Why Packaging Choices Matter
When people think about microplastics in skincare, they often focus on what’s inside the formula. But an often-overlooked source is the packaging itself.
Most skincare products are still packaged in plastic. Over time, plastic packaging doesn’t disappear — it slowly breaks down into microplastics, tiny particles that persist in the environment and can accumulate in soil, waterways, and oceans.
The Scale of the Issue
• The global beauty industry produces over 120 billion units of packaging every year
• Plastic accounts for the majority of skincare and cosmetic packaging
• Around 95% of beauty packaging is discarded after use
• Of all plastic packaging produced globally, less than 10% is ultimately recycled
The rest is landfilled, incinerated, or lost to the environment — where it can fragment into microplastics over time.
How Packaging Contributes to Microplastics
Plastic packaging can become a source of microplastics in several ways:
• Environmental breakdown
• Exposure to sunlight, heat, and physical wear causes plastic bottles, tubes, and caps to slowly fragment into microscopic particles.
• Low recycling rates
• Many skincare packages use mixed materials (for example, pumps made from plastic, metal, and rubber), which makes them difficult to recycle through standard systems.
• Long environmental lifespan
Unlike natural materials, plastic does not biodegrade. Once discarded, it remains in the environment for decades, continuously breaking down into smaller plastic particles.
Even products made without added microplastic ingredients can still contribute to microplastic pollution through traditional packaging choices.
Why This Matters
Microplastics have now been found everywhere — from oceans and marine life to air, water, and human tissues. While research into long-term health impacts is ongoing, the environmental footprint of plastic waste is well established.
Reducing unnecessary plastic — especially single-use packaging — is one of the most direct ways brands can lower their contribution to this growing problem.
Our Approach
This is why we carefully consider not just what goes into our skincare, but what surrounds it.
By prioritising thoughtful packaging design and exploring alternatives to conventional plastics, we aim to reduce waste, minimise environmental impact, andsupport a more responsible future for skincare.
Because sustainability isn’t only about ingredients — it’s about the whole product lifecycle.
Sources & Further Reading
Our approach to microplastics and packaging is informed by independent research and guidance from leading environmental andscientific organisations.
These sources help shape our understanding of microplastic pollution, packaging waste, and material lifecycleimpacts.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Global research and policy guidance on plastic pollution and microplastics.
European Environment Agency (EEA) Scientific assessments on microplastics, packaging waste, and environmental impact across consumer industries.
Pew Charitable Trusts Research on plastic waste streams, packaging design, and long-term environmental consequences.
National Geographic Science-based reporting on microplastics in ecosystems, water, air, and everyday products.
Peer-reviewed scientific literature Including studies on secondary microplastics generated through plastic degradation and consumer packaging use.
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