Beauty brands in the UK are being offered a new, fully managed take-back option for their hard-to-recycle empty packaging, as part of next year’s Great British Beauty Clean Up initiative.
A new partnership between recycling company MYGroup and the British Beauty Council, to mark the annual awareness campaign which takes place in March, has been put in place to encourage more brands, retailers, salons and spas to do more to encourage packaging recycling.
The take-back scheme covers the safe and complete recovery of a wide range of used cosmetics and beauty products, including hazardous items and blister packs. All waste items can be deposited loose into specially designed, branded collection boxes placed in stores, salons, and more – MYGroup already provides these facilities for companies such as Boots, and then recycles the packaging at its facilities in Hull.
Additional discounts to activate the scheme are available to supporters of the British Beauty Council and Sustainable Beauty Coalition.
Next year’s Great British Beauty Clean Up campaign will run from 2 March 2026 and will tie in with Global Recycling Day (18 March) and the UN International Day of Zero Waste (30 March).
Many beauty packaging items are too small, composite or complex for kerbside collection, and they require specialist services from the likes of MYGroup – which cleans and then breaks down packaging into pellets for use in the manufacturing of new items.
Earlier this year, MYGroup became the first waste management company to join the British Beauty Council as a patron. As well as working with Boots, it has devised packaging recycling initiatives for Harrods, Cult Beauty, and Superdrug, among others.
Through its ReFactory arm, MYGroup turns recovered materials into new products, from injection-moulded items such as combs and mirrors to ‘MYBoard’ furniture and bespoke point-of-sale pieces made entirely from processed plastic waste.
Steve Carrie, MYGroup director, said: “We know the industry is determined to reduce its waste footprint, but consumers still struggle to recycle many everyday beauty items at home.
“Our work with the British Beauty Council on the Great British Beauty Clean Up focuses on removing barriers and providing businesses with a straightforward way to capture what kerbside systems simply can’t.”
He added: “We believe there must be a growing convergence between beauty brands and waste management partners to build the systems and drive the behaviours that will define a more sustainable sector.”
Victoria Brownlie, chief policy & sustainability officer at the British Beauty Council, remarked: “Knowing that only 9% of beauty waste is actually recycled, we hope that this programme will up our rates and educate people on how easy it is to reduce our impact.
“This is an easy way to get involved in our annual Great British Beauty Clean Up, and we can’t wait to see our bins up and down high streets, in offices, warehouses and beyond.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
