As we move toward a life that is more environmentally conscious, the skincare industry, with its high volume of packaging, is facing increasing pressure from both consumers and regulators to reduce its environmental footprint.
One of the most concerning things is their packaging, which often ends up in landfills or the ocean and makes a whole lot of mess for the planet. Considering these concerns, people are adopting eco-friendly packaging in skincare brands that helps them be more sustainable.
So, if you’re planning to launch a sustainable skincare brand, make sure to prioritise eco-friendly packaging. For that, here, we’ve jotted down the essentials of sustainable skincare packaging, understanding why it matters, some popular eco-friendly packaging options, and how to actually launch a sustainable brand!
Why Eco-Friendly Packaging Matters?
Whether you believe it or not, packaging has a huge impact on the environment and contributes to various concerns for the planet.
Forbes also revealed that “according to Zero Waste Week, more than 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, much of which is not recyclable.”
So, if you want to reduce that impact and contribute to a greener planet, you must adopt eco-friendly packaging. Eco-friendly packaging refers to the design and materials that minimise environmental impact. There are various reasons why it matters to us and the planet!
- Reduce Waste: Minimising packaging waste helps lower your brand’s carbon footprint.
- Appeal to Eco-Conscious Consumers: Modern consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are more likely to support brands with recyclable skincare packaging.
- Meet Regulatory Standards: Governments worldwide are increasingly encouraging sustainability regulations on packaging materials.
- Differentiate Your Brand: With sustainability, you can set your brand apart in a crowded market.
Key Principles of Sustainable Packaging
To truly commit to eco friendly skincare packaging, you must consider the following principles:
- Reduce: Use less packaging and eliminate unnecessary components.
- Reuse: Create packaging that customers can reuse or repurpose.
- Recycle: Use recyclable materials and clearly label them to encourage proper disposal.
- Renew: Choose renewable or biodegradable resources over fossil fuel-based plastics.
- Rethink: Innovate new packaging solutions that challenge traditional formats.
Popular Eco-Friendly Packaging Options in Skincare
When selecting sustainable beauty packaging, you must consider options that align with your product type, brand aesthetics, and environmental values. Here we’ve listed some widely used materials, so make sure to take a look!
1. Glass: Glass is endlessly recyclable, non-toxic, and offers a premium feel. It’s perfect for serums, oils, and creams.
2. Aluminium: Aluminium is lightweight, durable, and highly recyclable. It’s excellent for products like deodorants and mists, and it can be endlessly recycled without losing quality.
3. Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Plastics: PCR plastics are made from recycled plastic waste, reducing the need for virgin materials.
4. Biodegradable Materials: Materials like bamboo, cornflour-based plastics, or mushroom packaging can decompose naturally under the right conditions.
5. Refillable Systems: Offer refill pods or pouches so customers can keep their original containers and simply top up.
How to Launch Your Skincare Brand with Sustainable Packaging?
Creating a sustainable skincare brand from the ground up can be pretty challenging! Hence, to help you with that, here we’ve listed a step-by-step guide to integrating eco-friendly packaging into your launch plan.
Step 1: Define Your Brand Values
You need to start by identifying your core mission and brand values. You should ask yourself some questions, like:
- Is sustainability your central focus?
- What aspects of sustainability are most important—reducing plastic, using organic materials, or carbon neutrality?
These values help you with packaging for beauty products and help you make informed decisions.
Step 2: Research and Source Sustainable Suppliers
Next, you need to look for packaging suppliers or private label skincare that specialise in eco-friendly materials. Ask them about:
- Material sourcing and certifications (e.g., FSC-certified paper, PCR content verification)
- Biodegradability or recyclability
- Minimum order quantities (important for startups)
- Customization options
Step 3: Choose the Right Packaging for Each Product
Different skincare product packaging may require different packaging types. For example:
- Face oils and serums: Use glass dropper bottles
- Cleansers and toners: Consider aluminium spray bottles
- Moisturizers: Opt for refillable jars made from PCR plastic
- Sheet masks: Explore compostable sachets
However, make sure to consider other factors, like aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.
Step 4: Minimize Secondary Packaging
You must ditch the unnecessary box or wrapping. If you use secondary packaging, make it recyclable or biodegradable. Also, choose minimalist designs with soy-based inks and water-based adhesives. You can also consider multi-use or upcycled packaging, such as cloth pouches, seed paper boxes, etc.
Step 5: Educate and Engage Consumers
The best packaging in the world won’t make a difference if customers don’t know how to dispose of it. That’s why you must include clear labelling and disposal instructions on your product and website.
You should also educate your audience and tell them why you chose specific materials, how you source them, and what your goals are for future improvements.
Step 6: Make Sustainability Part of Your Marketing
Don’t just be sustainable—market it. For that, you can highlight your eco-packaging efforts in your branding, social media, product descriptions, and influencer partnerships. You can also use sustainability certifications and third-party validation to boost credibility.
Step 7: Plan for Scalability
As your brand grows, you’ll need packaging solutions that help you scale without compromising sustainability. For that, you need to choose the top skincare manufacturer brand that can grow with you and continually audit your packaging impact.
Challenges You Must Consider Before Launching a Sustainable Brand
Opting for eco-friendly skincare packaging design isn’t as easy as it might seem. It comes with many challenges, such as:
- Cost: Sustainable materials tend to be more expensive, especially at low volumes.
- Sourcing Complexity: Not all suppliers are transparent or reliable, which might complicate things for you.
- Design Constraints: Some materials limit the form and function of packaging.
- Consumer Behaviour: Even recyclable or compostable packaging may be improperly disposed of.
Although these challenges might create some trouble for you, their benefits far outweigh those challenges!
Conclusion
Eco-friendly packaging isn’t a one-and-done solution—it’s part of an ongoing commitment that plans to reduce environmental impact from the packaging waste.
If you’re looking to start your own skincare brand, you must embrace sustainable packaging from the get-go to set a strong foundation for a conscious, future-ready brand. By combining sustainability, style, and substance, you can build a skincare brand that truly makes a difference for both the planet and you.
If you want help with outsourcing production, you can contact us at Naturo & Orgo and make your development process way easier!
FAQs
Q. What is eco-friendly packaging in skincare?
Ans. Eco-friendly packaging refers to materials and designs that minimise environmental impact. This includes biodegradable, recyclable, compostable, or reusable packaging and often involves reducing plastic use and carbon footprint.
Q. Why is sustainable packaging important for skincare brands?
Ans. Skincare products often use plastic containers and single-use materials, which impacts the environment. Sustainable packaging helps reduce waste, appeal to eco-conscious consumers, and comply with increasing environmental regulations.
Q. Is eco-friendly packaging more expensive?
Ans. Initially, it can be. However, the long-term benefits include brand loyalty, potential cost savings through reduced material use, and better positioning in a competitive, eco-conscious market.