your beauty-related plastics? Would you try any of the above programs? Please let me know in the comments below.
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Amarjeet Sonia Madaan says
May 21, 2019 at 8:13 amThat’s great initiative. Thanks for sharing
The Newbury Girl says
May 22, 2019 at 1:29 amThank you so much! <3
Hannah Read says
May 21, 2019 at 1:11 pmThanks for the post! I actually only knew about Lush. In the UK they also take milk bottle lids from customers to recycle!
The Newbury Girl says
May 22, 2019 at 1:28 amAhh I’m so glad you found out about some new recycling programs! 🙂 There are so many cool UK-based brands that are really changing the game in terms of offering plastic-free or more sustainably packaged products!
Amna Blake says
May 21, 2019 at 4:57 pmcool idea, do they do the MAC one in the UK too? I’ve never heard of it before!
The Newbury Girl says
May 22, 2019 at 1:27 amYes – I believe so!! I don’t think the extended program is available, so all six products need to be turned in at the same time, but I believe the basic program should be available! 🙂
Amna Blake says
May 22, 2019 at 1:35 amCool thanks will find out about it next time I’m in store!
jennifertarheelreader says
May 21, 2019 at 9:09 pmThis is so helpful, LP! I learned a lot and I really appreciate the info. I think about plastic so often, but not often enough!
The Newbury Girl says
May 22, 2019 at 1:26 amIt is scary how much plastic we produce and use on a daily basis, but I’m glad that consumers and lawmakers are starting to make changes!
entermyworldweb says
May 23, 2019 at 7:21 amThis was a interesting read and definitely things for me to research into! Thank you xx
The Newbury Girl says
May 23, 2019 at 5:58 pmSo glad you found this interesting!! 💜
Geraldine says
May 24, 2019 at 11:30 amI didn’t know these brands offered such a program. That’s really cool!! I will most likely be having Lush, InnisFree and Kiehl’s stuff in my possession so I will keep this in mind when/if I finish them 🙂 Thank you for sharing this!!
sports, food,actives,life says
May 25, 2019 at 8:46 amWow!!!
Simone says
May 25, 2019 at 2:32 pmI didn’t know about this!! So glad you shared this since I’m trying to be more sustainable!
The Newbury Girl says
May 27, 2019 at 8:19 pmMe too – choosing more sustainable clothing options has been slightly easier for me, but altering my beauty habits has been so much harder!!!
Nancy says
May 27, 2019 at 3:16 pmI love it when brands work with their customers to encourage recycling. We use so much in our daily lives that we need to be better at sorting out what can be recycled and etc. I knew about Lush’s recycling program but didn’t know about the others. Oooh, I should look into turning my loyalty to Origins or Kiehl’s. They’re really customer and environment-oriented.
Nancy ♥ exquisitely.me
The Newbury Girl says
May 27, 2019 at 8:22 pmI hope more brands move towards creating programs like this because they have potential to make such a positive impact! 🙂
ThatAutisticFitChick says
May 30, 2019 at 5:42 pmThis is awesome to see that there are beauty products with recycling initiatives going on! It’s a pity I don’t think I use any of the brands (although I’m not sure if I might have a garnier micellar water lurking somewhere) to take advantage of these schemes 🙁
One thing I’m trying at the moment to save on using as many wet wipes is keeping cotton pads in a jar with some toner to quickly freshen up and get rid of the grime in the evening.
The Newbury Girl says
May 30, 2019 at 9:37 pmThat’s a great sustainable swap to make – I’m trying to reduce my wet wipe usage as well! I’ve been using micro-fiber clothes and cotton pads (cut in half)!! Eventually, I’d like to buy some reusable cotton pads. 🙂
ThatAutisticFitChick says
May 31, 2019 at 10:59 amI keep thinking about trying to crochet some…I’m sure I’ve seen patterns somewhere. I’m just nervous because I already struggle with remembering laundry that they would all go mouldy :-/
Hunida says
June 3, 2019 at 3:09 pmWow, I never knew any of this. Now there’s more reason to collect my trash other than just the Empties posts. 🙂 Thanks so much for making me aware of these awesome programs!
Castles and Hurricanes says
June 8, 2019 at 9:20 pmI only knew that Lush had a recycling program; I didn’t realize so many other brands did as well! That’s so awesome! I’ll have to look into these brands and recycle the products that I can.
Random Repeat says
July 2, 2019 at 8:24 amReblogged this on .
The Newbury Girl says
August 3, 2019 at 11:52 pmThanks for the reblog! 🙂
Random Repeat says
August 4, 2019 at 1:16 amwelcome 🙂
Heidi Altree says
August 8, 2019 at 7:27 pmGreat information! I didn’t know about these recycling programs.
The Newbury Girl says
August 9, 2019 at 2:15 pmI know, right?? I hope more brands start doing this! 🙂
Swarnali says
September 24, 2020 at 5:24 amI loved this idea, that brands will work with their customers to encourage recycling. Thanks for sharing.
https://swarnaz.com/