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Waste is, undoubtedly, a problemin the beauty industry.
One way to combat that waste may be found in an obvious ally: the food industry.
It’s up to us folks on the beauty side to offer and repurpose an olive branch.
“Upcycling is the way forward, because as an industry, beauty is in competition with food.
“There are a lot of us on this planet, and not that much land for agriculture.
There’s now competition for that land, and that puts more and more pressure on resources.”
Repurposing waste is one method of lightening this pressure.
(That’s about 24 million tons of bananas that go straight to the garbage!
“Bananas have healing and antimicrobial properties,” says cosmetic chemistGinger King.
“There are even [brands making] preservatives from banana leaves.”
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Olive groves are equally useful ground.
Last year, minimalist skin-care brandCircumferencesourced unused olive leaves from buzzy, California-based olive oil brandBrightland.
It’s taking the idea of trash as treasure to the nth degree.
“It’s a win-win for everyone,” Marcos explains.
It contributes to a more circular economy.”
This optimized economy could be especially vital for small-operation farmers, who could turn their waste into additional revenue.
Upcycling gives waste “an economic value [it] did not previously have,” says Hirsch.
And second: Reinforce the idea that upcycling food waste isn’t just a brand-builder orsustainabilitytalking point.
(And as consumers, we can give our dollars to brands making that effort. )
More on sustainability in beauty:
Now, watch a chef’s beauty routine:
