The Upcycled Beauty Company

The average beauty product contains 60% to 85% water. In 2020, the industry consumed 10.4 million tonnes of it💦⁠ ⁠ The waterless beauty trend, highlighted in our 2024 report, continues to grow. Its benefits include water conservation, lower emissions, less waste, longer shelf life, and higher potency. Beyond its traditional roots, brands now offer innovative waterless products in stylish, sustainable packaging.⁠ ⁠ From showering to shampooing, there’s a solution for every step in consumers’ routines. Let’s take a look...⁠ ⁠ 🚿 1. SHOWER / WASH: @ecoalf, a B Corp™ fashion brand, launched a waterless wellness line in September 2023. Their Body & Hand Soap uses upcycled ingredients in a powder form, which transforms into a foam when mixed with water in a refillable aluminum container.⁠ ⁠ 🫧 2. SHAMPOO & CONDITION: On a mission to clean up the “outdated” shower routine – comprising diluted formulations and too much plastic – @smallwonder.world’s Insta-worthy hair powder concentrates deliver salon results while minimising waste.⁠ ⁠ 💧 3. CLEANSE: @seadropskincare’s Waterless Hydrating Seafoam Cleanser Beads offer a water-conscious alternative to liquid cleansers (which are typically 90% water). The beads lather with a splash of water and come in a refillable jar with biodegradable refills.⁠ ⁠ Discover more in our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport in collaboration with @join_covalo, download now, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #waterless #waterlessproducts

COMING SOON… 👀 We’re stealing the spotlight at In-Cosmetics Global, the premier show for cosmetic ingredients, with our new product launch. Join us on stand 2A29 to find out more... #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #beyonce #beyoncememe

Artificial intelligence is helping brands reach their sustainability goals faster – and smarter. 🌿 ⁠ ⁠ From ingredient sourcing & NPD to comms & reporting, we’ve rounded up real-world examples of how you can leverage AI to streamline your sustainability initiatives, accelerate decision-making, reduce waste, and optimise efficiency and transparency throughout your operations.⁠ ⁠ 🍃 @netagrow is an innovative agricultural technology platform that empowers farmers with AI-driven tools and insights for sustainable growth. With Netagrow, farmers can make informed decisions, optimise their operations, and increase their productivity and profitability.⁠ ⁠ ✨ @odacite is an early adopter of AI in manufacturing. Keen to work with the Edelweiss flower, the brand recognised that it would be hard to source and even more challenging to grow. That’s where indoor AI-generated farming comes into play. Odacité conducts numerous experiments on the Edelweiss in controlled environments, analyses the results, and then feeds the data to AI to craft the “perfect growth recipe.”⁠ ⁠ For more on how brands are utilising AI to reach their sustainability goals, download our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #ai

The reuse revolution is a cornerstone of the circular economy, helping to eliminate waste and keep materials in use. Beauty and Personal Care brands have used reuse and refill schemes for years, but barriers to adoption still exist.⁠ ⁠ A 2023 BareLUXE study found that despite 80% of consumers valuing sustainability, only 23.4% use refillable skincare. ⁠ Barriers include limited options, concerns about mess/effort, and higher costs.⁠ ⁠ 🍃 @zeroco_official, a leader in sustainable body care, initially launched a refillable system with returnable pouches. However, only 42% of pouches were returned, undermining its sustainability goals. Learning from this, Zero Co developed ForeverFill, a paper-based refill system. Customers now purchase a reusable bottle and refill it with recyclable paper pouches, significantly reducing plastic use and freight emissions.⁠ ⁠ 🌸 The deodorant category is a hotbed of innovative refillable solutions. UK brand @getfussy offer flexible subscription services, delivering scented deodorant refills and a reusable deodorant case straight to your door. Fussy opts for an outer keep case made from durable ABS plastic, paired with compostable refills made from waste sugarcane pulp.⁠ ⁠ 💊 @cabinet.health's mission extends beyond aesthetics; it aims to eliminate single-use plastic in the pharmaceutical industry. Acknowledging the annual disposal of nearly 190 billion plastic medicine bottles, CABINET has pioneered a sustainable, refillable system. Launched in October 2023, Cabinet Health Rx is a direct-to-consumer prescription service offering personalised, refillable "forever" bottles and compostable refills for US customers.⁠ ⁠ For more on Sustainable Operations download our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #plasticfree #sustainablepackaging

