As consumer awareness of the cosmetics industry's environmental impact grows, more businesses are introducing sustainable products, ingredients, and packaging to their practices. One strategy used by companies to lessen their influence on the environment is the development of waterless products, such as foundations and shampoo bars.

There has been a growing interest in sustainable packaging, especially in the electronics industry. Electronic packaging refers to the materials and techniques used to enclose and protect electronic devices and components during storage, transportation, and use. However, it is no secret that electronics take a long time to break down and contribute to pollution, which is why the electronics industry is developing a more eco-friendly packaging system by reducing their carbon footprint.

Chemicals in cosmetics and packaging hugely impact climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Recent research by Beyond Plastic shows that by 2030 plastics will release more greenhouse gas emissions than coal plants in the U.S. 

Sustainable beauty products are making an impact on the future of the planet. “The global beauty and personal care industry is expected to grow by nearly 6% annually through 2026,” according to a report by THG Ingenuity. With more beauty and personal care brands shifting toward sustainable production, they will help in reducing the usage of chemicals and harm to the environment while fostering high-quality, natural, and raw-ingredient products.

Recycling conserves energy, reduces air and water pollution, limits greenhouse gasses, and decreases the number of products taken to landfills. And the great thing about recycling: You can throw your plastics in blue bins and continue with your day. Even though recycling seems easy and efficient, how come so many plastic products end up in a landfill instead?

Beauty brands have started shifting their focus on sustainability by creating marketing campaigns focused on refillable and recyclable packaging, “clean” formulating, microplastics, carbon footprints, energy efficiency, and more. Companies that increase efforts to make their brands more sustainable lead the way in showing responsibility for their environmental impact, but much more can be done. Biodiversity is one of the least-discussed efforts that are just as important as sustainable packaging and products.

The topic of sustainability and making conscious decisions to help protect our environment has been in the news and on our minds. The pandemic made it clear that the process of how our food gets from farms to tables can be improved in an eco-friendly way.

Choosing sustainable packaging is one way to start those improvements. Recent research studies show that most consumers would like to see more options for sustainable packaging regardless of cost.

Do you know where your clothes come from and the materials used in them? Fashion has long since used clothing labels to share important information about the product—information that usually just helps to decide whether to throw it in the wash or send it to a dry cleaner. But for environmentally-conscious shoppers, the materials listed on the label tell a much more important story.

If you’ve gone for takeout recently and received your food in cardboard-like takeout boxes, then you may have met “bagasse” in real life. Many eco-friendly restaurants and companies are prioritizing sustainability within their single-use containers, choosing packaging that is made from environmentally-friendly materials. While bamboo is well-known for eco-friendly packages, bagasse is a lesser-known material.

No matter the size of your holiday gatherings this year, you’ll probably be going through a lot of paper products and plastic. As presents and letters make their way to family and friends via mail and package delivery, it’s time to make a plan on how to keep your holidays sustainable and recycle packaging waste the right way.

If you’re mailing out Christmas cards or wrapping up presents to ship across the country, consider the materials used to wrap your gifts, construct your Christmas cards, and keep your holiday gifts safe on their journey to your loved ones.