It's the little things
Let's talk trash.
Welcome to a new week!
Last year, I wrote a post here in The LIFT about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Do you remember that? We talked about PVC, shower curtains + how only 5% of our plastic waste here in the U.S. gets recycled.
Plastic waste is one of those topics that gets pretty depressing fast. It’s a big mess and the more you learn, the more hopeless it seems.
But, don’t worry. I’m not going down that rabbit hole today. Instead, I want to share one small thing you can do that can have a meaningful impact.
It is something I wouldn’t even know about it, if it weren’t for the work I do. So, I thought I’d share it with you! You ready?
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LESS PLASTIC WASTE
If you’re like me, you are concerned with microplastics, PFAS and the endless impact of plastic waste. You’re trying to avoid single-use plastic. Cook at home more often. Buy in bulk. Opt for glass instead of plastic when possible. All that jazz. If you’re not, it’s a great time to start.
One of the more problematic areas for recycling is in the beauty industry. Every year, about 120 billion cosmetic packages are created and only a fraction of those will get recycled.
Why? Our recycling system is just not set up for them.
SIZE: A lot of the packaging of cosmetics is small. These items are not caught by the material recovery machines and instead end up in the landfills or incinerators.
MATERIAL: Most beauty packaging is not labeled with recycling numbers so consumers don’t know how to properly dispose. This also makes it very hard for those working in the recycling facilities. We often don’t know what the materials are.
MIXED MATERIAL: A lot of this type of packaging is made of different types of materials. For example, a squeezable tube can be layers of different materials. Compacts and pumps are often made of multiple materials. These items can not be recycled through traditional systems because we can’t separate them.
So, what do we do?
First, now that you know the challenges, you can try to make purchases with these things in mind. You can also shop companies that are trying to be more sustainable in their packaging - as well as those that clearly label their products for recycling.
Beyond that - there’s Pact Collective - a nonprofit dedicated to uniting the beauty industry to take responsibility for packaging waste and work collaboratively toward circular packaging solutions.
I love what this organization is doing.
First, by bringing the industry together to solve the greater issue collaboratively. Next, by providing collection bins and mail-back programs to collect empties from consumers and divert them from landfills. Lastly, they are strategically leveraging the data on all of that collected material as a knowledge hub that can help the industry design more sustainable packaging and produce less waste to begin with.
Here’s the current list of items Pact will accept as long as they are clean and empty:
Plastic bottles + jars smaller than a fist
Plastic + aluminum squeezable tubes
Ceramic + porcelain containers
Colored glass bottles + jars (varies heavily by location; check locally)
Caps + closures
Pumps + dispensers
Droppers + applicators
Compacts + palettes
Lipstick/lip gloss tubes + applicators
Mascara tubes + wands
Plastic pencil components for eye/lip liner + brow pencils
Toothpaste tubes + dental floss containers
Silicone containers
Pouches
Supplement bottles
What I usually do is keep a bag in my closet where I collect these empty components. Once I have a few things in there, I do some clean up on them to meet the required guidelines - separating the components, washing them and the letting them dry.
My local Sephora (walking distance from me) has a collection bin where I can drop them off. You can find your closest bin or mail-in options here: FIND A PACT BIN.
They also tell you on their website which items you should recycle or dispose of at home.
If it sounds like a lot of work, I assure you, it’s not. They really do make it easy.
It’s one of those kind of chores that makes you feel better about yourself. You stand just a little bit taller as you drop your items into that bin.
You also become more and more aware of which items are hardest to deal with and best to avoid so you can make better choices at the point of sale.
I just dropped of a bag of items this week and it felt really good.
It’s just one small way to have a meaningful impact.
It’s not the answer, but it’s a start. And, isn’t that where everything begins?
YOUR MISSION:
This week, I challenge you as you do your spring cleaning or use up the last of your favorite moisturizer, mascara or toothpaste, to start collecting these items and get them ready for drop off. You could even offer to drop off items for a few friends or better yet, get together and clean your components together. What a perfect way to celebrate spring and Earth Day together in the weeks ahead. Will you give it a try?
RESOURCES:
VISIT: PACT Collective
READ: Plastic: Connecting the Dots | The LIFT 2023
READ: Why Is Eliminating Plastics From Beauty Products So Critical? | Forbes
IN SUMMARY:
I hope this inspires you to be a bit more conscious of the plastic waste in your personal care products going forward. If you’re looking for more sustainable skincare, body or cosmetics, that is my specialty! Reach out for recommendations and resources. Would love to help you out.
See you next week?
Meanwhile, reach out to me anytime!
Karen Friend Smith
Certified Health Coach & Environmental Health Specialist
Specializing in Perimenopause & Menopause
karen@itmaybemenopause.com
www.itMayBeMenopause.com
Instagram: @itmaybemenopause
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