Think you know everything about Youth To The People’s new Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant? You probably know a lot (and if you don’t, you can catch up here, here, and here), but the answer is—you can always go deeper. A good example of such is the formula’s packaging, which is fully recyclable, even though it’s green—and that’s because it’s glass.
Choosing glass over plastic has always been a conscious choice for YTTP co-founders Joe Cloyes and Greg Gonzalez because it protects the integrity of formulas better than plastic—and because it's a more sustainable, earth-friendly solution.
According to the United Nations, packaging (including that for beauty and skincare products) accounts for over 40% of total global plastic usage, and more than 99% of all plastics are produced from chemicals derived from non-renewable resources, like oil, natural gas, and coal. These stats add up to a heavy environmental toll, and are even more significant when you take into account that less than 9% of all plastic gets recycled.
As of yet, there is no perfect solution when it comes to packaging, but opting for glass remains a more thoughtful solution as the industry (and YTTP) works towards a less wasteful existence. Glass, including the Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant’s verdant green vessel, is endlessly recyclable. In its unlimited life, it can be crushed, melted, and made into a new glass product without any loss in quality time and time again.
The manufacturer behind all YTTP glassware is Heinz Glas, a 400 year-old family-owned company and World Packaging Organization’s 2020 Worldstar Winner for continual advancement in sustainable innovation. Of its more notable forward-thinking achievements, Heinz purifies its wastewater, recycles its upheating for use in greenhouses, generates renewable solar power, and uses a CO2-free electric furnace for melting raw materials.
There is still some plastic in the mix, though. The Mandelic Acid + Superfood Unity Exfoliant bottle comes with a white flip-top cap that’s made from 70% recycled plastic content and waste. It’s the most responsible option for now—and it’s also fully recyclable, as long as you clean it with hot soapy water and pop it in the appropriate bin.
For an extensive primer on how to properly dispose of your empty YTTP vessels, check out I Want To Be Recycled here.
Written by Elsa de Berker for Youth To The People
