Indie Beauty Pioneer Credo Phases Out Single-Use Plastic, PFAS, and Other Package Toxins

Cruelty-free cosmetic retailer Credo Beauty has phased out single-use products and packaging. In addition, it has eliminated brands that use substances like per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other toxins in its packaging.

40% single-use plastics are dumped in oceans

As much as 40% of the 17.6 billion pounds of plastic that ends up in our oceans is single-use plastic.

More than 855 billion tiny plastic sachets are discarded each year. They are not recyclable. The beauty sector alone produces 122 billion single-use sample sachets every year, and only a handful can actually be recycled. Credo Beauty used to distribute 660,000 sachets and 3,000 pounds of single-use products like masks and wipes annually.

Apart from single-use packaging, around 50% of U.S. cosmetic products contain toxic “forever chemicals”, also known as PFAS. The study analyzed samples from major brands like L’Oréal, Mac, and Nars and showed that exposure to the high content of PFAS can put consumers at a huge risk, causing cancer, hypertension, thyroid disease, low birth weight, and immunotoxicity in children.

Action against plastic and toxins

In June last year, U.S.- based Credo Beauty set guidelines for its 130+ partner brands to phase out single-use products and packaging. This includes sheet masks, make-up wipes, cleansing pads, and other single-use items, like sample packets.

In addition, it asked brands to eliminate substances like per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and some bisphenols in their product packaging. The retailer focused on bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), but insisted that all its brands incorporate packaging free from all bisphenols.

In the past, Credo has introduced strict product requirements through its Credo Clean Standard and The Dirty List ensuring that none of the products contain harmful chemicals. Credo now believes its products are all free of PFAS, PVC, and bisphenols.

Read: Mono Launches First 100% Zero-Waste Vegan Skincare Pastilles To End Beauty Packaging

Recycling program

The retailer joined forces with Mob Beauty, Hudson’s Bay, and Element Packaging to establish Pact. It is a not-for-profit recycling program that aims to recycle beauty packaging which is quite small compared to a yoghurt cup. This includes pumps, caps, and squeezable tubes.

As part of this initiative, Credo Beauty installed recycling bins in 10 of its stores and in 20 of its Hudson’s Bay stores in Canada. By the end of 2021, the bins will be set up at all 87 outlets of Hudson’s Bay stores. There will even be a mail-back system via Mob Beauty.

Reusable jar

Credo has unveiled a reusable sample jar called REJAR. Created from upcycled green tea fibers, customers can clean their jars and bring them back to the store for a refill, or place them in a recycling bin and earn reward points.

Credo is presently working on smart designs and circular solutions like introducing products in refillable formats, with clear disposal instructions and lifecycle analysis, and reusable packaging ensuring that there is zero landfill waste.

Going forward, the company will be working on phase 2, which will ensure that the packaging doesn’t have more than 50% virgin petrochemical plastic by June 2023.

Read: Reusable & Refillable: You Can Now Find Loop’s Circular Packaging At E-Tailer Ulta Beauty For Burt’s Bees, Dermalogica & More

Lead image courtesy of Credo Beauty.