A UNEP report points out that the cosmetics industry generates more than 120 billion pieces of packaging waste every year, most of it ending up in landfill or as marine pollution. The green shift in cosmetic packaging is therefore both an environmental responsibility and a duty to consumers and society.
What leading brands committed
L'Oréal's 'For the Future' programme targets 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable plastic packaging by 2025, and 100% recycled or bio-based plastics by 2030. Its 2024 report shows 26% of materials were recycled (about 78,000 t), 37% of plastic packaging came from recycled or bio-based feedstock, 53% of packaging was recyclable, 49% met a sustainable standard, and packaging was reduced by 11%.
Three ways brands act
- Material innovation — Unilever's Love Beauty and Planet uses 100% rPET bottles with easy-release labels that separate cleanly in recycling.
- Design for recycling — mono-material structures and separable components.
- Take-back and refill programmes that close the loop.
PCR and mono-material strategy
Specify a PCR percentage you can document, and prefer mono-material PET or PE where the product allows it — mixed multilayer structures are the hardest to recycle and are increasingly restricted in the EU.
Buyer checklist
| Question | |
|---|---|
| Recycled content | What % PCR, with certificate? |
| Recyclability | Mono-material or separable? |
| Claims | Third-party verified? |
Send us your sustainability target and we will propose packaging that meets it with documented, certifiable credentials.