The most sustainable product is the one you already own. Buying something "more sustainable" to replace something you already own isn't the solution and I think a lot of us, myself included, get caught up in this thought sometimes. That's why I love shopping my stash
But there are also a lot of consumers who don’t have a huge collection, I did a no buy for one year and reduced my collection by 90% granted I didn’t have much of a huge collection regardless. Especially with skin care I need to replace what I used. So if companies made it easier for us to refill our product I think that would change the game
I don't think anyone is going out and buying things in this more sustainable packaging to replace things they already own that are still useable. Instead when it comes time to buy new products they are looking to buy more sustainable options.
that’s very true. It’s so important to use what we have, reduce our consumption all together and then when we are looking for beauty items to purchase, or any items, to choose the products that are the most sustainable that we can
It’s important to keep in mind that consumer practices are nothing compared to industrial practices in terms of environmental impact: water & energy use, pollution, etc. We need to focus on regulating companies and doing things at the system- and not just individual-level.
I think both need adddressed. I see entirely too many people with the mindset of "what I do doesn't matter because nobody else is doing this and it's really the big companies that are at fault anyway". That's such a horrible mindset. Every single person can and should do what they can and also continue to push for more regulations on big companies. I live in an apartment complex with 8 buildings about 20 apartments per building and 3 large overflowing dumpsters are emptied twice a week just for our complex. That's insane. They were supposed to put recycling containers out for plastics and cardboard but never did. Most residents are older and/or don't drive so separating and transporting recycling isn't feasible.
The problem with any plastic is that it cannot be recycled in the way that most people think of recycling. It can only be downcycled into a lesser quality product and only 1-2x. Also, most types of plastics (codes 3-7) are not widely recyclable in many municipalities.
I sometimes see posts on Facebook where people ask for empty candle jars to make their own candles. So I'm going to save any empty candles I have for that.
Bath and Body Works as a company is TERRIBLE for waste. I worked there a few years ago and the amount of cardboard and plastic they use to package their stock is insane. Not to mention the amount of shit we would have to destroy before we threw it out for like minor reasons instead of selling it at a discounted price because it was damaged or old stock. It's sad to say but I don't think they would ever do any type of recycling/refilling program. :(
This kind of discussion always makes me a little upset. I'm super enthusiastic about the environment and it's one of the only things I care about when it comes to politics. I feel like we have been brainwashed by companies to think that somehow this is an individual's fault. When the cosmetics industry is pumping out millions of plastic components every year. This isn't something that we alone can just beat by only buying products we need. Companies need to do better and stop making so much stuff out of plastic. I've started buying hair products from this brand called ethique And it all comes in paper packaging and I don't have to worry about throwing out a ton of plastic when I wanna buy a new shampoo.
@@pixi78 We can't stop buying everything though - I still need laundry detergent, shampoo, a variety of cleaning products, etc. I know there are some solutions to these things, but they are usually more expensive and (in my experience) usually don't even work as well. Plus they usually have to be shipped to home which adds its own set of issues. It would take an enormous amount of effort by every individual to really change what they companies did. I am for regulating the companies to do better. They can, but there isn't any pressure for them to so on their own so they don't. I don't think it's very do-able for the consumer to put that much pressure on them without some convenient alternatives. Consumers have been voicing their opinions to companies for things like refills and concentrates, literally telling them exactly what we went, and still they don't do it. So for those reasons, while I do believe in personal responsibility, I also believe in regulations.
Im glad someone brought this up. I just saw a show the other day that talked about this very topic. Back in the 70's when they started with the crying indian they wanted to make individuals feel guilty about all the plastic when in reality its the companies the manufacture things that are responsible 4 so much plastic being in the land fills. They say its recyclable alot of times when its not. I think it was a recent episode of John Oliver's show on HBO.
Read somewhere that the world's 8 biggest shipping carrier ships produce more greenhouse gases than all the civilian cars in the world combined... Made me reconsider the importance of supporting local brands and locally sourced ingredients.
I think this is a very important conversation to have and I'm glad that you put it out in the world for discussion. I think inevitably, we have to cut down our plastic usage dramatically and have a serious look at our obsession with stuff. Too much stuff, at least the consumption of stuff, is killing the planet.
In India, a lot of the traditional indigenous stuff is reusable. Steel 'tiffin carriers' for food outside home, thermoses that we take water/tea/coffee in. These are brought back home at the end of the day, washed and reused. Even our soda bottles can sometimes be glass, and when you return the empty bottles to the shop (for recycling), you get a buck or two back. Traditional plates are either actual leaves, or processed leaves, which are fully biodegradable. We have stainless steel (not plastic) plates and tumblers and cast iron utensils that have been in the family for generations. We don't use toilet paper (i know, gasp!), preferring the direct water (bidet) system. There is a lot we do, Although there's still a lot of waste.
