On the hunt for skincare’s next big thing? Look no further than your kitchen scraps.

Food waste upcycling is gaining major momentum in beauty sustainability—and brands are only getting started. This innovative approach challenges conventional notions of waste, repurposing discarded ingredients into skincare superheroes. By-products like coffee grounds transform into gentle natural exfoliants, leftovers from oil processing deeply nourish the skin, and peels, seeds, and leaves from fruits and veggies boost skin health while minimizing impact on the planet. In this new world of upcycling, there’s beauty in the breakdown, where waste becomes a new form of wellness (BEAUTYSTREAMS).

Meet the new natural ingredients revolutionizing sustainable beauty. Did we mention they’re made in a lab?

If you’re a beauty brand, it’s time to get behind biotech. As our world tackles increasingly scarce resources It’s time to embrace the lab, where science and sustainability converge to shape a new era of safe, effective beauty products for both people and the planet. Biotech reimagines natural actives or unveils entirely new ones, all within the lab. The result? A shift away from damaging chemical ingredients and more protection for endangered natural sources. Processes like bio-synthesis slash waste and maximize output of active ingredients, meeting consumer sustainability demands head-on (BEAUTYSTREAMS).

Consumers are so over single-use plastics. Enter: paper. The new packaging powerhouse.

 As concerns over climate change climb, the beauty industry is making a decisive shift towards sustainable packaging. Compared to plastic, paper boasts significantly lower carbon emissions, generating just 0.94kg CO2/kg. Its exceptional recyclability, with the ability to be recycled up to seven times, outstrips plastic’s dismal 9% recycling rate. From shipping materials to the product itself, beauty brands are overhauling their packaging strategy to put paper forward. Plastic cartons are swapped for recyclable paper versions (slashing carbon emissions by 50%) and bubble wrap is nixed in favor of 100% recycled paper air cushions—curbside recyclable and biodegradable.

But it’s not just about cutting emissions; it’s about embracing a circular economy. Paper biodegrades swiftly, mitigating environmental impact even in landfill conditions. As the beauty industry doubles down on sustainability, the rise of paper packaging promises a cleaner, greener future for all (WGSN).