Podcast 188: The great plastic recycling myth

Growing up in the Netherlands, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier learned the value of recycling plastic from an early age. However, the prevailing culture of single-use plastics she experienced in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States was in stark contrast to the practices in the Netherlands.

With a career background as a Chartered Environmentalist and a biologist, Lorraine is finely tuned to any cosmetics firms’ claims about sustainable packaging, plastic-free alternatives and other green credentials. While many big players are moving towards more responsible packaging systems, a pressing question remains: what really happens to our recycled plastics? Is the labeling of certain plastic cosmetic packaging as recyclable, blindsiding us and akin to greenwashing?

In last week’s podcast, Lorraine interviewed Dr Suvi Haimi, Co-Founder and CEO of Sulapac, who brought to light the myth of plastic recyclability, revealing that some plastics can only be recycled once. In today’s Green Beauty Opinions, Lorraine explores this crucial issue.

“Even if we all dispose of our plastics thinking they’ll be recycled, what actually happens to them? We need to challenge the myth of plastic recyclability.”

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Key takeaways from this episode on plastic recycling:

• The reality of plastic recycling: despite efforts, the recycling rates globally are far from ideal. For instance, only 5% of plastic waste was recycled in the US in 2021.
• The limitations of recycling plastics: unlike aluminium or glass, recycling plastic degrades its quality, often leading to “down-cycling” rather than the creation of new, similar products.
• The truth about PCR plastics: post-consumer recycled plastics used by some cosmetic brands are not infinitely recyclable. Brands using PCR plastics often make sustainability claims that don’t necessitate consumer recycling or composting after use.
• A call to scrutinise cosmetic packaging: understand the materials used in your cosmetic packaging and consider this in your future beauty product choices.
• Moving beyond appearances: prioritise sustainability not just in product appearance but also in packaging.

 
If you enjoyed this episode on cosmetic packaging and alternatives to plastic in beauty, do delve back into the podcast archives. Go and listen to these related episodes and topics:

Episode 143: The brand creating mascara tubes to last 2,500 years.
Episode 117: Should beauty go plastic free?
Episode 118: Plastic is not the enemy – we are.
Episode 115: The microplastics hiding in your cosmetics.
Episode 112: The dirty business of beauty waste.
Episode 93: Innovative beauty packaging with mushroom and seeds.

 
Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on iTunes, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.