I’m a materials engineer who works in automotive. Each type of material has pluses and minuses, but the true way to evaluate their overall impact and compare them is to do a life cycle assessment. LCAs take into account the production phase, usage phase, end of life, to truly evaluate the impact on water, emissions, etc. Without that detailed investigation, people are just making statements as to what is the most “green” or “sustainable” to convince consumers they’re making better choices.
I love the idea of one size bottles for all companies you go into Sephora and the refill them with product we wanted. A dream I think but reminds me of when I was younger went into salon each month and refilled my shampoo and conditioner from these huge containers. Also we got our milk from farm and would bring back old glass and get our milk.
Yes! I have a local co-op where I can go and refill things and get spices. I love it. Unfortunately because of covid I have to use bags to refill my spices. I have long curly hair and go through a ton of hair products, I would love to refill my hair products at Ulta.
Yes! I do this with olive oil and honey. Also, most breweries sell growlers and give you a discount when you bring them back to refill. I would absolutely go fill my shampoo bottles at the salon!
Yes!!!! This!!! Like come on, Bath & Body Works! They only ever have a few staples and then the seasonal scents anyway, so sell me a few cute pump bottles and let me bring them in to refill!
@@joybritton2284 Ooooh yeah refill stations in stores! That cuts even more packaging and you could maybe make little changes to the formula to pick scents and stuff or mix things, could be a whole new way to shop!
Glass and aluminum are really the only really recyclable products. Glass is endlessly recyclable. Everything used to be in glass and should be again...soda, peanut butter, mayo, ketchup, milk. And in my opinion, water bottles should be against the law.
I completely agree about having standardized packaging that can be reused. Beyond the sustainability factor, it would make life so much easier for all items to be a standard size. Even just for eyeshadow pans it drives me nuts that they’re all different sizes and shapes when I want to depot into a magnetic palette! I also seek out solid products in paper packaging whenever possible, like shampoo and conditioner bars, moisturizer bars, etc. It’s a small thing but every little bit helps.... and also much easier to travel with (now that travel is opening back up). In terms of big things, we need to rally together to demand from corporations and governments that they have stricter guidelines and improve manufacturing to protect the planet. We as consumers can change the market with our dollar, but ultimately those large corporations have a much bigger environmental impact.
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
With your 'milk carton' example, they cannot be recycled. It's actually a tetra pak (cardboard/plastic combo) that it's extremely hard to recycle because it's so hard to remove the plastic inner film/liner.
Futhermore, they have a layer of aluminium too, so you have to separate the 3 layers: cardboard, aluminium and plastic and recycle each one. It's certainly a nightmare to recicle.
If you haven’t watched it, there’s a very interesting documentary series on Netflix called “Broken” that has an episode all about recycling. (There’s also one about cosmetics and the issues with counterfeits on the market.)
The recycle company that picks up at my house does not take glass, or wax "cartons", or "crinkly" plastics. Aluminum seems like a good option. Personally, I like the look and feel of glass; and I try to reuse/repurpose the glass. If I can't reuse I collect the glass in my garage till I have enough to drive and drop off at a recycle center.
Another thing to consider is that a lot of "recycling" programs don't actually "recycle" anything. I don't know if it's gone down or if they've just gotten sneakier, but I remember when recycling first became big and cities/towns would just "recycle" things into each other's landfills so no one would see that it'd just all go in the trash, just in someone else's dump. It seems like metal is the only thing that actually consistently gets used in manufacturing where places will go to dumps, get every old car/bit of metal they can and then use it for other things. Metal and glass are the two gifts that keep on giving and since they're so easy and cost-effective to use for companies I honestly think they're the way to go. Energy usage isn't a big deal to me, CO2 is something that can at least be used by plantlife, other chemicals that go into plastics, and even paper processing? Less so
I think that Germans have standardized bottles for soda. You pay a small fee when you buy a bottle and when you give back empty bottle you get back fee money in form of shop coupon.
If you live in the US, South Dakota has a similar program with milk. If you buy a glass jar of milk, it's a $2 extra fee on top of the cost of the milk but it's refunded to you when you bring the bottle back. Like a modern milk man lol
Where I live (Oregon) we had the first bottle deposit in the country and we expanded it a few years ago so now all bottle with drinks in them have a deposit (10 cents). We also have curb side recycling for all glass, paper products, some plastics, all metals and oils both food and motor. In the Portland area we also have curbside composting for all yard debris, and kitchen food scraps. (The city composts it all and uses it in the parks and sells it) Our metro area also has special facilities that for small fees, $10 is the starting rate, where household items like paint, light bulbs, batteries and household chemicals can be taken for proper recycling and disposal. Between all of this my three person household produces about one small bag of garbage a week at most of mainly items like plastic lids and meat wrappers. It can work, but the city and state governments have to be willing to implement it and people have to be willing to do it.
