In an era where consumers are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their choices, the beauty industry is no exception. The concept of "clean beauty" has gained tremendous popularity, with consumers demanding products free from harmful chemicals and ethical production.

Sustainable living has become an increasingly vital concept in today’s world as we learn to navigate environmental challenges and become more aware of the depletion of finite resources. The 5 Rs of sustainable living provide a valuable framework for individuals and communities to reduce their environmental footprint while enhancing their quality of life. 

The beauty industry has always been associated with glamor, self-expression, and creativity. However, it is also known for its heavy reliance on resources, from water-intensive production processes to excessive packaging waste. 

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.

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. 

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.

Ordering takeout or picking up dinner curbside has been a staple of the pandemic thus far but comes with a flood of harmful plastic and styrofoam packaging. But a new startup is trying to reduce damage to the environment by highlighting takeout options that use Earth-friendly packaging.

One-hundred companies are responsible for more than 90 percent of all global plastic waste, according to new research from The Plastic Waste Makers index. And twenty of those companies are responsible for a whopping 55 percent of the world’s plastic waste. 

All change starts small and has the potential to ripple into a much larger movement. While large issues like climate change and plastic pollution require large solutions, starting small and locally can inspire the big waves needed to save the planet. This is precisely what happened with a group of five middle schoolers in 2015.