Did you know that, according to Zero Waste Week, more than 120 billion units of cosmetics packaging were produced globally on a yearly basis? As Plastic Free July is coming to an end, you may be looking to reduce your plastic consumption, and cosmetics is a great place to start. With a wide range of Vegan Trademark registered alternatives on the market, you can be confident that when choosing a greener option, you’re doing your bit to minimise your beauty routine’s impact on the planet.
Why Go Plastic Free?
By making the investment to use plastic-free cosmetics, you can help reduce the amount of single-use plastic that is thrown into landfills year on year. This plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, and with more and more products being used by people around the world, it’s now more important than ever to consider cutting down.
How Can I Reduce My Plastic Consumption?
Reducing the amount of plastic you use on a day-to-day basis is getting more accessible, with more brands opting for plastic-free, recyclable packaging. For example, many brands have opted to use glass and metal containers, as well as making their products easy to refill, meaning there’s no need to throw the container away once you’re finished with it.
By starting with cosmetics, you can make a big difference to your own plastic consumption, and you might even be shocked at how much plastic goes into products you use daily! To give you a head-start, we’ve pulled together a list of products that are not only plastic-free but are registered with the Vegan Trademark, meaning you can make an even more significant impact with your purchasing power, and rest assured the products are vegan too.
Vegan Plastic-Free Skincare
Do you have a strict daily skincare routine? This is a great place to start if you’re looking to cut down your plastic usage, as these are products you’re likely to use on a daily basis.
- Obvs Skincare’s range has recently changed to new, 100% biodegradable packaging, which leaves no microplastics behind. Plus – it’s been certified by the Soil Association and COSMOS Organic. Opt for their Naked Moisturiser paired with their Intensive Skin Recovery Cream – it’s a match made in plastic-free heaven for sensitive skin.
- Loopeco also offers a range of plastic-free products, which make a beautiful (and sustainable!) addition to any bathroom. Their range includes a gentle Nutrient Rich Cream Cleanser, Radiance Face Wash, Salubrious Serum and soothing Nude Moisturiser.
- Why go plastic-free when you could just get rid of your packaging entirely? Lush has a range of Vegan Trademark certified products that come packaging-free, making them excellent ways to cut down on your single-use plastic consumption. If you’d like to give it a try, opt for their “glow-boosting” Argan Facial Oil or their Sleepy Face Naked Cleansing Balm to use as part of your night-time skincare routine.
- Another brand you can check out are White Rabbit, who have been offering a range of natural, vegan and sustainable skincare products since 2014. Their Vegan Trademark registered range includes their Coconut Rosehip Calming Cream, a Eucalyptus and Lavender Cleansing Balm and even a Beard Oil.
Vegan Plastic-Free Deodorants
When it comes to deodorants, you don’t need to opt for plastic packaging for an effective result. Plenty of natural and solid deodorants can provide good quality protection for your underarms, without the impact on our planet. Here are some plastic-free deodorant options to choose from:
- Wild offer a wide range of deodorant refills that are registered with the Vegan Trademark, which slot into reusable metal cases in a variety of colours and styles. Plus - they’ve recently released a new Passionfruit Martini scent.
- Lush’s solid deodorant bar, T’eo
- If you’re looking for something softer, Natural Deo Co offer a variety of scents in their Clean Deodorant Balm range, which melt into the skin with a combination of antibacterial magnesium and sodium bicarbonate to provide all-day odour protection.
Vegan Plastic-Free Body Care
Plenty of body care brands have also switched to plastic-free packaging, meaning even the little things around the home like hand soap and body wash can be swapped for a more sustainable alternative. Here’s a few options you can try:
- Fill Co.’s Hand Soap, which is available unscented or in Fig Leaf, with glass bottles you can refill
- Fill Co.’s Wash Up, which again, is available unscented or in Ginger or Peppercorn with a 500ml glass bottle
- Milly and Sissy’s “Make the Switch” set, which contains a 500ml amber glass bottle for use with the hand wash refill in Sweet Cherry, as well as a 500ml aluminium bottle, which partners with a hair and body refill sachet in Candied Tangerine.
- Period care can also generate a lot of plastic! You can also try WUKA’s Period Pants, which will allow you to replace tampons, pads and other single-use period items with a reusable alternative that’s machine washable.
VEG 1
We’ve mentioned a variety of plastic-free products for the outside of your body – but don't forget about nourishing the inside too. Supplement products are often packaged in plastic, but our own VEG 1 multivitamin has recently celebrated one-year plastic-free. So far, we've saved a whopping 4032kg of plastic (and counting!). You can shop VEG 1 on our website, Etsy or eBay.
We hope you’ve found some new brands to try as part of your plastic-free vegan journey! If you’ve enjoyed this blog and want to share your plastic-free, vegan skincare or body care routine with us, make sure to tag @vegantrademark on Instagram or Twitter to join in the conversation. We’d love to see your ideas!
By Jo Cassin, Brand Marketing Officer
The views expressed by our bloggers are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