Same with the Netherlands, they’ve been doing it for years. There are machines in supermarkets where you insert small and big plastic bottles and crates with empty glass beer bottles, the machine weights them and gives you a voucher to be detracted from your grocery cost. Here in Far North Queensland they FINALLY created collection centres for aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles where you get back 10 cents deposit for every item you deliver, but the road to improvement is still long, unfortunately for everything else there’s no differential rubbish collection. In the meantime we have to do our best to limit the amount of waste we produce.
I've bought Mexican Coke at the grocery store (try it... it's better than our US version and can usually be found in the ethnic foods section). Those glass bottles are always clearly re-used, and I don't see a problem with that. :)
Croatia also has this program.... It is great.... Some People, mostly elderly, with lower pensions, often collect plastic an aluminium bottles from nonrecicleble bins, and then sell them back to store and get a Credit on the Bill that they can spend in their store.
Thank you so much for always asking these interesting and thought provoking questions. I have been trying to buy products with more sustainable packaging over the past few years, but I was disappointed to find out that my local recycling company no longer processes glass products. So now I’m not sure how to recycle these products anymore.
Thank you for shedding light on this topic! I study sustainability from an interior design perspective and the ultimate goal is to use less but it’s just not realistic. As the consumers, we must demand more responsibility from brands and be more thoughtful about what we are purchasing. Circular design, whether that be cosmetic packaging, clothing, or furniture, has to have a closed loop life cycle. I recommend referring to rating systems like Cradle to Cradle!
this has been something ive been REALLY getting into lately. I think cutting down on plastic is so important right now and these plastic "Refills" are such a scam, they are depositing just as much plastic in the environment as buying a regular plastic bottle. Thank you SO much for making this video!
Refills need to be where you take your own container into the store and fill it. I agree that buying a packaged "refill" isn't helping much. The only things I've found locally to do this with are honey and olive oil... lol. Everything else has some catching up to do! I'd absolutely take in my own bottles to refill shampoo bottles at a salon, cleaning products at the grocery store, hand soap at Bath & Body Works, etc. You'd think it would make them even more money since they wouldn't have to purchase single use bottles.
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I love my local apothecary shop - they keep big bottles of everything and you go in with whatever container you want to use and they sell based on weight. I get shampoo, conditioner, soap for body wash and kitchen from there because of that. And its a "clean" product as well so its not full of a lot of weird chemicals
A standard bottling system sounds amazing, unfortunately the rural area I live in doesn’t even have a recycling center within an hours drive and the loop program wasn’t available to me the last time I checked. I’m not sure where they’d welcome refill stations for beauty products around here. :(
I love this type of content!!! 🙌🏻💜 Packaging waste is one of the main reasons I try to stick to mostly single pan products when it comes to eyeshadow, blush, highlighter. I wish more companies did single pans and refillable makeup! Also, you mentioned recycling cardboard palettes - I'm certainly no expert, but my understanding is that cardboard palettes and compacts are not necessarily recyclable unless it says so specifically. That cardboard can be mixed with lots of adhesives, plastics, and junk that aren't recyclable and could contaminate the load. I hope this helps! 😊🌻
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I have seen so many influencers miss the mark on this. This is by far the best video for looking at all impacts of packaging from both manufacturing to landfill! Thank you!! I think what is important here is that consumers need to influence brands towards sustainable packaging that is truly sustainable. We need to spend the extra dollars and push for more options. I think any sort of circular economy whether it's reusing containers or finding ways to derive packaging materials from packaging continuously will be the most sucessful.
I live in a small town that has no recycling services and it's really frustrating...I want to do what I can as a consumer and this stuff has been on my mind a lot lately!
Check out TerraCycle. They partner with a lot of different brands to offer free recycling programs. It won't cover all the products you purchase but may help with some.
It's a fight that companies cannot win. If they overpackage they are blamed for being wasteful, if they underpackage customers complain that their products are damaged during shipping. So they might as well try to spin it as a marketing advantage. Smart.
Your standard packaging sounds like beer bottles! There are often multiple brands that use the exact same ones and get recycled/cleaned and redistributed to be refilled with a paper label for whatever brand is filling it.
