ELC partners with SMI to improve luxury cosmetic packaging recyclability; collaboration tested over 200 glass containers, developing design best practices for industry adoption

Partnering for Progress

This partnership, spanning from 2020 to 2024, sought to identify and overcome the challenges associated with recycling luxury cosmetic packaging, particularly focusing on the aesthetic elements—colors, decorations, and formats—that can often complicate recyclability.

Through in-depth testing of over 200 glass beauty containers, ELC and SMI have yielded new insights into what makes glass packaging more efficiently sortable and recyclable. This collaboration has not only resulted in design best practices for more sustainable packaging but also has laid the groundwork for broader industry adoption of these practices.

Understanding the Recycling Supply Chain

In North America, the complex recycling supply chain is comprised of a variety of stakeholders, from companies that produce packaged finished products—such as ELC—to material providers, sorters, reclaimers, and recyclers of a particular material like glass—such as SMI. While recyclers like SMI devote resources to creating as much value as possible from the packages received, a lack of high-quality post-consumer recycled (PCR) furnace-ready glass, or cullet, availability has created a need to continue improving contamination rates by having a cleaner stream of materials to begin with. This not only helps increase the amount of material that gets recycled through their facilities but also generates higher quality recycled glass.

This initiative supports ELC's broader efforts to reduce the GHG emissions associated with our packaging while maintaining the high-quality experience our consumers expect. We use a variety of packaging materials, including glass, and aim to deliver a luxury experience while driving responsible packaging solutions. Our packaging sustainability goals are integrated into our climate action strategy. By 2025, we aim for 75-100% of our packaging to be recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled, or recoverable. Additionally, we plan to increase the amount of PCR material in our packaging to 25% or more and reduce virgin petroleum plastic in our packaging to 50% or less by the end of 2030.

Climate Week NYC and Beyond

This year, ELC and SMI will publish the findings of our study during Climate Week NYC, a forum that provides us with an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing conversation about sustainability in the beauty industry. We hope that by sharing these findings publicly, we can inspire innovation in packaging design across the cosmetics industry, promoting practices that not only enhance recyclability but also support local and national efforts to increase recycling rates.

ELC’s continued partnership with Climate Week NYC underscores our belief that collective action is essential in addressing the environmental challenges we all face. By working with partners like SMI and engaging in dialogue with others who share our concerns, we’re striving to make a positive impact wherever we can.

Moving Forward Together

Our collaboration with SMI is just one step on our sustainability journey, but it’s one that we believe holds promise for the future. By focusing on the recyclability of glass packaging, we’re aiming to balance the luxury experience our customers expect with the need for environmental stewardship. We know there is always more to do, and we’re committed to continuing this work, learning from our experiences, and seeking out new ways to make an impact.