How to recycle your beauty product?

You are now determined to sort like a real professional except that when it comes to your packaging of hygiene and beauty products, knowing where to throw what, is still very confused for you?

However, it is frankly not so complicated, it just takes a little upgrade in green mode to adopt the right reflexes. And the good news is that it's right here.

What is recycled?

Aluminium, glass, paper and cardboard are recyclable, as for plastic packaging, there are a few exceptions. To help you find your way around, here is a small list by material of your cosmetic packaging that goes for recycling:

• Aluminium packaging: Aluminium bottles and sprays (hairspray, dry shampoo, foams or deodorants) are recyclable just like steel.

• Cardboard and paper packaging: Both cardboard and paper are easily recycled, which means that you can throw away your packaging and your manuals in one go!

• Glass containers: Your glass jars containing your face and body creams or your scrubs are recyclable in the glass collection bins. In the same way as you do for your canned vegetables, do not forget to remove their lids which can go to the household waste bin. As for glass bottles (foundation, serums, etc.), there is no need to rinse them to avoid wasting water. The recycling steps will themselves clean the materials perfectly and separate their caps that you can put in the recycling.

• Plastic packaging: Plastic can be recycled, yes, but not in all its forms. Bottles with pumps (those of your body creams or your shampoos for example) can be recycled in their entirety provided they are empty. Ditto for roll-on deodorants which can be recycled with their cap.

What is not recycling (yet)?

As we explained to you above, plastic can be recycled, but not always! It is therefore important to know the exceptions that will end up with your household waste.

• Plastic jars: Those that contain your creams or hair masks are unfortunately not recyclable.

• Plastic tubes: Toothpastes, creams, their packaging in tubes are also not recyclable and should therefore be thrown away with your household waste.

• Plastic sticks: Deodorants, lipsticks and other sticks do not enter the recycling circuit either, so they go to the household waste bin.

• Make-up products: eyeshadow palettes, mascaras, lipsticks and other eyeliners cannot be recycled. But there are alternatives in points of sale thanks to boxes where you can deposit them (as for batteries or light bulbs) and they will then be recycled!

After this intensive refresher course, you have all the information you need to become a sorting professional. Think twice before throwing any beauty product packages into your recycling bin. And if that eye cream jar, moisturiser bottle, or eyeshadow palette can't be recycled, check to see if the brand or a third-party company can take it back.

Yes it can takes a little bit of time but our planet is worth it.

Elodie