I work in a zero waste facility and it doesn't mean what people think it means we still get plastic, tons of plastic that are hauled away to an incinerator that burns them and converts that to energy. We use metal and plastic reusable containers that we send out and get back. We get all our products in cardboard that we then bind and send to be recycled. But the idea of us not having one time use products that we use or us being environmentally friendly is a long way away. I like working in a zero waste facility and wish every manufacturer was a zero waste facility, but industry needs to go a step further and actively participate in making the manufacturing process more sustainable.
I think a bigger portion of responsibility ought to lie with the brands themselves, rather than with the consumer. Brands like Colourpop and Revolution are ridiculous with their, almost, daily launches. The extreme excess that this creates is eye opening. I would like ALL brands to go back to releasing 4 collections per year. This was how it used to be. We would still get products (probably, formulated and curated to a higher standard) and the brands would still make a profit ((obviously less than the extortionate amount they do now because WE suffer from FOMO). Brands would have their own "release" dates, so there wouldn't be any "over-lapping" and they would all use the reusable generic plastic bottle system that YOU thought of. Just imagine actually getting adequate use out of a product ..... it blows my mind! Great topic Jen, 👍👍👍👍👍💞
I also feel like covid has set us back so far - I was just gettting good at bringing my own containers to stores etc. And now I can’t even bring my own clean go mug to a coffee shop
I just ready an article about the largest amount of aluminum waste in the world being produced from nail salons. I couldn’t find it to link it, but it was astonishing how much waste was created, that could be easily recycled.💜💜💜
Yes, refillable everything!!! I was just talking about this with my husband, Bath & Body Works specifically. Why in the world do I need to keep buying plastic handsoap pump bottles? Why can't I have a few high quality cute ones that match my bathroom and just bring them in to the store to refill with whatever their staple or seasonal scents are? I can't figure out how they, and other brands, just seem to not be able to figure this out - and not just with beauty products, but cleaning products too. My guess is that these huge companies that should be leading the way are run by dinosaurs that just don't like change. You'd think it would make them even more money as they could keep the price about the same, but they wouldn't have to buy so much packaging. Consumers keep asking for it, and companies (most of them, especially the big ones) just keep ignoring it. I'm hoping some of these smaller companies that have started doing it will really take off to pressure the larger companies to follow suit.
Kids toys are a huge culprit of this too. I bought a plushie for my daughter's birthday that had "30% less packaging" on the box. It was a stuffed animal, anything more than a tag is 100% too much packaging. I ordered ONE single eye shadow for a magnetic pallet and it came in a box the size of a 6 year old. Bell peppers are individually wrapped, so are some cucumbers. Produce packed by nature then repacked in plastic for no reason. For all the nit picky regulation we have and talk of green initiatives. They can't seem to reel in packaging which is a huge polluter AND plastic and inks are both made out of fossil fuel. Less of that means less demand of the other.
Our country as a whole does a bad job of reusing, reducing consumption, and recycling. I’m guilty too! But I’m learning new ways I can be better everyday. I appreciate you shedding some light on this and look forward to more videos on the topic. I appreciate terra cycle and their efforts. And innovations like the eco tools biodegradable sponge. There is no one way, or maybe even a best way. But it’ll take all of us being more conscious and thoughtful about what and how we consume things (not just beauty!). My city now has a store called BYOC (bring your own container) where you can fill containers for laundry detergent, shampoo, etc. and many other low or zero waste options. I think part of the issue is demand and accessibility. Consumers are demanding quick, easy, cheap products. Versus earth conscious, well conceived products, that may cost more but would have a longer lasting quality or lower environmental impact. AND accessibility in terms of learning how to repurpose items or recycle them, or where to recycle even. So many things to consider on the topic!!
I wish more beauty and lifestyle influencers would take on this issue. You should do a collaboration with Shelbizlee (an eco-minimalist RU-vid channel)
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I wish The Ordinary had a reuse program. TO uses the same glass packaging for everything, so they should be able to sanitize them when returned to store, like glass beer bottles.
I'd love to see more compostable products used. I've very rarely come across coffee shops (as an example) that make fully compostable cups. I don't know much about it, but that would be amazing.
There's even a loophole with that. There is no set duration by which a product must be broken down to be considered compostable it could take many years and still be considered compostable. Very frustrating.
Compostable is another great example of overselling the claim. Thanks to Maggie for mentioning no universal guidelines on how long a product takes to compost. Another loophole is that often compostable products need an industrial composter- you can't just pop 'em into a pile of leaves in your backyard and expect new dirt, and most communities don't have industrial composting facilities.
@@ahuggie that's really good to know! My one compostable cup went into my compost bin, but I can see, with the info. you provided, it wouldn't be a widespread success.
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I have been using the Hey Humans deodorant, body wash, and toothpaste. Love them! Had no idea it was Jada Pickett-Smiths brand! I was using native deodorant for a long time but hey humans works just as great and less than half the cost! Made in USA and same style cardboard packing. Love it!
Could you imagine a bulk foods inspired makeup, skincare, hair care store. You could bring in whatever containers you wish and fill up your foundation, primer, moisturiser, shampoo, loose powders etc
Thank you for this video! Sustainability should be discussed so much more in everything we do. I would love to see more sustainability topics on the channel!
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
ALL plants need carbon dioxide to live and give us oxygen. I agree that package reduction is key. I reuse/repack old eye shadows by combining them and repack them in the same tins. So I end up with new custom colors without new packaging. When I get a tube with a pump (foundation) I cut the end off when there's not enough to pump and I get 2 - 3 months more make up!!
The topic of waste in the makeup industry is what I’ve been basing my final year project in art college. Ever since I fell in love with watching declutters ( I still love watching them) I couldn’t get over how much plastic goes to waste and into the landfills. My projects proposes is a solution for powder compacts. It’s a simple concept but the whole point is to educate people about this. I think it’s an important conversation to have as make up lovers because we always hear about plastic bottles and straws etc. and consumers good but never makeup products which are so much more complex to recycle in general
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
Refillable products are amazing. Besame do this well with their products as they are designed as they were back in the last century when people didn't have as much as we do now. Great video!
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
There is no recycle pick up in my area so I store it in bins and bring it once a month. I use refillable spray bottles for all my household cleaners, never take paper or plastic cups from drive thrus always bring my own, I carry a reusable straw with me everywhere, have switched to bamboo toothbrushes I just toss in the outdoor fire pit when it's time to change it. I donate anything made from fabric to goodwill because they recycle/reduce/reuse 99% of the things donated. I've recently started using silcone zip lock bags so I can stop using the plastic kind. I have reusable grocery and produce bags and canvas totes so I never need to bring plastic bags into my house. It's been small changes over the course of several years to do what I can to help.
I guess the best way would be reuse instead of recycle. Having standard packaging to refill sounds so genius. Imagine going to Sephora with your empty foundation bottle and ask the employee to refill with your favorite foundation. 🤯🤯🤯 And the problem with cardboard is exactly what you pointed out: it should not be too dirty otherwise it wouldn’t be recyclable. And also with the cardboard containers for milk etc.: because of the layer they use to prevent the liquid to get soaked up in the cardboard it‘s not 100% recyclable. That’s why the single use coffee cups made out of cardboard are not sustainable. They can’t be recycled because they are coated with a thin layer that makes it non-recyclable.
I think one way to spot companies that are green washing, are those that uses glass and marketed its use because it’s recyclable but doesn’t provide any take back program or refill options. Aside from the mining, glass is heavy, so shipping it cost more money and more emission. Glass would only be sustainable if it’s reused rather than recycled: because not all places recycled glass and it also required a lot of energy to recycle, often more than producing virgin glass.
The loop thing seems like a good thing. If only we could get more of the industry to do this. On the local level too. And have recycling on more of a wider spread. I live outside of a small town, I have to drive quite far to recycle ( but I do it anyways). I haven’t had an actual trash service since I moved out of town and they wanted to charge me triple what I was paying every 3 months but charge that triple amount monthly. We made changes real fast to say the least. Lol. I want more change though. Like the loop and what you said.
I think the idea of universal packaging sounds good but that means everything is the same for everyone. And not everyone is the same. Certain packaging is not disability friendly and making all packaging the same means you possibly exclude certain people from certain products.
Great points. Jen, watch the movie Freightening. It's about how shipping is far worse than anything else. That isn't to say we should not talk about packaging, only that something to consider is buying local. Upcycling should be a huge consideration. I reuse a lot of the bottles and jars that my skincare comes in for travel, work, purse and bag, and so on. Glow Recipe packaging is lovely - I just wish their spray bottle was reusable... it's shameful that it's not yet, wasting such a nice sprayer. The other thing that is really important and likely relevant to your audience is returns... I know that we make returns because we want our money back. And if one needs their money back, great, get it. But if we can either give the product to a friend (if it's not the right colour, texture, or size (clothing)) instead, that is better for the environment as those returns are more often than not immediately put in the garbage. Even clothing are not restocked - some are but check with the company before returning it if this is an option financially for you. Thank you for speaking on this. Please continue.
