The Greening of Cosmetic Packaging

by Valerie Gladstone — November 16, 2007

What's so hard about seeking out products from companies that use green packaging? And wow, can it make a difference. First step is avoiding bottles made of eco-enemy number one: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic that emits toxic chemicals when incinerated or dumped in landfills. (PVC bottles are marked with recycling symbol number 3). Instead choose containers made from post consumer recycled paper or plastic or natural substances such as starch or corn.

Biodegradable Packaging

These items use material that is absorbed back into the environment after use. The paper is either made without trees or is designed to bloom when planted in the ground.

• Burt's Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Bar Soap
• Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipsticks
• Pangea Organics Bar Soaps

Refillable Containers

More than 350,000 pounds of waste could be eliminated each year if one in 25 of us used refillable eye shadow. Refills of these products are encouraged:

• Stila Eye Shadows and Cheek Colors
• Thierry Mugler Angel
• MyBlend creams and lotions

Recycled Materials

If one in 10 US households bought shampoo in recycled plastic bottles, the energy saved could wind-power 160 homes for a year. These products reuse items like yoghurt cups and milk jugs:

• Aveda shampoos and conditioners
• Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
• Recycline Preserve Razor Tripe
• EO bath and body products