THE ECO-CONSCIOUS BEAUTY BRANDS YOU NEED TO KNOW

It should be news to no-one that the world has a major plastic problem.

Australia is one of the world’s biggest contributors to the problem, with the amount of waste produced per capita growing by nearly 10 per cent each year. According to a recent report by the World Bank, at the rate at which we’re going, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. (Yes, really.) It’s safe to say that this shit ain’t sustainable and we need to do more to protect our environment.

So, what can you do to help? Beyond pestering your friends to buy a keep cup for their morning coffee (there’s really no excuse) and refusing single-use plastic, you can also support beauty brands who are taking a stand against our plastic problem.

Below, the Gritty Pretty round-up of eco-conscious beauty brands you need to know.

King of haircare and king of our hearts. Late last year, Australian hair legend Kevin Murphy announced that going forward, his brand’s packaging will be made from 100 per cent recycled ocean plastics. As in, no new plastic production. Zilch.

These revolutionary new bottles — which repurpose part of the estimated 150 million tonnes of plastic floating in the ocean — hit our shelves this year. Better yet, all past packaging will be entirely phased out by 2020. Did we mention that all of their packaging is either recyclable or biodegradable, too?

This move is part of Kevin Murphy’s long-standing commitment to environmentally-sustainable practices. The brand’s commitment spans across their salons and product offering — from water conservation and waste management initiatives, to their stance against animal cruelty. Just when we thought we couldn’t love Kevin Murphy any more.

RMS beauty did eco-conscious beauty before it was cool. Created in 2008 by celebrity makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift, the cult brand’s cruelty-free, organic products — such as their “Un” Cover-Up Concealer, Eye Polishes and Living Luminizer (all of which are firm GP editor faves) — are housed in recycled glass pots with aluminium lids.

All new RMS beauty products (think lipsticks, oils, mascaras and cheek colours) are housed in either recyclable, biodegradable or compostable packaging. Safe to say, we are major fans.

Love Beauty & Planet entered the Australian market with a bang earlier this year. The brand’s MO? To create a clean body care range that won’t break the bank or harm the planet. Love Beauty & Planet products are packed in recycled plastic bottles that are also 100 per cent recyclable. Interestingly, the brand’s conditioners use fast-rinse technology — meaning you spend less time in the shower, and in turn, use less water. Genius.

At this stage, the lids aren’t recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. However, Love Beauty & Planet are fast-developing an environmentally sustainable alternative. We’ll keep you posted.

Proving that being organic definitely does not equal compromise when it comes to quality, ILIA are the new cool-girl on the block. An ongoing dedication to transparency is part of this ethical brand’s core ethos. While ILIA are perhaps best-known for their rich, pigmented lipsticks, we love their serum makeup line — including the True Skin Serum Foundation and the Liquid Light Serum Highlighter — which hydrates and creates an ethereal glow.

Now, for the packaging — all products are cased in recycled aluminium and glass, as well as post-consumer recycled paper, which is printed on only with vegetable dyes. So, we think it’s fair to say that ILIA are clean in every sense of the word.

Founded in New Zealand by Elizabeth Barbalich almost a decade ago, Antipodes have been dedicated to environmentally-responsible practices from day dot. Subscribing to a green beauty ethos, the brand focuses on sustainable ingredients — including premium palm oil, which is sourced only from non-fragile ecosystems.

Antipodes are also the first ever beauty brand to partner with the world’s biggest conservation organisation, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This NZ-based brand are doing great things with the profits from their products.

Now, for the packaging. All of Antipodes’ primary packaging, including their trademark brown alchemist bottles and aluminium tubes, is recyclable. Not only that, all external packaging is biodegradable and printed on with vegetable inks. It’s never been so easy to be green.

Tell us, how important is environmental responsibility to you when it comes to beauty?

What are your favourite environmentally-conscious beauty brands?