Compostable Packaging is a great option. You can get bio-based, fully compostable, biodegradable packaging. The best thing is that these products have to be certified and have a specific logo with their certification number on it. Depending on world location, there is a different standard in North America and Europe, but the end result is the same. No micro plastics are created. The plastic degrades in the soil and goes through rigorous testing to ensure that the product can be safely returned to the soil. One of the tests is that the soil created with the bioplastic has to have a plant grow at the same rate or better, then the original soil. This type of plastic can be made from corn starch, potato starch, sugar cane. Things we are already growing but then returned to the earth in a cyclic cycle. In Canada, we have a kitchen green bin, and it get collected weekly curbside. For example, we put our food waste scraps, paper towels and compostable packaging in this, among other things. This then gets taken to a composting facility and then the soil goes to farmers to fertilize their fields. In the US there are some places that also have green bin collection. This is starting to gain more traction in many places. There is also home compostable bioplastics which you can put the bioplastic into your back garden, on your own compost pile, and the plastic will degrade and you can then use the soil for your home gardens. For more information you can visit biomebioplastics.com . There are also a great series on youtube called ThinkBioplastic that explains the science behind Bioplastics in a fun way! Episode 5, To Bio or Not To Bio, is a good one :)
It hurts my soul to see make up reviewers get all this free product in the mail that has been over packed to the N'th degree and then in the case of lets say liquid lipsticks try on every single one while saying they would not wear 15 of the 20 colours they received. When they could have just tested the ones they liked and donated/passed on the ones they didn't like, so now it will just sit in a drawer where it will expire and go bad and never be used and then tossed away. I can not watch "clean my stash/declutter" videos because it makes me ill to see all that stuff just thrown away.
yeah that can be really frustrating. If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I found this video so interesting! 💗 I agree that essentially consuming less is the best foot forward. I do truly think the most damaging thing is fast fashion/ fast makeup, and unfortunately (even though I love them) colourpop is one worst for this, as well as the likes of other brands like makeup revolution etc. They continually push weekly releases out and for a lot of people they’re not holding on to the products for long because they’re cheap and fun pieces and not the treasures that we keep past the “expiry”. Would consuming be less damaging if we purchased more thoughtfully and kept products for their full life, treasuring them until theyre used all the way up as apposed to hoarding the “fast fashion” products and throwing them away before we get to finish them?
Thank you for this video! Please consider doing a livestream with Shelbizleee. She has taught me sooo much and I think the collective brain will as well and small attainable actions we can do!
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I visited Germany a few years ago. While I don't believe any system is perfect, it seemed better than what I've experienced here in the US. There are incentives to encourage recycling, as well as making packaging and recycling methods more convenient for consumers, making it almost effortless to recycle your goods. For an example of incentives, they have a "vending machine" of sorts at the front of some grocery stores, allowing you to drop your bottles off and get ~€0.25 per bottle. You receive a receipt with your total amount and you can put it towards your groceries when you're finished shopping. For convenience, many bottled products come in larger sizes (fewer bottles to recycle) and can also come in divided crates to be picked up at your doorstep or dropped off at a facility. I also went on a brewery tour and every bottle they used was glass, went through a thorough cleaning and sanitization process, received a new label and cork, and then refilled to return to stores. Many companies even exhibit a trademark set of lines on the bottles from the assembly line on which they have been rolled through the cleaning process for several years. While I fully believe that it is not consumers, but large companies who are responsible for most of our negative environmental impact, it certainly helps when companies and local government help make recycling a bit easier.
I'm a huuuuuge sustainability nerd, here are some of my favourite Sustainability RU-vidrs I LOVE and recommend ... - Sustainably Vegan - Shelbizleee - Gittemary Johansen - Sedona Christina - Madeleine Olivia - Going Zero Waste Thank you for this Jen!! xxx
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
This is such a tough topic because as a I consumer, I do care, BUT companies are not giving me options to buy better. I feel like it's kind of a conspiracy that it is made to sound like that it's up to consumers to make these choices to buy better, when in reality these mega corporations have the power and money to make real change, but chose not to because $$$. In fact, there was even a paper from oil company BP that showed they spent $25 million on marketing the idea of shifting responsibility of a "carbon footprint" to individuals rather than corporations. They have the power to make change, but choose not to and instead market the idea of "sustainability" as an consumer problem individuals are responsible for so that they are then absolved and can continue business as usual. Yes buy less stuff, but that isn't the only answer and I love the other ideas you shared. But we need companies and governments to make that happen. Link to article about the BP Carbon Footprint scam: mashable.com/feature/carbon-footprint-pr-campaign-sham/
I totally agree with that. we need to vote with our dollars! If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I try not to buy glitter, I won’t by backups of a product that could potentially go bad before I get to it. I use brow powder instead of brow pencils because it lasts longer (I assume brow pomade would also last longer and it usually comes in glass). I have found brushes that I like instead of sponges (and dawn soap or shampoo to clean them so I don’t have a bunch of extra plastic bottles laying around). I use bar hand soap! I opt for things in cardboard packaging where I can. I buy the largest bottles of shampoo and cleanser that I can find. I use an oil cleanser in place of cotton pads to remove my makeup, and it comes with a refill. It’s not perfect, but I think you hit the nail on the head with consuming less. I try not to buy into the hype of products, or purchase them just because they’re on sale.
