HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR SKINCARE EMPTIES
The personal care and beauty industry generates a staggering amount of packaging waste each year. According to Zero Waste Week, over 120 billion units of packaging are produced annually by the global cosmetics industry. At Bush Harvest Co, we are committed to sustainability and ensuring our packaging is as eco-friendly as possible.
This article provides a step-by-step guide on how you can responsibly dispose of your Bush Harvest Co skincare empties, including how to ensure they are suitable for kerbside recycling, how to home compost, and how you can SAVE with our TerraCycle program!
WHY PERSONAL CARE PACKAGING IS OFTEN NON-RECYCLABLE
Beauty, skincare and personal care packaging is frequently non-recyclable due to the complex materials used. Many products come in mixed-material containers, combining plastics, metals, and glass, which are difficult to separate for recycling. Additionally, small components like caps, pumps, and droppers often contain different types of plastics and rubber, complicating the recycling process. Residue from lotions and creams can also contaminate recycling streams, making it harder to process these items efficiently. This complexity leads to a significant amount of personal care packaging ending up in landfills.
HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR EMPTY SKINCARE PACKAGING
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to responsibly dispose of your Bush Harvest Co skincare empties.
1. Clean your empties
Once you’ve finished a product, rinse what you can from the bottle. Containers don’t need to be squeaky clean for recycling, but we recommend trying to remove as much product residue as possible.
2. Glass bottles
Glass bottles can be placed in your kerbside recycling bin. However, consider repurposing the bottles for other uses around your home!
3. Serum droppers
Serum droppers must be disassembled into their individual components prior to recycling. Separate the dropper into the silicone bulb, plastic cap and glass pipette. The glass pipette and plastic cap can go in your kerbside recycling bin. Place the rubber bulb and seal in the general waste bin (or read on to learn about our recycle rewards program with TerraCycle!).
4. Serum pumps
Separate the serum pump into its individual components. Rinse the plastic tube and place in kerbside recycling. The plastic lid is also kerbside recyclable. Dispose of the other components in the general waste bin (or read on to learn about our recycle rewards program with TerraCycle!).
5. Product boxes
Our product boxes are made with FSC-certified materials and printed with soy-based inks so they can be composted or placed in kerbside recycling after use.
HOW TO RECYCLE & SAVE WITH OUR RECYCLE REWARDS PROGRAM
Close the loop by returning your Bush Harvest Co empties and SAVE 15% off your next order!
We are dedicated to consistently improving our processes to ensure we uphold our commitment to sustainable practices in all facets of our business. We recognise that not all beauty packaging is kerbside recyclable (such as parts of our serum droppers and serum pumps). To reduce our contribution to landfill, Bush Harvest Co is thrilled to offer an innovative recycling solution with the TerraCycle Zero Waste Box. The Zero Waste Box ensures your skincare empties are sorted and processed into raw materials that can be reused instead of ending up in landfills or incinerators.
Simply return your clean, dry and empty skincare packaging to us and be rewarded! As a thank you for your commitment to our sustainability program, we will give you 15% off your next order! Click here for a step-by-step guide on how our Recycle Rewards Program works.
HOW TO COMPOST OUR COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING AT HOME
Composting at home is a simple and effective way to contribute to a healthier planet. Bush Harvest Co’s mailers, product boxes, tissue paper and stickers are made with FSC-certified materials and printed with soy-based inks so they can be composted after use.
Follow these steps to compost our packaging materials at home:
1. REMOVE ANY NON-COMPOSTABLE ELEMENTS
Remove any shipping labels, tapes, or other non-compostable elements from the packaging. These materials can contaminate your compost.
2. TEAR OR CUT INTO SMALL PIECES
Tear or cut the packaging materials into small pieces. Smaller pieces break down faster in a compost pile. Aim for pieces no larger than 5-8cm (2-3 inches).
3. LAYER WITH OTHER COMPOST MATERIALS
Mix the packaging pieces with a balanced mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) compost materials. Our packaging is considered brown material. Pair it with green materials like vegetable scraps, grass clippings or coffee grounds.
4. MAINTAIN PROPER MOISTURE
Ensure your compost pile is moist but not soggy. The material should feel like a damp sponge. Add water if it’s too dry or add more brown materials if it’s too wet.
5. TURN THE COMPOST PILE
Regularly turn the compost pile to aerate it. This helps speed up the decomposition process and prevents odours. Aim to turn the pile every 1-2 weeks.
6. MONITOR THE TEMPERATURE
A healthy compost pile will heat up as microorganisms break down the material. If you have a compost thermometer, aim for a temperature of 55-70°C (130-160°F). This helps kill pathogens and weed seeds.
7. WAIT AND USE THE COMPOST
Our compostable packaging can take several months to break down, depending on the size of the pieces and the conditions in your compost pile. The compost is ready to use when it is dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling with no recognisable pieces of the original packaging.
WHY COMPOSTING MATTERS
By composting our packaging, you are not only reducing waste but also creating nutrient-rich soil that can benefit your garden. Composting helps divert waste from landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and enriches the soil with essential nutrients, promoting healthier plant growth.
JOIN US IN OUR SUSTAINABLE JOURNEY
At Bush Harvest Co, we are proud to offer products that care for your skin and the environment. By choosing our sustainably packaged products and composting them at home, you are making a positive impact on our planet. Together, we can nurture the environment and enjoy the beauty of sustainable living!
