Every year, millions of tons of waste are produced around the world, causing a lot of pollution to our planet. In this context, upcycling is a virtuous practice that consists in transforming waste into quality products, thus reducing waste and saving natural resources. Faced with this reality, it has become essential to promote ecological and responsible alternatives, such as upcycling ;)

But what exactly is upcycling? How is it applied in cosmetics? Discover the different upcycling techniques we use at Bernard Cassière ...

Upcycled packaging, but what is it ?

Upcycled cosmetic packaging is packaging that is made from reclaimed materials or industrial waste to give it a new life as packaging. This reduces the amount of waste and uses existing resources rather than drawing on the resources of our planet.

To create upcycled packaging, there are different techniques such as reusing recovered raw materials (e.g. recycled plastic bottles to create cosmetic bottles), using recycled raw materials (e.g. recycled paper to create cosmetic boxes), or using recycled materials (e.g. old fabrics to create cosmetic pouches).

  1. The sides of our plastic tubes are made of 50% recycled plastic. These plastics come from the recycling of your milk bottles for example, so nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed!!
  2. More surprisingly, did you know that the plastic part of the dropper of your DETOX Night Concentrate or your Spirulina Serum is made from recycled food oils? Indeed, these oils, after the cooking of your chips, are recycled and revalorized to manufacture small plastic components which will thus have a second life.
  3. Some paper and cardboard also come from the up-cycling sector, as they are derived from the recycling of your old leaflets, newspapers ...

But packaging is no longer the only option for reusing materials and up-cycling.

Upcycled ingredients in cosmetics

Upcycled ingredients in cosmetics are raw materials that have been recycled from waste or by-products from different industries to give them a second life in the formulation of beauty products. These upcycled ingredients can be vegetable oils, citrus fruits, plant extracts, essential oils, vegetable butters, clays, colorants, pigments, vitamins, etc..

For example, upcycled citrus fruits from the food industry can be used in cosmetics for their purifying and brightening properties. Their use reduces food waste while offering benefits for the skin. At Bernard Cassière we have chosen to use citrus peels!! 

These peels are perfect for your skin. They are an integral part of our brand new Blood Orange Detox Complex. In our products we use the peels of mandarins, oranges and bitter oranges, which are used by the industry to make your favourite fruit juices. And that's good, because it is precisely in these fruit peels that the majority of nutrients and minerals of interest to our skin are found!

Upcycled citrus fruits are rich in natural bioactive compounds such as humectants and bio-flavonoids..

  1. Humectants are substances that have the ability to attract and retain water in the skin, thus maintaining optimal hydration..
  2. Bio-flavonoids are natural antioxidants that have many benefits for the skin. They protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules produced by skin cells when exposed to environmental factors such as UV light, pollution and smoking. Bio-flavonoids can also help reduce inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier, which helps to maintain healthy, glowing skin.

Our broader view of eco-design

The design of our products is "thoughtful". The size and weight of our containers are optimised to limit waste. Recyclable materials are always preferred.

The cardboard in our packaging comes from sustainably managed forests for all our products. Specifically, the materials used to make our packaging are harvested from forests where responsible management practices have been put in place. This can include practices such as selective harvesting, replanting and the preservation of local biodiversity. By choosing materials from sustainably managed forests, the brand is committed to minimising its environmental impact while supporting responsible forest resource management.

In 2021, we launched our new range of eco-refillable pots, which allow us to reduce our plastic consumption and participate in the circular economy. Their design is also eco-responsible. By choosing our eco-refills, you can not only contribute to the preservation of the environment, but also save money, as the refill format is on average 20% cheaper than the traditional format. Moreover, these eco-refills are easy to use. In short, a practical, economical and responsible solution!

The limits of upcycling in cosmetics.

Upcycling is a practice that has grown in popularity in recent years! However, while this practice is environmentally commendable, it also has limitations in terms of availability and quality. Here is our feedback: Materials that can be upcycled in cosmetics are often scarce and difficult to find in sufficient quantities. The costs of collecting and processing these materials are higher than for raw materials. We make it difficult for ourselves but for a good cause ;).

The quality of upcycled ingredients can also be an obstacle to their use in cosmetics. Indeed, our standards for the formulation of our cosmetics are high.  Recovered materials can be altered by time, storage conditions or the transformation processes they have undergone, which can reduce the effectiveness of the active ingredient used. We take care in the choice of ingredients to ensure maximum effectiveness.

However, upcycling in cosmetics is still in its infancy! Please be patient before discovering our latest innovations ;)

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