These are the best responsible, zero-waste beauty brands to shop now and forever
These days, most of us put much more thought into making eco-conscious decisions than we did in past years. The climate crisis is as dire as can be, marine life is in peril, and the amount of waste we produce is astronomical; in fact, a governmental report revealed that in 2018, the UK generated 222.2 million tonnes of total waste. Pretty shocking, huh?
But it’s not all doom and gloom; increasingly, businesses and communities are banding together to make a real difference. Recyclables and biodegradable materials are on the rise, clean and organic ingredients are being turned to, and plastic-free alternatives are big business.
When it comes to the beauty industry, there’s been an increasing commitment to making a difference — and we need it now more than ever. Zero Waste Week data showed that in 2018, more than 120 billion units of cosmetics packaging were produced globally. However, Netherlands-based group LCA Centre determined that if refillable containers were used for cosmetics instead, as much as 70% of carbon emissions associated with the beauty industry could be eliminated.
Enter: zero waste beauty brands. Not to be confused with plastic-free options, these brands are committed to the zero-waste ethos, which wishes for us to use things for longer and dispose of them only when they’re at the absolute end of their life. A zero waste attitude sees us stepping away from recycling (using it only as a last resort), and refilling, reusing, and reducing as much as possible so that quite literally, nothing goes to waste. The aim is for nothing to be sent to landfill, and to enter into more of a circular economy where all resources are reused and put back into the system, and rubbish is eventually written out of the narrative (a long-term, much larger goal).
A zero waste beauty brand aims to avoid contributing any waste (or as little as is absolutely possible) to landfill throughout their entire process, from making the product with the right ingredients and smallest disruption to the planet, to putting it into your hands through packing it and shipping it across.
This may seem like an impressive feat, but increasingly, beauty brands are nailing the assignment. Not only are brands such as Ethique, UpCircle, and Axiology making the zero-waste ethos more accessible for beauty fans, sites such as Content Beauty and Holland & Barrett are giving us new ways to shop with specific ‘zero waste’ categories.
The 6th-12th September 2021 sees Zero Waste Week come into play, reminding us all to make more responsible choices. Since launching back in 2008, the campaign has helped businesses along with individuals on their journey to reduce landfill waste and their overall footprint.
One small step you can take personally to support the cause is to switch some of your beauty buys to zero waste options, such as those from the following brilliant brands.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Axiology
Axiology The Balmies Lip Cheek and Eye Balm Semi Matte - Strawberry, £12, ASOS
While skin and body buys are plentiful, finding zero-waste makeup is more of a challenge. Axiology has been doing it well for years now, and pride themselves on creating the world's first 3-in-1 zero waste 'Lip-To-Lid' crayons, which can be used all over. Their lipstick tubes are also made from recyclable metal that's been thrown away in Bali by a women-run cooperative. The brand is vegan, cruelty-free, and palm-oil free also, and is the best place to buy a lipstick with a conscience.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Ethique
Ethique In Your Face Cleansing Bars, £11.24, Holland & Barrett
Ethique's beauty bars have become so popular in the past, they've sold out numerous times — and it's not hard to see why. Creating solid alternatives for everything from shampoo to deodorant, the products either come completely 'naked,' or wrapped in compostable paperboard, meaning zero waste. Hailing from New Zealand, the small Kiwi brand has exploded across the globe, and is now certified climate-neutral, along with being cruelty-free, vegan, non-toxic, and palm oil-free.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Last Object
Last Object Lastswab, £9, Beauty Bay
Last Object is doing something few other brands have so far: creating reusable alternatives to single-use products. These include the likes of cotton buds, tissues, and even sanitary pads, which they recently launched. The brand promises that they are, "end-to-end sustainable across our entire value chain, from cradle to grave," meaning you can trust they're in it for the long haul.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Loli
Loli Plum Elixir, £61, Cult Beauty
