Plastic is simultaneously one of the biggest threats to our planet and one of the most difficult products to avoid when shopping. It’s no secret that single-use plastic has become an overwhelming threat to the environment, with some studies predicting that the already severe amount of plastic pollution will double by 2030, proving to be particularly damaging to our oceans and aquatic wildlife. Widespread awareness of the harmful impact of straws, plastic bags, and single-use water bottles has proliferated across social media in the past few years. Yet, studies show that plastic remains the biggest global environmental threat, with 91% of it being improperly recycled and filling up landfills.
With growing awareness of the impacts of climate change, “clean” or environmentally friendly products are flying off the shelves from those who want to make a difference in the ways that they can. This includes the beauty industry, which has seen massive growth in clean products — cruelty-free, plant-based and reusable beauty products are the new trend. However, even with the push towards environmentally conscious products, the biggest culprit of environmental damage in the beauty industry has not changed: plastic packaging.
The Beauty Industry and Plastic
Some studies suggest that the beauty industry is responsible for a third of all plastic pollution. The most widespread knowledge of the industry’s plastic pollution is microbeads, tiny plastic beads used as gentle exfoliants in beauty products. When microbeads were a popular trend in skincare routines, trillions would be swept into oceans and waterways where they would be consumed by aquatic wildlife. Many countries have banned microbeads from rinse-off products in an attempt to curb the impact.
While the banning of microbeads was a step forward, packaging remains the largest environmental stressor from the beauty industry. Research shows that the beauty industry contributes 120 billion units of packaging every year.
Plastic packaging is the norm in the industry for a variety of reasons: ease of access, travel-friendly, typically cheap to produce and more affordable for buyers than higher-end glass products. Drugstore products in particular, also more popular across social media than their high-end counterparts in 2021, are typically packaged, sealed and delivered in a variety of plastics, largely for aesthetic purposes.
To make it clear, let’s consider the average university-aged woman’s skincare routine. The most basic dermatologist-approved routine (cleanser, moisturizer, SPF) already consists of three (typically) plastic-packaged products, without any of the typical customizations to fit the consumer’s specific needs or interests. Adding in these customizations leads to an average of five to eight products per skincare routine, per consumer. On top of that, these plastic bottles, typically surrounded and sealed with further plastic packaging to protect the product from tampering, are more likely to end up in a landfill than to be properly recycled. Postconsumers reports that a whopping 90% of bottles end up in a landfill, where they can take between 450 and 1500 years to properly decompose.
Will Alternatives Work?
So far, plastic alternatives have yet to become the norm, largely due to their price or accessibility. Glass packaging has become more common in 2021 with big affordable brands such as The Ordinary, but as glass is more expensive when produced, plastic remains common within the industry. If you’re looking to cut down on your plastic use in personal care products, consider moving towards plastic-free products such as shampoo bars, metal- or glass-packaged products, or bamboo-based packaging.
Here are some of my favourite sustainable brands:
Lush
Chances are at one point or another you’ve picked up a bath bomb, but Lush deserves more hype as a beauty brand. Committed to protecting the environment, many of Lush’s products come “naked” in the form of dry bars or reusable knot-wraps. The plastic packaging that they can’t avoid is 100% recycled material, and in-store initiatives encourage consumers to save and return their signature black pots for a free product. Next time you hit Masonville Place, treat yourself by grabbing one of their shampoo bars or cleansing balms.
Derma-E
I found Derma-E, a trusted clean beauty brand, in a health food store when I was a teenager and have been hooked ever since. Not only are their products free from chemicals, but the packaging is fully recyclable. Their Vitamin C Concentrated Serum is the only one I’ll use — try it for a brighter, more even skin tone.
Lisse
If you’re sick of buying plastic razors, Lisse is a game-changer. A small business, Lisse produces safety razors (a reusable razor, with blades you can switch out as you need to) which feel great and look luxurious. A safety razor is already a more sustainable option than plastic razors, which need to be replaced often, and Lisse is dedicated to 100% recyclable packaging as well. All products are cruelty-free. Best of all, 2% of gross sales go to Femme International, a charity that helps empower people with periods in East Africa through health and menstrual education.
As consumers, and as humans, we have the responsibility to protect our planet. If plastic is unavoidable, make sure that it is recycled and remember to hold big brands and the government accountable for their impact on our environment.
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