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How to Recycle Body Care Containers

How to Recycle Body Care Containers

There are four main ways of dealing with body care products: returning, refilling, repurposing and recycling.

Some companies will accept the return of packaging. LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics will provide you with a free face mask when you return five black pots. 

Other companies offer to refill your products. Eco Minerals offer refillable sachets, and Adorn Mineral Cosmetics operates a refill program.

Most body care packaging and containers can be placed in your council recycling bin. Before recycling, you should ensure that the item is emptied and cleaned.

Check the plastic identification code of the particular item before recycling it. 

Body care product tubes and face wipe soft packaging are accepted for specialised repurposing through Terracycle. 


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Science Notes

The problem with a lot of body care and cosmetic packaging is that while individual components may be recyclable, often different plastics are fused with metals and even glass to present you with the one beautiful product. Separating these can be a problem so if you have the opportunity to reuse containers or buy from a supplier who refills, it is a good idea to do so.

When shopping for body care products, make your buying decisions by paying forward. Base your decisions as much on what is in your product as what happens to your product packaging.

Related Tip

Be aware of microbeads (tiny plastic beads) in body care products as well and avoid them. Microbeads are typically designed to be abrasive so are found in products like scrubs, toothpastes and shower gels.