The brewing industry generates a lot of waste, mainly composed of brewers’ spent grain (BSG) and yeast. It’s estimated that for every 100 litres of beer brewed, 20kg of leftover BSG is generated, equating to nearly 40 million tonnes per year globally.⁠ ⁠ @dsmfirmenich leverages the benefits of spent grain for skincare. The company’s STIMU-TEX® AS ingredient combines high-quality upcycled spent grain wax, argan oil, and shea butter to relieve skin irritation. The wax is obtained from BSG using supercritical CO2, a high-tech extraction process that produces pure spent grain wax free from organic solvents and preservatives. It features large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, “essential for the regeneration of the epidermal barrier.⁠ ⁠ Discover more in our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport, download now, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #barley #dsmfirmenich

And is it sustainable? 🌿 ⁠ ⁠ Tallow – a form of rendered animal fat – has been used to treat skin since ancient times. It’s even speculated that Cleopatra may have included tallow in her beauty regimen.⁠ ⁠ From humble beginnings as a base for soaps, lotions, and candles, beef tallow is now being hailed by Vogue as the latest skincare trend taking TikTok by storm. Even luxury brands like Momona Skincare are incorporating “super-tallow” in their formulations, promoting its benefits for moisturisation and skin barrier health, effectively “taking tallow high-end.”⁠ ⁠ As a by-product of the meat industry, tallow could be described as upcycled – but should it be?⁠ ⁠ We’re currently working on an Upcycled Cosmetic Standard to certify upcycled cosmetic raw materials.⁠ 🐄 Should animal by-products such as tallow be included under this scheme?⁠ 🐑 Does it make a difference if the animal’s life was lost in the process? For example, should lanolin (normally derived from wool without harming the animal) be considered more acceptable than tallow?⁠ 🚜 Are we inadvertently supporting the meat industry by using these by-products in personal care? Or is it more sustainable to make full use of waste, by-products and co-products from food supply chains to help minimise overall impact?⁠ ⁠ We’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you view this topic?⁠ ⁠ We understand it’s a highly nuanced conversation and look forward to your different perspectives.⁠ ⁠ #Debate #AnimalEthics #Tallow #NaturalIngredients #UpcycledIngredients #ZeroWaste #PersonalCare

Upcycled Beauty News Round-Up ♻️ ⁠ ⁠ 🌱 “Beauty companies will keep having to tackle the sustainability challenge”, says Matteo Carraro - @lumsongroup. re-sources spoke with Matteo Carraro, the company’s Innovation & Product Sustainability Manager, about challenges, future outlooks, and packaging design.⁠ ⁠ 🍃 Industry players, including @pepsi, @zero_waste_europe, and environmental groups like @greenpeace and @wwf, expressed concern at the lack of progress in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations at INC-5. While acknowledging widespread unity against perceived obstructionism, they criticised gaps in the draft text and voiced disappointment over further delays.⁠ ⁠ 💄 Cosmetics Design Europe have rounded up some of the key eco-designed cosmetics packaging innovations that were on show at the Luxe Pack 2024 event in Monaco, from paper packaging to recycled glass. ⁠ ⁠ Read more on these and more Upcycled Beauty News on our website, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #plasticfree #sustainablepackaging #naturalskincare #upcyclednews

