Flavedo & Albedo is part of the new guard of high performance, plastic free beauty brands affecting change and we are here for it
- Beauty
The rise of plastic-free beauty
5 G+S-approved zero-waste beauty brands
By Erica Watson
From single-use packaging to wands, applicators, pumps, sprays and bottle caps, the beauty industry is formed on the basis of a hell of a lot of plastic. In fact, it has been reported that it produces a whopping 120 billion units of plastic per year. And while some of that can be recycled, the majority of it ends up in either landfill or our oceans. Fortunately, there are a growing number of brands that are doing away with plastic for more environmentally friendly options. And what’s more, they’re also better for you. Here are some ones to watch.
Flavedo & Albedo
A new-ish kid on the block, Flavedo & Albedo is an innovative beauty brand creating vibrant, wearable, high performance makeup, which is fun to wear every day. Want a cheek tint to match your hot pink tee? This is the brand for you. What sets Flavedo & Albedo apart is their passionate belief in creating beauty products that leave no trace. You won’t find a hint of plastic in any of its packaging, and its containers can all be recycled in neighborhood curbside recycling.
rms
While not completely plastic free, RMS uses pots made from recyclable glass and is one of our all-time favourites, especially its creamy and long-lasting cult Un-Cover Up foundation and concealer. Most products can be recycled at the end of their lifecycle, and did we mention, they manufacture using 100 percent wind power?!
Dearest Lips
If you hate digging lip balm out of a glass pot or tin then you’re going to love this plastic free tube that’s also home compostable. They come in a range of flavours from eucalyptus and rosemary to chocolate and Turkish delight, or take your pick from three cheek and lip tints. There’s also a kid’s range (that comes with eco pencils and a label they can colour in), a men’s range, lip scrubs and travel pots.
Eco Minerals
This Byron Bay brand is all about minimising packaging and offers five- and eight-gram plastic free biodegradable refills for its foundations, bronzer, illuminator and blush. Lipsticks come in recycled aluminium casing and your order will be shipped to you in eco-friendly packaging. What’s more, it’s free from parabens, palm oil and chemical preservatives.
Elate Cosmetics
Elate’s packaging is truly beautiful and waste free. The majority of products are housed in beautiful bamboo packaging, glass or aluminium. Although some products – like the liquid eyeliner and mascara – do have plastic inner tubes, they’re made from recycled plastic and can also be recycled again once you’re done. Build a custom eyeshadow palette with its single pressed eye colours that are housed in plantable seed paper. Genius!
