A not-so-pretty statistic from the beauty industry is the thousands of tons of plastic waste produced and discarded by production every year. By design, beauty packaging is made to be striking on shelves while still being as temporary as the products inside. But all of that plastic waste has to go somewhere, and whether it ends up in a landfill or the ocean, it will remain there exponentially longer than its use cycle.

Nearly 8 billion plastic units were manufactured for the beauty industry in 2018 alone. It’s not a pretty picture, but it is the ugly truth of the beauty industry. Even environmentally conscious beauty brands with sustainably sourced and cruelty-free ingredients can wrap their earth-friendly product in a pointedly not-earth-friendly plastic package.

Now is the time to get on board with sustainable packaging trends. According to a Sustainability and Consumerism report by Beauty Packaging, 94 percent of adult consumers said they consider it important to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

According to Dr. Suvi Haimi, CEO and Co-Founder of Sulpac, a bio-based material company, the beauty industry is headed toward a sustainable shift, and brands need to prepare to adopt sustainable packaging solutions.

“The change is inevitable. People trust brands and companies to take action towards a more sustainable future – and do so without compromising on quality. For the beauty industry, this means that all brands from mainstream to luxury need to find sustainable solutions for both packages and what is inside them,” says Dr. Haimi.

Sustainable packaging should never be a compromise, and there are numerous sustainable packaging solutions that provide a variety of styles, finishes, utility, and more.

Many upcoming beauty brands have used innovative sustainable packaging to stand out from the crowd and on shelves, attracting everyday crowds for their beautiful presentation and environmentally-conscious crowds for their appreciation for sustainable brands. Sustainable packaging, when done correctly, is an investment in the environmental and commercial successes of any brand.

At Golden Arrow, we pride ourselves in crafting luxurious, uncompromising sustainable packaging that helps to make the world a greener place. Our packaging solutions are made from environmentally friendly materials and are meticulously designed to stand out from the crowd with stunning visual finishes and tactile features.