Data Dive: How The Beauty Industry Relies on Plastic

Source: Andrew B Myers

2 MINUTE READ

14 Nov 2023
Emma Grace Bailey

PlasticFree unearths the truth about plastic in the beauty industry, giving you the data you need to know to convince key stakeholders that a plastic-free future isn't only an environmental imperative, but an economical one too.

Discover how plastic plagues personal care, where this single-use material ends up, the expected exponential growth in use under business-as-usual, and exactly what your consumer is looking for. Hint: it's not plastic.

THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY USES A LOT OF PLASTIC

$39.32 billion

The projected value of the global cosmetic packaging market by 2027, most of which is plastic (Fordham University, 2022)

9/10

products from the best-selling cosmetics brands contain plastic (Euromonitor, 2018)

7.9 billion

units of rigid plastic were created just for the beauty and personal care industry in the US in 2018 (Euromonitor, 2018)

Source: Ted Cavanaugh

Source: Sergiy Barchuk

MOST OF THIS IS THROWN AWAY - EITHER IN THE BIN OR DOWN THE DRAIN

70%

of the beauty industry's waste comes from packaging (Zero Waste Week, 2022)

50%

Only half of people dispose of their bathroom waste correctly (Hubbub)

96%

of all beauty and personal care packaging is thrown away (British Beauty Council)

AND IT'S NOT SLOWING DOWN

+1.9%

Virgin plastic packaging use in the beauty and personal care sector increased by 1.9% between 2020 and 2021 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021)

300 billion

pieces of plastic packaging will be thrown away in the UK by 2060 under BAU (OECD, 2022)

Source: found/Founded

DESPITE WHAT WE'RE TOLD, BARELY ANY OF IT IS RECYCLED

>10%

Of the seven billion tonnes of plastic waste generated globally by 2020, less than 10 percent had been recycled (UNEP, 2022)

YOUR CONSUMER IS LOOKING FOR PLASTIC-FREE OPTIONS

+1,050%

Breakout search term: Plastic Free Face Moisturise +1,050% in the last five years

+450%

Searches for 'plastic-free deodorant' have increased by +450% in the last five years

+300%

Searches for 'plastic-free wet wipes' have increased by +300% in the last five years

Source: Google Trends, last 5 years as of October 2023, worldwide

CONTINUING TO USE PLASTIC WILL QUICKLY IMPACT YOUR BOTTOM LINE

$100 billion

Industry could face an annual $100 billion financial risk by 2040 is required to cover global plastic waste collection and management (Pew Trust, 2020)

$120 billion

aa year globally is lost to the economy following the short first-use cycle of plastic (OECD, 2022)

HOW TO ACTION IT

1

Talk to your customer about plastic

It's not a given that consumers know about the plastic used in the beauty industry, or why. Have an open conversation about your use of it, and how you're planning to reduce it. The honesty will be refreshing.

2

Be honest about recycling

Claiming that your plastic packaging is recyclable is tantamount to greenwashing. While some plastic can be recycled, there is no guarantee that it will be, and your consumer is quickly learning this truth.

3

Invest in plastic-free innovation

The world is moving away from plastic, especially in its single-use state. Innovating in plastic-free, reusable solutions now will future-proof your business against upcoming legislation.