Don't Throw Away Your Empties
- Kaela Dalla Pasqua
- Nov 4, 2020
- 2 min read
Do you have old, barely used products and empty containers cluttering your house? Don’t just throw them away - they could be worth something. Cosmetic companies such as LUSH and MAC have implemented programs to turn that waste into value for you, the planet, and the brand.
LUSH Cosmetics’ “Five Pot Program” gives customers a free face mask for every five black pots returned. The returned pots will then enter their closed-loop recycling system (which means the pots will never make it to the landfill). The pots are broken down and re-molded into new black pots, ready to be entered into the product sales cycle again.
MAC has a similar program, called “BACK 2 MAC”, where customers can return any six containers to receive a free lipstick (a $17 value!). The containers are repurposed to either make new packaging or converted into energy.
These impressive initiatives have shown to make a large impact. In 2018 alone, LUSH received just under 1.3 million black pots. Meanwhile, MAC is able to prevent over 1 million pounds of material from ending up in landfills per year in North America.
With significant benefits to the consumer and the environment, what do these programs do for the brands? These recycling initiatives seem simple, but they are very difficult to execute as they require complex changes to the brand’s supply chain and manufacturing processes. However, if a brand is able to pull this off, they can see major financial benefits.
1) The recycled containers provide fewer material costs to make packaging. LUSH has reported their program as successful enough to assure that 10% of the materials used to make new black pots are from old ones.
2) Another report has indicated a 17% “Five Pot Program” return rate, which means that those customers must come back into the store to return the pots - giving the brand another chance to sell more products.
There are many more cosmetic brands and stores hopping on this package recycling trend - simply researching before you buy can make a positive impact on the Earth and your wallet.
Share your favourite cosmetic companies with similar recycling programs in the comments below!
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