Beauty goes full circle

Manufacturers of skin care and color cosmetics aim for a sustainable supply chain.

Photo by Mart Production from Pexels

The concept of circularity is coming to beauty products. Closing the loop by minimizing waste during sourcing, production, shipping and disposal is becoming a priority for suppliers of makeup and skin care alike.

For consumable products such as these, packaging is often the first area where brands can make a difference. Start by replacing plastic delivery wrapping with compostable paper.

When it comes to the containers, reusability is the way to go. Durable glass and stainless steel bottles can be refilled, while palettes and compacts can be fitted with magnetic pans of different formulas - whether foundation, blush, bronzer, eye shadow or lip tint. The remaining plastic could be designed to use recycled instead of virgin materials.

Instituting a recycling program for customers is imperative for the success of sustainable packaging initiatives. The average person is clueless about what local recycling facilities are able to process, so having specific instructions and accessible ways of returning containers are important. Even better is when brands are able to use low-carbon transport and clean energy for the reclamation and disinfection process.

But even earlier in the supply chain, it's possible to apply the principle of circularity with the use of upcycled cosmetic ingredients. Here the link to the food industry is vital; the byproducts of processing edibles are still a source of active elements for cosmetics. Examples include citrus peels, spent coffee grounds, olive leaves and rejected avocados. Even fruit seeds and waste from cacao and tea processing have proven useful to skin care manufacturers.

This development has eased some of the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Happi. As countries implement stricter import and quarantine measures to stem the spread of the virus, many companies are looking for alternatives to international dealers. Local farms are stepping in.

As with any undertaking, incremental progress is preferred to belated perfection. Take the first step by searching for suppliers of cosmetic packaging and cosmetic ingredients on GlobalSources.com.