Sustainable Beauty Podcast - Kathryn Ballard

Refillable packaging in the beauty industry is gaining popularity as consumers become more conscious of sustainability. Brands like Prada and Glossier are leading the way in adopting refillable methods for their products. Despite the increase in demand, refillable options are not widely displayed in stores due to inadequate advertising and lack of public education. Reusable packaging has the potential to greatly reduce waste, with the potential to slash solid waste by up to 86%. The cosmetic industry's overconsumption contributes to billions of units of plastic ending up in landfills. Implementing sustainable practices can be costly for companies, but there are various environmentally friendly alternatives available. Consumers can make a difference by choosing sustainable options when purchasing beauty products, which saves money and counter space in the long run. Hi, everyone. Welcome back to For a Better Tomorrow podcast. My name is Catherine Ballard, and I am a sustainability student at the University of Florida. For those of you who are new, we like to focus on resourceful ways to better the future through sustainable actions. On today's episode, we will dive into the world of refillable packaging, particularly in the beauty industry. This is a subject that has been dominating my thoughts lately, and it is fascinating to see its impact on a national scale. According to NIQ, the demand for sustainable packaging methods is on the rise. Big-name brands like Prada and Glossier have embraced these techniques for their perfumes and other products, thankfully leading the charge towards eco-conscious practices. Little did I know, I could have been saving a lot of money, because my favorite perfume, Daisy Love by Marc Jacobs, uses this technique as well. We have established that sustainable cosmetic options have been gaining traction, marking a critical step towards fostering a culture of sustainable beauty. In 2022 alone, the sales of refillable cosmetics skyrocketed by 364%. Still, one might wonder, why aren't these options more prominently displayed on store shelves? In my perspective, these discrepancies largely stem from inadequate advertising and a deficiency in public education on the matter. Advertising refillable cosmetics offers a remarkably efficient approach to waste reduction while accommodating our consumption habits. According to Reusables.org, reusable packaging holds the potential to slash solid waste by up to 86%. While the concept of reusability is commonly associated with grocery shopping bags, it extends into realms of cosmetics that many remain unaware of. Furthermore, the cosmetic industry grapples with the issue of overconsumption, contributing to the staggering statistics of 7.9 billion units of hard plastics ending up in U.S. landfills. So why aren't more companies adopting sustainable practices? Well, the reality is, implementing change within a company involves navigating a complex web of factors, especially during the transitional phases. Redesigning product lines and adjusting manufacturing processes comes with significant costs, making the initial switch financially daunting. However, it is essential to recognize that refillable packaging is just one piece of the sustainable puzzle. There is a spectrum of environmentally friendly alternatives, including the use of biodegradable materials, minimalistic design principles, innovative packaging solutions, and compostable packaging options. Sure, there are some inconveniences, such as higher upfront costs associated with durable, sustainable materials, but when you consider the long-term benefits against these initial challenges, the decision becomes clear. As consumers, we can help reduce the amount of waste generated by beauty products by looking for these sustainable alternatives when purchasing our everyday beauty products. And remember, this will save you counter space and money in the long run. Thank you for listening to For a Better Tomorrow podcast. The sources used for this podcast were from Growing Sustainable Beauty Trends for Emerging Brands in 2023 by NIQ, Reduced Environmental Impact with Reusable Packaging by the Reusable Packaging Association, Fewer than 24% of Consumers Use Refillable Skin Care Studies Finds by Cosmetic Business. The Truth About Overconsumption of Skin Care Products by Correa F., and lastly, Refill and Reuse the Revolution in Beauty Packaging, the Green Beauty Community by Craig H.