In today’s world, where environmental concerns are at the forefront, consumers are increasingly seeking clean beauty products that benefit their skin and minimize their impact on the planet. Dr. Bronner’s, a renowned clean beauty brand, recognizes the importance of sustainability and is actively taking steps to address its plastic use and drive positive change.
Dr. Bronner’s is committed to driving sustainable actions beyond clean beauty. The brand actively works to make its packaging more sustainable, support circularity and reuse, and explore alternative materials.
Minimizing Plastic Packaging
Dr. Bronner’s acknowledges that plastic packaging is a significant concern for its customers. While the company already offers non-plastic options like Bar Soaps and Organic Magic Balms, the majority of its products are currently packaged in plastic. However, Dr. Bronner’s is committed to reducing its ecological and social impacts by pursuing various strategies. The brand understands that shifting away from plastic packaging is a complex process that requires time and careful consideration of alternative options.
Post-Consumer Recycled and Recyclable Plastic
Dr. Bronner’s has been a pioneer in using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic for its bottles. The company packages Pure Castile Liquid Soap in 100% PCR plastic bottles. By choosing PCR plastic, Dr. Bronner’s ensures that less energy is required for production compared to virgin plastic. Additionally, using PCR plastic helps create market demand for recycled plastic, making plastic collection and recycling more economically viable worldwide. Currently, 80% of Dr. Bronner’s plastic packaging comes from PCR material. Furthermore, the brand is working on reducing the size of its labels to improve the recycling process and minimize overall plastic usage.
Exploring Sustainable Alternatives
Dr. Bronner’s is actively exploring alternative packaging materials including conducting Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs) to evaluate the environmental impact of different materials. Surprisingly, mostly-paper cartons emerged as having the smallest environmental impact among the single-use packages evaluated. As a result, Dr. Bronner’s is researching and piloting cartons as a potential alternative to plastic packaging.
Embracing Reuse and Refilling
Dr. Bronner’s has encouraged customers to buy its soaps in bulk and refill their own containers. This practice reduces single-use plastic consumption and promotes circularity. The brand also collaborates with retailers to offer refill stations, where customers can refill their containers with soap. Additionally, Dr. Bronner’s actively explores options for reusing and recycling its empty containers, including a container mail-back program and exploring different bulk container and distribution designs. By embracing these initiatives, the brand aims to minimize waste and create a more sustainable product lifecycle.