My husband and I just ordered a few products from a company called No Tox Life that we’re enjoying so far. Their deodorants, shampoos, conditioners and dish soaps all come in bar form with no outer packaging at all. They get shipped in a biodegradable paper and if necessary, donated Amazon boxes that their customers donate to them. The only downside (and it wasn’t even a downside for me) is that o had to find an airtight container to store my deodorant in but like most people I had an extra Tupperware container laying around.
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
I love that you are shedding light on this very important topic! I love your videos and how much thought and effort and research goes into your videos:) love ya 💓💓
Some of our supermarkets / small shops in uk have started placing refill stations, you bring your own packaging and refill with the new product. Items you can refill are milk, detergents, soap, cereal, coffee, tea, loose fruit and veg etc. Even my local tiny shop does the milk and detergents refills. In the uk we get a curb side Recyling pick up, each week. I live semi rural and We get bins / containers for garden waste, food waste, plastic waste ( except plastic films ) metal waste, 2 Carboard/ paper waste ( white and brown separated) glass waste and nappy/pampers bins. To be honest I’m not even sure if uk is high up on the list for doing well at Recyling compared to other European counties. Asda a huge supermarket in the uk does a fair bit in refill stations and that company is under Walmart’s company so I can’t see why the USA doesn’t do it
The issue with liquids in cardboard/paper is that they're still lined with... plastic... lol. It sucks! I recommend the book Plastic Purge by Michael Sanclemens.
i am from ireland and live in ireland but regulation of this terminology needs to happen. like others i am sick of greenwashing. this shouldn't be happening anyway.
It's 2021, we have achieved amazing technological feats and we still can't freaking find ways to keep recycling?! There is no excuse for products to not be infinitely recyclable. I refuse to believe that there isn't someone somewhere with the knowledge of what needs to be done to keep recycling plastics.
I wish I could remember who it was and where I watched it, but I saw an interview with the head of a skincare company and they were talking about some of the other issues around using recycled plastic for packaging, specifically actual product packaging not the unit cartons. She said that in order to make sure that the product wasn't going to alter chemically and potentially become ineffective or possibly even dangerous, they had to know exactly where the recycled plastic was coming from and what it had been used for so that traces of it's previous use didn't contaminate the new product. This was especially a concern with actives in a product. I have no idea how accurate this information is, but found it very interesting.
Engineer here - I do want it known that engineers are working on different and more sustainable packaging materials. This is in the works, it will just likely take time before that can trickle down to cosmetics.
Working for a brand as a cosmetic copywriter. I will say that some new California laws are spreading and we now have to be much more careful about what we can and cannot say on packaging and in marketing. @jenluv
I think the energy used for smelting and recycling could be compensated by sustainable energy. Recycling facilities can fund jobs and so can production of sustainable energy. I wish more brands made refills or no-package products so customers can try new products for cheaper, don't get put off by packaging that isn't their style, and both company and consumer could save money and waste. They could still make pretty packaging, just make it reusable or fillable with alternative pans and cream so that consumers don't have to move on once the product isn't working for them anymore.
As for paper/cardboard packaging - storing liquids in 100% paper/cardboard is impossible. Even the paper milk cardboards are covered with plastic or aluminum from the inside (that's why they don't leak) and it is almost impossible to separate those once the packaging is used in order to recycle it. With glass there is the issue of sand, which we are already in crisis for. I'm not sure, whether it is the same type of sand used for building and for glass production, but sand used for building is very scarce and there are actually mafias and illegal markets for this type of sand. My personal preference would be any reusable container, that does not require recycling and processing to be reused - so washed and cleaned containers, regardless whether they would be plastic, aluminum or glass.
Every time I think of this, I end up thinking that our vanity and lazyness is gonna cost us the planet and the lives of so many in a not so far future. No cosmetic is a real necessity. Also, no candles, no new decorative seasonal crap, no need to purchase overpriced food that comes in more packaging, new clothes because we're bored of the one we have... It's gonna be bad. And wars are gonna be about water. And, sadly, my country it's gonna be one of those whose corrupt politicians are gonna do dirty bussiness with that. The whole topic is so so difficult.
One thing, that I really hate: packaged products again being packaged in cardboard boxes. I know, it gives us a feeling of luckily, taking our new eyeshadow palette out of its cardboard slip box, but it is SO unnecessary packaging waste. Producing the cardboard boxes uses ressources and power, just to immediately being discarded. Such a waste.
