Our packaging: glass, sugarcane tubes and paper

Reading time: 3 minutes

We choose packaging for two things: protecting the formula and being easy to recycle where you live. Every container in the range is judged against those two tests, and when they pull in different directions, the formula comes first. Here is what each container is made of, why we chose it and how to dispose of it.

At a glance

Frosted glass

Used for: essences such as Rice Water Essence, most serums and jars.

Glass keeps formulas stable and is widely recycled. It is the default choice for anything that does not need extra protection from air.

Before you recycle

1. Use up the product, then rinse the bottle or jar with warm water.
2. Unscrew the pump or dropper and set it aside. These contain small metal springs and mixed plastics, so they cannot go in with the glass.
3. Put the glass in your glass or mixed recycling, depending on how your area collects it.

Sugarcane-based tubes

Used for: cleansers, sunscreens and eye gels.

These tubes are made partly from sugarcane-based polyethylene. They go in the same recycling stream as other PE plastics where local facilities accept tubes.

Tip: when a tube seems empty, cut it open near the end. There is usually enough left for several more uses, and a clean tube is easier to recycle.

Airless pumps

Used for: Vitamin C 15 Serum and Retinal 0.1 Night Serum.

Air and light break both of these actives down. An airless pump pushes the formula up from below without letting air back in, so the last drop is protected as well as the first.

The trade-off is recycling. Airless packs combine several materials and are harder to recycle, so we use them only where the formula needs it.

Pump bottles

Gentle Body Wash comes in 200 ml and 400 ml pump bottles. The larger size lasts most people about three months of daily use, so it is the better pick if you want fewer bottles over a year.

The bottle is PET, which most household collections accept. The pump is not, so unscrew it and put it in general waste or a small-plastics drop-off.

Boxes

Sets such as the Morning Ritual Set ship in recycled paper boxes with molded pulp inserts. There is no plastic film, so the whole box goes in paper recycling.

Frequently asked questions

Can the pump from a glass bottle be recycled?

Usually not with household recycling, because of the metal spring and mixed plastics inside. Some areas have drop-off points for small mixed plastics, so check your local rules.

Why are vitamin C and retinal not in glass?

Both break down when exposed to air and light. A dropper bottle lets air in every time you open it, while an airless pump keeps the formula sealed until the last use.

Which size uses the least packaging?

The largest size of anything you use daily. A 400 ml bottle uses less plastic per millilitre than two 200 ml bottles.