Avoid cosmetic products in plastic packaging

Verzichte auf Kosmetikprodukte in Plastikverpackungen

There is no justifiable excuse for packaging short-lived, everyday beauty products in new plastic.

The industry is now responding to the outcry of consumers by producing less packaging from virgin plastic and relying increasingly on recycled plastic.

There is now a large number of stamps that are packaged in so-called post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR). From the luxury class (Aveda, REN, Biolage) to the middle class (Soaper Duper, Lush) and mass production (all Simple and Dove bottles are now made of 100% PCR in Europe; L'Oréal Elvive, the world's best-selling hair care brand, is launching 100% PCR bottles this summer - the caps are recyclable but not made of PCR - saving 7,000 tons of plastic worldwide every year).

However, the cosmetics market is booming and more and more brands and products can be bought. Whether the savings potential of plastic is really that high is therefore doubtful. And the proportion of recycled material in recycled plastic is often low, too, new plastic is always being added.

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Plastic or plastic also still bears the risk that components that are hazardous to health can be transferred to cosmetics. The composition of plastics is too diverse and since many packaging materials are not produced in Europe, they are not examined.

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It is better to choose products packed in glass that have not travelled too far. Some sustainable young cosmetics companies even already offer products in returnable bottles or take back old packaging.

Or switch even better to products that do not require any packaging at all.