Loli (which stands for Living Organic Loving Ingredients), uses sustainably sourced pure, potent food-grade ingredients, and is inspired by the need to nourish the skin inside and out. Because of this, each foodie-inspired buy comes housed in packaging that customers are encouraged to use in their kitchen as storage afterwards, meaning nothing goes to waste. The brand also uses labels, bags and boxes that are compostable.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Apothecary Muse
Apothecary Muse Deodorant - Awaken Adventure, £9.08, Etsy
Have an outdoorsy streak? Apothecary Muse may be the brand for you, as it's specifically focused on creating products for adventurers who need something a little more hardworking. There are vegan deodorants and vegan sunscreens amongst other things, and the brand is committed to using up all ingredients they source so nothing goes to waste. The packaging is super thoughtful, made in compostable or reusable materials, and some even come with plantable seeds so you can create something out of nothing afterwards! The brand is U.S.-based, but is stocked on the likes of Etsy.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Fat & The Moon
Fat & The Moon All Salve, £11.50, Live In The Light
Female-owned Fat & The Moon takes a fun, playful approach to beauty, creating 'potions' rooted in natural healing. Boasting a super wide range of products from makeup stains to deodorants and skincare, everything is packaged in reusable tins and is shipped as minimally as possible. Everything is made to order, so no excess waste, and products are also palm oil-free and cruelty-free.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Kjaer Weis
Kjaer Weis Lip Tint Refill, £22, Content Beauty
Perhaps one of the better known brands who take a zero waste approach, Kjaer Weis wants shoppers to refill rather than replace. Most of their products are designed in heavyweight luxe metal casings meant to be kept in the long term and replaced with refills, giving them that 'circular' feel. The products are also beloved for their efficacy, boasting beautiful textures and hues in organic formulations.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Georganics
Mineral Toothpaste Tablets English Peppermint, £8.90, Georganics
You may have been hearing more and more about solid toothpaste tabs lately — and Georganics are pioneering the movement with their zero-waste approach. From their powders and tablets to the eco-toothbrushes, the brand helps you take the first step away from endless single use oral care. They're active promoters of the Zero-to-Landfill scheme, and are continuing to grow their sustainable status.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Beauty Kitchen
Seahorse Plankton High Definition Facial Oil, £20, Beauty Kitchen
Beauty Kitchen's RETURN • REFILL • REPEAT programme claims to be better than recycling, and TBH, it sounds it. The scheme allows customers to return their packaging to the brand where it is washed and reused for the next product, making it a circular brand in the truest sense. As well as the scheme, Beauty Kitchen are certified by pretty much anyone you can think of, from the Vegan Society and Leaping Bunny, to its B Corp Certification.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Tropic
Smoothing Cleanser, £18, Tropic
Tropic is another long standing favourite that's been working towards that zero waste result for some time now. They're a certified CarbonNeutral® company, and in 2019 and 2020, they sent 0% of their waste to landfill. Tropic's bestsellers include their beautiful cleanser and cream concentrate, which are worth trying first if you're new to the brand.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: Yay For Earth
Yay for Earth Sensitive Skin Face Lotion, £17.99, Acala
Yay For Earth was started by Stevie Van Horn, who is committed to living a zero waste lifestyle which she emulates through her brand. There's just one product, a does-all lotion, which is said to be great for all skin needs including eczema, and is made from super high quality, responsibly sourced ingredients. The product is housed in glass and aluminium packaging, and ships with all recycled, post-consumer materials.
Zero Waste Beauty Brands: UpCircle
UpCircle's entire mission is based on the zero waste ethos; they aim to reduce, reuse and refill with their Return, Refill, Reuse scheme, which makes new products out of the old. The brand was built upon the notion that ingredients that otherwise would have been thrown away should be used for something better, i.e. beauty products; thus supporting their 'upcycling' business model. Starting out in coffee scrubs, the brand now features a wide range of skincare for all needs.
