Packaging Recycling Guide
Did you know that only 50% of bathroom packaging is recycled?
As a brand, we have to play our part by making our packaging recyclable - we’re still working on a few challenging formats. But in the meantime, many of our products already come in recyclable packaging in most of the UK.
So we’ve put together this handy guide to help you put the right thing in the right bin and make sure that what can be recycled gets the best chance to be turned into something new.
A few golden rules before you start:
Ensure there is no product residue.
Even as little as 10% of the formulation left inside a tube or jar can hinder recyclability. You can part-cut tubes to take out that last bit of product (for your own benefit too) and then rinse. Don’t worry about drying them.
Remove pumps and pipettes from glass or plastic bottles.
Pumps are not currently recyclable because of the small metal springs inside that can damage the machines in the processing facilities. Pipettes are made of mixed materials that are not easy to separate.
Reuse Press & Glow and Press & Clear Pump
We can’t recycle pumps, but we’ve designed the Press & range pumps to be reusable. So keep the pump when you’ve finished the product, and just order a refill to use with your existing pump.
Recycle all glass and plastic bottles
All of our plastic bottles are made from widely recyclable PET (Press & Clear, Press & Glow, Eyes & Lips Micellar Cleanse) and HDPE (Gentle Cleanse, Micellar Mousse, Clarifying Foam). Our travel size bottles can also be recycled - if the pumps are removed. All of our glass bottles are widely recyclable.
Recycle flip-top and screw-top tubes.
Only the flip-top and screw-top tubes can be recycled. Unfortunately, the airless tubes cannot be recycled because the pump cannot be detached from the tube.
Recycle all cartons and e-commerce mailers within the paper stream.
All of our outer cartons are recyclable, and so are the mailing boxes our products are sent in.
Reuse
Press & Glow and Press & Clear pump - can be used up to 5 times. Just order the refill bottle instead of the original version including the pump. Save money and the materials from going to waste too!
Recycle at home
Tubes with a flip or screw-top, plastic and glass bottles, cartons, aluminum sample tubes and mailers. Our tubes are made of PE or HDPE (Recyclability code 2) with PP caps (Recyclability code 5). The caps cannot be separated so, in some territories, the recyclers may not accept them - although both materials are widely recyclable.
Transparent bottles are made from PET (recycle code 1) and caps are made from PP (recycle code 5). PET bottles are widely recycled in most territories. Check your local guidelines regarding what to do with the cap (leave on or remove).
Glass bottles should be recyclable in most territories, but check if you need to sort amber glass from clear or purple glass.
Ensure they are completely empty, reinsert the cap and recycle with metals or mixed recycling.
Not currently recycled
Please put these products in your household waste bin.
Our frosted jars are not currently recyclable, but we are working on replacing them with a recyclable alternative.
Due to the sensitivity of our formulations, we need to use airless tubes to ensure the optimal potency and power of our active ingredients once the packaging has been opened. The tubes themselves are recyclable but, because the pumps cannot be removed, the whole packaging becomes unrecyclable. We are working on developing airless pumps that can be recycled. For the moment, these tubes will need to go into the general waste.
Balance Moisturiser with Glycolic Acid Activator