L'Oréal Australia has launched a recycling service with US company TerraCycle through which the cosmetics giant’s products, as well as other companies’ SKUs, can be sent by consumers via post to a recycling facility.
The majority of cosmetics, because of their relatively intricate structures, cannot be recycled in the way that ordinary paper and plastic can. They can be, however, through the new system launched by the two companies, according to HuffingtonPost.com.au.
CEO of TerraCycle, Tom Szaky, told the publication that the company’s aim “is taking traditionally unrecyclable products and making them recyclable to divert as much waste as possible from landfill.
"We're able to recycle glass because it is valuable. But something like a mascara tube, because of its complex structure, actually costs more to collect and process than it's worth. Consumers collect their empty beauty products at home and send them to TerraCycle to be recycled with L'Oréal Australia offsetting the economic costs involved.”
On its website, TerraCycle describes how the process works: “Collect your used personal care and beauty product packaging in any box. When you are ready to send in a shipment, download a shipping label from your TerraCycle account by clicking ‘Request a postage label’ and follow the prompts. Print out your label and tape it securely onto your box. Ship the box to TerraCycle by dropping it off at your nearby post office.”
Christine Burke, corporate communications director of L'Oréal Australia, said, "Sustainable development is integrated into L'Oréal's long term strategy and we are committed to making a difference.”
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Peter Donnelly. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