Although the upcycled ingredient market has grown significantly in recent years, sourcing high-performing upcycled functionals has been a real challenge - until now. From waste-fighting film formers to multi-functional texturisers, developing fully upcycled formulations just got a whole lot more achievable. ⁠ ⁠ @cpkelco's KELCOSENS™ Citrus Fiber, an Upcycled Certified® ingredient derived from leftover citrus peels from the juicing industry, effectively stabilises emulsifier-free formulations. @roelmi_hpc's Olifeel® E-NAT W/O, crafted from olive oil by-product, enables formulators to create stable W/O emulsions. Unveiled at in-cosmetics Global 2024, @kaffebueno's KLEANSTANT®, a new bio-based anionic surfactant produced from upcycled coffee lipids, delivers exceptional foam performance and stability.⁠ ⁠ For more on Ingredients & Formulations download our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #emulsifiers

Instead of forging new supply chains, beauty brands are closing the loop by repurposing waste from their own operations and nearby communities.⁠ ⁠ @kelsey_skin specialises in commercially growing and packing soft fruit. Any raspberries not deemed good enough for retail are upcycled into high-performance skincare, including the leaves and seeds. Similarly, @elemis joined forces with Xampla to transform its own plant waste into plastic-free biodegradable sachets for skincare, helping to tackle one of Elemis’ key packaging dilemmas. In August 2024, formerly known as Haeckels (@peoplecareplanetcare) launched a limited-edition Beetroot Candle made with upcycled beetroot extract from its Beetroot Probiotic production.⁠ ⁠ For more on Sustainable Operations download our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #plasticfree #sustainablepackaging

Nearly all (95%) of cosmetic packaging is thrown away. These companies are helping to combat single-use plastics with innovative sustainable packaging solutions.⁠ ⁠ 🌱 @purepack.nl's Paperwise transforms plant-based waste, including rice, corn, and maize leaves and stems, into sustainable cardboard and paper packaging. Fueled by 100% renewable energy, Paperwise minimises reliance on conventional paper sources and boasts a lower environmental footprint compared to recycled paper.⁠ ⁠ ✨️ PaperFoam® is a bio-based, biodegradable, and customisable packaging solution that maintains high quality and aesthetics. Crafted from industrial potato starch and molded cellulose, it naturally decomposes within weeks. Half Magic Beauty was the first beauty brand to use PaperFoam®, showcasing its versatility by housing eyeshadow singles and other complexion makeup.⁠ ⁠ 🥔 @benandannauk are also putting potato by-products to good use. The Poly Potato Deodorant Creams are sealed in “world-first” packaging that combines potato starch with paper and natural fibres, offering a compostable and plastic-free alternative to conventional deodorants.⁠ ⁠ For more on Packaging & Materials, download our #ZeroWasteBeautyReport, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #plasticfree #sustainablepackaging

Gain fresh insights into the world of sustainable beauty operations. Learn about the latest circular economy standards & guidance in our Zero Waste Beauty Report 2025.⁠ ⁠ Companies included in this section of the report:⁠ ♻️ @wearedame_⁠ ♻️ @upcyclelabs_ ♻️ @netagrow⁠ ♻️ @evolvebeautyuk ♻️ @clarinsofficial ♻️ @lush⁠ ♻️ @omy.lab⁠ ⁠ Download our Zero Waste Beauty Report, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #plasticfree #sustainablepackaging #naturalskincare

Explore game-changing material innovations and other helpful resources to shape your sustainable packaging strategies in our Zero Waste Beauty Report 2025.⁠ ⁠ Companies included in this section of the report:⁠ 🍃 @purepack.nl⁠ 🍃 @halfmagicbeauty⁠ 🍃 @flexi_hex⁠ 🍃 @rehabyourhair⁠ 🍃 @zeroco_official ⁠ 🍃 @fussy⁠ 🍃 @marinskincare⁠ ⁠ Download our Zero Waste Report, link in bio.⁠ ⁠ #sustainable #zerowaste #upcycled #upcycledbeauty #sustainability #naturalingredients #upcycledingredients #zerowasteingredients #upcyclingbeauty #upcycling #sustainablebeauty #plasticfree #sustainablepackaging #naturalskincare