Sephora, a leading beauty retailer, has joined forces with the nonprofit Pact Collective to launch an innovative recycling program called Beauty (Re)Purposed. This initiative aims to tackle the beauty industry's waste problem by giving hard-to-recycle beauty and wellness packaging a second life. With over 120 billion packages generated by the beauty and wellness industries each year, most of which end up in landfills, this partnership is a significant step towards a more sustainable future.
Starting in May 2023, the Beauty (Re)Purposed program will be available at more than 600 Sephora stores across the U.S. and Canada. Customers can bring their clean, empty beauty products to participating stores, where they will be collected and sent to Pact Collective for recycling. The empties will be sorted by polymer type, cleaned, and extruded into plastic pellets to create new recycled products. Some materials may also be downcycled, molecularly recycled, or converted to energy.
To encourage participation, Sephora offers Beauty Pass points to customers who recycle their empty beauty products. Those who recycle between 1-5 items will receive 50 points, while those who recycle between 5-10 items will earn 100 points. This rewards system not only incentivizes recycling but also fosters a sense of responsibility among consumers.
The partnership between Sephora and Pact Collective goes beyond just recycling. It also focuses on educating consumers about the importance of proper waste disposal and the complexities of discarding beauty packaging. By providing accessible information through various channels, including social media, digital platforms, and in-store promotions, the two organizations aim to raise awareness and inspire more people to participate in the program.
In addition to the in-store recycling program, Pact Collective offers a mail-back service for customers who cannot access a Sephora store. For a fee of $8, customers can send their empty beauty products directly to Pact for recycling. This ensures that even those who live far from a Sephora store can still contribute to the cause.
The Beauty (Re)Purposed program is a testament to Sephora's commitment to sustainability and its dedication to finding innovative solutions for reducing waste in the beauty industry. By partnering with Pact Collective, Sephora is taking a significant step towards a greener future and setting an example for other companies to follow.
