*"Living waste-free is about prevention"* - Elisah Pals Zero Waste is a fascinating concept. It’s about reaching a point where waste simply doesn’t exist—whether you’re an individual, a company, or a government. It’s a bold vision of a waste-free economy, [[Circular economy]]. This relates closely to [[Biodegradability]]. Waste that isn't biodegradable, doesn't have to be harmful perse. But as the human population increased and consumerism sky rocketed, waste is piling up. We have to be very, very, critical about the end of life of products. And for the cosmetics industry, it’s one of the greatest challenges we face. Waste is, arguably, the biggest environmental issue in our industry, especially when it comes to packaging. Most cosmetic packaging ends up in landfills across the globe. According to the British Beauty Council, 95% of cosmetic packaging isn’t recycled. That’s staggering when you consider Zero Waste Week’s research showing 120 billion units of packaging are produced annually. A quick calculation suggests that over 114 billion units are discarded each year. But the problem doesn’t stop at packaging. Other waste streams in the industry include: - Single-use items, such as wet wipes—11 billion are thrown away each year. - Product waste: 20–40% of beauty products become waste, often due to expiration, overproduction, or unused gifts.[^1] - Production and logistics inefficiencies. - The ingredients themselves—sustainable sourcing is important, but Zero Waste ingredients alone don’t make a Zero Waste product. ### Related - [[Plastic can't be virgin]] - [[Biodegradability]] - [[Watch your waste]] [^1]: https://www.businesswaste.co.uk/news/beauty-industry-problems-recycling-plan/