Why we use Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Materials in our packaging

As part of our mission to create clean beauty products that leverage the most sustainable packaging solutions, we settled on Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials. 

But what exactly are PCR materials, and why are they so important for sustainable practices?

Post-consumer recycled materials are those that have served their purpose, gone through the consumer use cycle, and have been recycled rather than ending up in a landfill. This includes items such as used plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, and other packaging materials. When these items are collected, sorted, cleaned, and processed, they can be used to create new products, reducing the need for newly created materials (virgin materials)

Here's why we focus on PCR materials at Gen See:

Reducing Waste

The beauty industry is a significant contributor to global plastic waste, and we are determined to be part of the solution, not the problem. By utilizing PCR materials, Gen See is actively reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, oceans, and natural environments. Every PCR package we use is one less piece of waste polluting our planet.

Conserving Resources

Producing new plastic and other materials requires a significant amount of energy and resources, including water and fossil fuels. By using PCR materials, we can dramatically decrease the amount of new plastic produced, conserving valuable resources and reducing our carbon footprint.

Today, Gen See utilizes an average of 60% PCR plastic across all of our PCR packaging, one of the highest percentages in the industry. As a point of comparison, Sephora and other leading beauty retailers insist on utilizing 30% PCR to be included in their planet conscious collections. 

As PCR plastic becomes more readily accessible, we are upgrading our products to have higher and higher percentages of PCR - aiming for 100%.