Recently for the summer, our family travelled to Dharamshala, a hill station in North India. While our stay in the hotel was fantastic, one experience stood out. While brushing my teeth one morning, out of curiosity I looked at all the toiletries and amenities and in doing so, realized that all of them, from the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel to the toothpaste, moisturizer and hand soap, were packaged with plastic. Later, upon asking the housekeeping staff where these plastics went after use, I was told they were trashed. I realized the same had been happening in our household. I had been consuming a bottle of shampoo, sunscreen and deodorant every month, all of which are packaged using plastic which is then simply dumped. This made me a bit concerned and I tried to inquire how damaging this can be.
Every year, the personal care and cosmetics business generates more than 120 billion units of packaging, the vast majority of which is not actually recyclable. And the situation is just going to grow worse. The worldwide cosmetics industry produced roughly US$ 341.1 billion in 2020, and it's expected to rise to US$ 560.50 billion by 2030. This is clearly a source of plastic pollution that must be addressed immediately. Plastic pollution on the earth is mostly caused by single-use plastics. With 99% of plastics derived from fossil fuels, the consequences for climate and environmental justice are enormous and escalating. And yet, we remain unalarmed.
When I started thinking of possible solutions, I wasn’t able to find much since most of the above products only come in plastic packaging. Very few options of biodegradable packaging are generally available over the counter. Perhaps a feasible solution would be all FMCG companies practicing sustainable packaging as part of their corporate accountability.
In the meantime, we must ensure we are taking all the possible steps to mitigate the environmental impact of these cosmetic items. When you buy cosmetics, look for options with little or no plastic packaging, and explore alternatives like glass, cardboard and cork packaging. Choose items like bar soaps instead of plastic bottles filled with liquid. By simply remaining conscious and urging our loved ones to do the same, half the battle will be won already.
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