Whether sustainability is already at the top of your agenda, or, you’re planning to put your best foot forward in 2026 – now is the time to start planning for The Great British Beauty Clean Up, the industry’s only cross-sector initiative to reduce waste
In the UK alone, it is estimated that over 1.3bn units of cosmetic items are produced each year, with the British Beauty Council reporting that up to 95% of cosmetics packaging ends up being thrown away. The Great British Beauty Clean Up is designed to propel the industry’s effort to cut these numbers down.
Focusing on the entire waste system – including recycling, reuse/refill and reduce – the campaign brings the industry together to tackle its biggest sustainability issue. In it’s second year, the SBC is calling on brands, businesses, retailers, salons and other service providers to get involved.
Last year, the campaign reached more than 160m people with more than 50 businesses committing, these included John Lewis, Cult Beauty, Josh Wood Colour and others. This year, the organisation is dedicated to expanding its reach to increase awareness, promote education and incentivise better practice across the board.
Whether it’s incentivising existing recycling schemes, launching new take-backs in salons, spotlighting refill and reuse products on socials or simply amplifying campaign messaging it’s easy to get involved. Here’s how:
- Leading the Cultural Shift: Reuse & Refill – With legislative momentum accelerating across the UK and EU which is making non-circular, single-use packaging increasingly expensive, the case for reusable packaging has never been stronger. The campaign calls on brands to promote reusable and refillable products to transition consumers away from a “discard” culture.
- Stopping Product Waste: To prevent usable products from ending up in landfill, the GBBCU is spotlighting vital organisations such as This is Beauty, Beauty Banks, The Hygiene Bank and In Kind Direct, who work with brands and retailers to prevent surplus stock from being incinerated or sent to landfill. Brands can sell or donate surplus stock, discontinued lines, or products with slight packaging imperfections rather than destroying them.
- Repurposing Packaging: For packaging that cannot be reused, the campaign promotes closing the Loop through “repurposing” waste. In partnership with MYGroup, the Council is promoting “zero-landfill” and “zero-incineration” solutions for hard-to-recycle items like compacts, mascara tubes, and pumps. Partners transform these empties into entirely new materials, such as school furniture and building supplies. You can purchase the box here.
Trade Incentive: Supporters of the initiative will receive 15% off the cost of a take-back box and collection service using the code BBCOMEMBER15.
All brands and businesses are urged to get involved in whichever way works best. Download the toolkit today to learn more.
The Sustainable Beauty Coalition is also hosting a Lunch and Learn Webinar designed to uncover how different brands are taking part and the impact of the initiative. You can sign up for the event here.
If you have any questions, please email sbc@britishbeautycouncil.com.
