Got empties and don’t know where to dispose them? Make the most of those containers and get rewarded at the same time!
What do you do when you finish using the contents of your favorite beauty product? Of course, most often we just toss those beauty jars and bottles once completely emptied – or when they’ve reached their expiration dates. But did you know that there is a far better way of disposing them rather than just throwing them directly into the trash?
Yes, we’re talking about recycling those beauty packaging of yours. Unknown to many, there are actually a number of recycling programs spearheaded by conscious brands to minimize waste and make the most of those beauty product containers. In fact, these beauty brands even provide rewards in exchange for those who can help with this advocacy.
Beauty Brands that Encourage Recycling in Singapore
So, where can you recycle your makeup and skincare containers? Here we have compiled a list of beauty brands in Singapore that have initiated sustainable efforts through their recycling and rewards programs.
Since 2003, the leading Korean beauty brand, Innisfree, has been encouraging its consumers to take part in the Empty Bottle Recycling Campaign. To participate, you only have to bring your empty Innisfree bottles (essence, hair, and body products made of glass or plastic) and then you will be rewarded with store credits. Note that only 3 empty bottles will be credited per member per month.
Through this campaign, the beauty brand was able to recycle 12, 524, 850 empty bottles from 2003 to 2018 (based on the bottles collected in Korea). Aside from this initiative, Innisfree also launched in 2010 the Eco-Handkerchief Campaign to promote the use of handkerchiefs instead of tissue to save trees, protect the forests, and help reduce global warming.
With L’occitane’s commitment to helping reduce waste and making the world a greener place to live in, it has taken a step forward towards recycling – by being the first beauty brand in Singapore to accept beauty empties from any beauty brand. Yes, for its Big Little Things Recycling Program, the French luxury brand accepts clean and dried full-sized beauty products from L’Occitane or any other beauty brand to be recycled.
By dropping your beauty empties at L’Occitane Ion Orchard, Vivocity, Paragon, Plaza Singapore, Northpoint City, and Raffles City boutiques, you will receive a stamp on your digital recycling stamp card. These can be exchanged for a reward with every 10 stamps collected—it can be hand cream, shower oil, shampoo, and the like.
Aside from these, L’Occitane has also launched the Skip the Paper Bag and Switch to Eco-Refills Program. There’s also the Refill Fountain store at ION Orchard #B2-39 and Raffles City #01-43A where you can choose to bring your own clean and dried L’Occitane bottle or purchase an aluminum forever bottle in store.
Another skincare brand known for its recycling efforts is Kiehl’s. Since 2009l, the cosmetics brand recognized for its skin, hair, and body care products has collected nearly 90,000 empty Kiehl’s bottles in Singapore. For its Recycle and Be Rewarded program, product consumers are encouraged to return their empty Kiehl’s bottles for recycling or bring their own eco bag when shopping to be rewarded. Every empty bottle is equivalent to 1 stamp and the same way goes for the use of reusable tote bags. All empties collected are then sent to the brand’s recycling partner, which has a National Environmental Agency-approved Materials Recovery Facility. These are then sorted, processed, and baled to be turned into new materials.
In order to participate, you have to make sure that you have washed off and cleaned all residue left in the Kiehl’s product that you’ve used. Dry the beauty containers before dropping them off at the store. As there are Kiehl’s products that can’t be opened to be cleaned, such as the Hydroplumping Retexturizing Serum, Powerful-strength Line Reducing Eye Concentrate, Buttersticks, Super Multi-Corrective Eye Serum, Pure Vitality Cream, and Musk EDT, you may just bring them as they are. You will still receive a stamp, but these won’t be sent for recycling.
Love M∙A∙C Cosmetics’ lipstick? Get one for free by participating in the beauty brand’s Back 2 M∙A∙C Take Back Program. To reduce environmental impact, the brand accepts products from blush compacts, eyeshadow pots, foundation tubes, bottles, lash cases, and many of its original packaging. For every six containers returned, M∙A∙C Cosmetics will reward you with a free lipstick of your choice. See complete details here.
Got some beauty empties? It’s time to clean your vanity and beauty cabinet and join the call toward making this earth a better place to live in.
