How Sustainable is the Lash Industry Really? | How Our Packaging Changes Are Helping Make Lash & Beauty More Sustainable
At London Lash, we’re aware that the beauty industry has a big impact on our planet, and we can’t ignore that. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us—it’s at the heart of everything we do. When we learned that the beauty industry was responsible for a staggering 146 million tonnes of plastic waste every year (thanks to an 2019 article from Commercial Waste), we knew we had to do something. That’s why we’ve made some real changes to our packaging and how we send our products to our wonderful customers across Ireland and the rest of the world.
Cruelty-Free and Vegan from Day One
When the eyelash extensions industry took off in the early 2010s, using mink fur or silk for lashes was pretty standard. But things have changed since then. Nowadays, lash extensions are made from PBT, a synthetic fiber originally used in wiring because of its durability. While in wiring, this reduces fire risks, for us, it ensures that lashes hold their curls between lash sets.
Though you might still see terms like ‘mink’, ‘silk’, or ‘cashmere’ used, these now only refer to different lash collections and not the materials themselves. We’re proud to say that our eyelash extensions have always been 100% vegan and cruelty-free. However, other products like under-eye pads used to contain animal-derived ingredients such as collagen. We’ve now phased out these products or worked with manufacturers to reformulate them, ensuring that our customers can enjoy the same high-quality results while also caring for the environment.
Product Development & Packaging Innovations
Our journey towards reducing plastic waste began in 2018 when we replaced our plastic eyelash extension trays with cardboard boxes. At the time, this was a groundbreaking move—no other company in the industry was doing this! Since then, we’ve seen a surge in the number of lash brands offering their products in similar magnetized trays, which makes us so happy.
But we didn’t stop there. We found out that some features of our original trays, like the magnet and UV spotting, weren’t recyclable everywhere. So, we went back to the drawing board and came up with the matchbox-style packaging you see today—fully recyclable and just as stylish!
In addition, we’ve transitioned from plastic bottles to glass wherever possible, which not only looks better on a Lash Technician’s trolley but is also more environmentally friendly.
We’ve also introduced reusable brush handles for Lash Prep brushes, which are often overlooked but are a significant source of plastic waste. By using stainless steel handles that only require the brush head to be replaced, we’ve cut down on plastic waste by about 80% compared to fully plastic brushes.
Our lash trays were always wrapped in plastic to protect them during transit. While we didn’t want to eliminate this layer, as it plays a crucial role, we knew it conflicted with our goal to reduce plastic use. So, we switched to a plant-based material that’s compostable, allowing you to receive your lashes in eco-friendly packaging.
Smart Procurement: Reducing Waste at Every Step
Our Procurement Team plays a crucial role in making sure we only stock what we really need, helping us cut down on waste. But why is this so important? In many businesses, ordering in bulk can save money, but it also means ending up with more stock than you can sell, which often ends up in landfills.
We believe it’s better to absorb the extra costs of smaller orders, even if it means occasionally running out of stock. This approach ensures our customers always receive the freshest, highest-quality products while significantly reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. By carefully analyzing our sales data and growth patterns, we’re able to order just what we need. This approach is not only better for us and our customers but also much better for the planet.
For products without a shelf life, like tweezers or eyelash extensions, we add them to our outlet store. This allows beginner Lash Technicians or bargain hunters to purchase these items at reduced prices, ensuring they don’t end up in landfills where they could take decades to decompose, releasing harmful toxins as they do.
It Doesn’t End There!
Our Operations Team is also making great strides in reducing our carbon footprint. All our parcels are packed in cardboard boxes, paper envelopes, and biodegradable mailer bags. We’ve replaced bubble wrap with a paper alternative, and our packing peanuts are made from starch and dissolve in water—how cool is that?
By opening distribution centers in the EU, we can ship orders to our Irish customers from closer locations, reducing the need for air freight and speeding up delivery times.
In 2022, we took things a step further by investing in a Shopify app that calculates the CO2 produced by each parcel. We make a monthly donation to fund CO2 removal projects, ensuring that all our shipping is carbon neutral—something we’re incredibly proud of!
What’s Next for Sustainability in the Lash Industry?
Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. There’s always more to be done, better choices to make, and new innovations to explore. We’re lucky to have a team that’s passionate about finding these solutions and a customer base that’s eager to embrace them. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue making our products and practices even more sustainable, for the benefit of our customers, our industry, and our beautiful planet.
