13 Beauty Brands That Boast Zero Waste

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The detrimental impact of waste on the earth has been documented worldwide. Plastic waste and debris litter the bustling streets of major cities such as New York and Paris. In places far more remote and arguably hallowed mountain ranges such as Mt. Everest battle the same plastic mess, as waste is discarded along the trekking route. In the depths of the earth's deepest reach below sea, waste is found along the ocean floor, where it will slowly decompose long after we've gone. 

In a busy, hustling world of to-go containers and product consumption, many major brands across all industries have committed to serving a purpose that'll stop the wasteful impact that humans have made on our collective home. The beauty industry alone is responsible for millions of packaging units of waste per year, but in recent years have turned to a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly way of production and consumption. 

Below, we'll be taking a look at some of the top beauty brands that are committed to their duty of sustainability and zero waste.

Danish makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis was an in-demand powerhouse before founding her sustainability-based makeup brand, working on well-known circuits such as Vogue, Elle, and Marie Clarie. Throughout the years, she would see her clients tolerate irritated skin from synthetic products, all in the name of beauty. This led her to create a leading brand in clean makeup products, tending to the environment while still perfecting the luxury of beauty. "I was working on photoshoots every day, doing makeup on models for magazines, I had my kit of my favorite brands I would bring with me. I would lay it out and every week, hands down, someone would say that they were allergic to some product or couldn't use another because it made their eyes itch or their face break out," she shares on her brand's official page.

All products are packaged in refillable metal compacts and compostable packaging. "The dream was to have true luxury packaging that was also sustainable. It seemed like the two were always separate, green and luxury, and I wanted to prove that you could leave out all compromises and have it all in one," Weis shared with Alyaka. "It proved challenging to have it also be sustainable, and that's how it turned into a refill system. I feel truly blessed to have worked with a great design hero of mine, Marc Atlan. He completely exceeded all of my expectations with the design and I am so grateful."

Croon is a leading brand in sustainable makeup wipes. Notoriously known for its wasteful contributions, makeup wipes — which are typically a one-time use product — were overdue for a makeover. Croon has created multi-use microfiber pads to remove makeup, exfoliate, and also cleanse the skin while only using water. Enviromental-friendly consumers can rejoice, as these makeup pads are reusable for up to 200 washes, which is roughly the equivalent of 400 one-time-use makeup wipes.

Launched in 2018 and based in New York City, Croon's mission is to create a thriving environment with their products, without one-time use and wasteful throwaways. "Croon is built on the belief that life feels fullest and most beautiful when we have our health, family, friends, and a thriving environment. We should only spend time or money on things that support those elements — anything else is a waste," reads the founder's story on the company's official website.

Juice Beauty is a sustainable brand with farm-to-beauty formulations made with homegrown and locally-sourced organic ingredients. Additionally, Juice Beauty promotes sustainability in its packaging. This environmentally-conscious beauty brand uses 100% FSC paper, 100% bioresin sample and travel tubes, and glass for 32% of its packaging, an ideal transaction for consumers looking to do their part in reducing their eco-footprint. Consumers enjoy how simple yet impactful this is.

In addition to its packaging promoting eco-friendly ways, this Northern California brand's headquarters and farm are further transparent in their commitment to sustainability, with nearly all of the farm's operations being solar-powered. Juice Beauty is committed to providing its consumers with clean skincare, boasting results that brighten and firm the skin, with blemish and oil control along with providing a microbiome glow to the skin, all the while providing a commitment to reducing carbon footprint and eliminate wasteful impacts on the environment. 

Founder Karen Behnke shares with The Helm her inspiration behind her brand: "Conventional brands start with all this butylene and propylene and petroleum glycols, and then they put some powerful chemicals in there, so it works. Then the natural brands start with water and are diluted. So my concept was, well, what if we start with organic botanical juices, organic jojobas, grapeseed, etc., which are already jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients and rich in antioxidants."

Beauty entrepreneur Brianne West started experimenting with eco-friendly ingredients in 2012. At this time, the reduction of plastic waste wasn't too much at the forefront of the minds of both consumer and retailer, and she knew she had a responsibility to change that. "I started Ethique out of frustration for the abhorrent amount of waste created by the cosmetics industry, and in particular, the amount of plastic and waste created by our bathroom essentials. I figured out that up to 95% of your bottle of conditioner is made up of water – which is just ridiculous considering you have water in your bathroom!" she stated on the main Ethique Beauty webpage. 

It wasn't long after that her commitment to reducing harmful waste picked up momentum, with media moguls such as Forbes and The Huffington Post taking notice. In 2016, the brand went global and is now thriving in over 2,000 retail stores in 25 countries.

Committed to improving the environment and eliminating plastic use, Apo.Ge is a sure favorite for beauty consumers. Certified organic products are carefully sourced to deliver high-quality, clean products for consumers looking to be health and wellness conscious. The three pillars of Apo.Ge are honey, hemp, and humans: Consumers can soothe their skin in honey-infused creams with antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins, while hemp works to lock in moisture, all the while balancing the skin's natural oils. 

With a focus on the wellness of humans, Apo.Ge is committed to providing a line of products that inspire humans to live a more purposeful lifestyle, committed to wellness and simplicity. Packaged in neutral warm greens, oranges, and yellows, Apo.Ge is additionally branded as unisex, with their products promoted for all genders with the same equality in each skin product. Consumers can enjoy a user-friendly and convenient experience of purchasing products online through their main website.

ATHR Beauty is another favorite for those who seek clean beauty products that are eco-friendly. Founder Tilia Abbitt created the brand to "bridge the gap between ethical beauty, sustainability, and truly high-performing, innovative, and luxurious vegan formulas." Her commitment to protecting the earth has been a career-life road, as the former Head of Sustainability at beauty powerhouse brand Sephora and former product developer. In her sustainability efforts, she created the first zero-waste eyeshadow pallet in 2018. 

Propelled and passionate to further her efforts, she ensures all packaging is made from recyclable materials that are free from over 3,000 harmful ingredients that are detrimental to not only humans but plants and animals as well. Their organic, biodegradable products are made in factories that are U.S., Canada, and Europe-based to ensure fair treatment of the workers. Once sold, a 1% donation is made to environmental charities with each purchase made through their official webpage.