So glad you touched this topic! Not many people talk about the resources used to manufacture sustainable products, just cz it's packed sustainability does not mean no harm is done! Always reduce and reuse before recycling 👍
Post consumer plastic is great alternative to more permanent products that are typically “fresh” plastic, like trash bins and other containers we keep for years, but as an alternative to single use plastics not so much.
I think we need to stop over consuming. If we stop buying, companies will have no choice but to produce less. If an eyeshadow quad takes 18 months to pan and we only used that one quad for 18 months vs buying 6 quads in 18 months and having 5 untouched. You would not be able to use them all up before they expire. Refills are great but over production & consumption is the main problem. I hope one day to see that Alex 9 drawer gone and that you have a makeup vanity with about 10 products in total, that you use until they finished. I hope to see that for all. Excess is not “goals” it is sh!tting on our planet with no care for the planet we leave behind.
If you’re interested in low waste beauty and reviews of sustainable packaged products, i would appreciate you checking out my youtube! I’m very passionate about being a resource for people who are trying to choose more sustainable options
At the end of the day it is all going to come down to consuming less. Not just the packaging but the product itself and it's manufacturer generates a carbon footprint. I think we need to rethink the collecting and consumerism around beauty products. What if we didn't buy a new lipstick until we completely used what we had? How long would that take you? It would take me quite a while?
I really like refills , that gives you the oportunity of buying the full size full normal package product and then later you can buy those small bags to refill .I think i read on the package of one that the refill bag only needed 30% of the plastick the normal bottle needed . Especially with soap, desinfectant, things you use up very often it can really make a diference. I also want more refills for powders, lipsticks, any makeup products that we use a lot .
Great job. I have a degree in environmental science and would add just a couple thoughts. First, yes the energy to recycle things is a serious part of the equation. However, if you change the source of energy (from coal to wind for example) you completely change the impact of that product. Second, changes in the market can change what is possible with technology. Scientists are working on things like alternative forms of plastic and different ways to recycle plastic. One guy from coca cola told me they are working on a way to make certain plastics infinitely recyclable. PCR plastic helps create a market for that in order to attract investments. We could also do that with government subsidies, but we're not doing that right now. This happened with solar. The efficiency, affordability, and storage of solar have all far surpassed projections from 10 years ago because we created programs to encourage investment and that activity led to innovation. Ultimately, I don't think we need to find the perfect material, but rather improve our reduce, reuse, and recycle systems for all materials.
Thanks for having this conversation. I wish here in Iowa would take our water bottles back, we pay the 5 cents on them but can't return them but for the nickel. I go though around 6 - 42 packs of 16oz. bottled water a month sometimes in the summer even more, that's alot of waste and nickels. Yes, I love my bottled water ALOT. I do use tap water for cooking and tea. LOL Blessings and Love!
If you want to discuss sustainable packaging, you should also speak about fast fashion. People have to stop buying so much clothing. I was horrified when I learnt people buy new wardrobes every season or so. Like... what? Money? Please try save your money for less clothing but of higher quality. Buy shoes that will last you years, but coats that will last decades, get amazing gowns that will last forever. Pleeeease 🥺
Hey Jen, just want to say I love your videos and your channel. I feel like you are really informed on these topics and I want to say I think that even recycled plastic tends to use of Virgin plastic in order to create stronger I packaging. I could be wrong about this but I just wanted to put that out there that usually recycled plastic packaging uses hybrid a hybrid model of Virgin plastic and recycled plastic.
Our recycling center caught on fire last week and unfortunately it's the main location for surrounding area and going to cost millions to repair. Smaller locations have stepped up to help take on some of it but most it going to the dump.
Consumerism is a major source of our eco footprint. If we want change, we need to use our purchase power as our voice. Boycott brands that contribute to larger footprints and support those thay are doing a good job. I stopped buying makeup that isn't zero waste which is HARD. But, my money and how I use it is a voice and I want these companies to hear loud and clear that I am not on board with the mistreatment of the planet in exchange for massive profit.
one of the great things about glass in comparison to plastics - glass doesn't created microplastics that bleed into the ocean where the smallest in the food chain ingest these microplastics, making the way up the food chain, ultimately to us! i learned this from @shelbizleee on youtube! she has an environmental sciences degree and very well versed on this topic. check her out!
I learnt about the production of aluminum at school as NZ has a huge smelter powered by hydro electricity. Making aluminium from bauxite uses the most electricity in its chemical reaction but however melting down aluminum cans etc uses much less electricity than the orginal extraction. And if the electricity used is from renewable sources for recycling it means less environmental impact.
