Dermologica is Revolutionizing the Skincare Industry with Improved Waste Strategy

Editorial TeamEditorial Team
|
April 7th, 2022
|
2:03 PM

California based cosmetics brand Dermalogica will use a recyclable dispenser in its best-selling facial cleansing products. Unlike conventional dispensers that use a metal spring, this one contains a plastic spring that can be processed together with the bottle.

Dermalogica is a firm founded by Jane Wurwand in 1986, dedicated to the creation of products to ensure proper skin health. The company's philosophy is that 'beautiful skin must first be healthy skin', so Jane Wurwand focused on the creation of cosmetics for healthy skin, assuming that after achieving results that would enhance skin health, beauty would come into being on its own. Dermalogica first revolutionized the skin care industry when it came to market in 1986 with innovative formulations that excluded common irritants, including SD alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil and artificial colours and fragrances. Jane Wurwand developed the products to better support the advanced curriculum she had developed a few years earlier at her newly created The International Dermal Institute. Wurwand led the company's growth from an idea to the world's most sought-after professional skincare brand. Dermalogica today is sold in more than 80 countries worldwide and trains more than 100,000 professionals per year globally. Dermalogica products are available at selected skincare centres on the recommendation of a qualified professional skin therapist, in addition to the brand's concept stores located around the world and online at dermalogica.co.uk. Dermalogica is manufactured in the USA, with its global operation centre in Carson, Los Angeles.   Impacting the Skincare Industry for Good In addition to researching the best formulas to care for your skin, it designs its packaging with the preservation of the planet in mind, and has developed a new pump for its single-material dispenser bottles, which facilitates the reduction of waste and increases recyclability. "The beauty industry has a problem with the dispenser pump," says Aurelian Lis, managing director of Dermalogica. "...they are increasingly used, but are largely unsustainable. Our goal today is to solve that problem." From 2022, Dermalogica will integrate recyclable pumps for the dispensers of our best-selling facial cleansers. Most pumps on the market are ostensibly made of plastic, but in reality, they include an internal metal spring that is very difficult to recycle and requires disassembly of the mechanism, which is not available at most recycling plants. Dermalogica's new mono-material pump consists of a plastic spring that, like its bottles, is made of recyclable polyethylene, allowing the bottle and pump to be disposed of as a single unit by simply placing it directly into the recycling bin. In addition, the new pump is lighter and uses less virgin plastic, which means less demand for a non-renewable resource. This new solution brings us ever closer to our goal: to have 100% of our bottles designed to be reused, recycled or composted by 2025. DDermalogica has partnered with a leader in the packaging industry, Aptar, to deliver these new recyclable and customized pumps. Aptar designs, develops, and innovates its product solutions with people and the planet in mind. This innovative, state-of-the-art pump solution has received multiple industry certifications for implementing eco-design principles and has earned recognition from the Plastics Recyclers Meets Preferred Guidance Program, a cross-industry initiative focused on harmonized recyclability. Dermalogica is the first skincare brand to incorporate the new pumps into its canister dispensers, ensuring a more seamless recycling experience for customers and skincare professionals worldwide.  

  "As an industry leader, we have the opportunity and responsibility to make a positive impact, not only on people's skin but also on the environment. Being the first major skincare brand to launch these single-material recyclable pumps puts pressure on other brands to follow our lead and innovate on behalf of the planet," says Aurelian Lis. And he is right. We are proud to be pioneers in this industry for 30 years now in treatments, daily care routines, products of the highest standard, and global and international training. Recent studies show that nearly 3 out of 4 women (74%) say sustainability is a must when it comes to personal care products, but there is often confusion about how to recycle responsibly. Fifty percent of women say they would recycle the packaging of personal care products and, on the other hand, 42% of women would simply throw a product in the bin if they were unsure whether it was recyclable or not, resulting in a huge missed opportunity. This new pump on our single-material dispenser packs helps to ensure that the entire pot can be recycled easily and without confusion. As part of Dermalogica's Healthy Skin, Healthy Planet initiative, Dermalogica is also introducing new bottles made from 50% post-consumer recycled resin (PCR) plastic. Dermalogica began launching 50% PCR bottles in early 2021, expanding this PCR integration into full-size cleansers and toners by 2025. The single-material pump will be available in 2022, starting with 16.9 oz sizes of Special Cleansing Gel, UltraCalming Cleanser and Clearing Skin Wash.   Targets to Hit for 2025 By 2025, Dermalogica will meet or exceed the following sustainability targets:

90% of its ingredients will be sustainably sourced. 100% of its tubes, bottles and boxes will be designed to be reused, recycled and/or composted. Most of the plastic in its packaging will be derived from recycled or plant-based material. It will primarily partner with suppliers who monitor and manage their carbon footprint. Its Clear Start sub-brand will meet or exceed these Healthy Skin, Healthy Planet targets by 2025. Its Clear Start sub-brand will also meet or exceed these Healthy Skin, Healthy Planet targets by 2025.

As the brand is certified Forest Stewardship Council, its packaging is made from certified viscose. In addition, the brand is recognized as Cruelty-Free by PETA, as well as Leaping Bunny. Openly transparent, Dermalogica is certified vegan on all but two of its products.