Amorepacific launches free container pickup service

Amorepacific is launching a sustainable beauty initiative to recycle cosmetic containers and reduce plastic waste, including a free container pickup service. The company is also incorporating more recycled materials into its packaging and labels.

A poster of Amorepacific’s new cosmetic container collection service, “AMORE:CYCLE,” which kicked off on Jan. 2 [AMOREPACIFIC]

From post-consumer recycling programs to sustainable beauty formulation and packaging, Amorepacific is ramping up efforts to curb its environmental impact in response to the growing plastic waste.

The endeavor is not limited to a temporary campaign to recycle cosmetics bottles; the Seoul-based cosmetic company has launched a free service to facilitate the retrieval of consumers' containers under the slogan “AMORE:CYCLE,” effective since Jan. 2.

Consumers can easily engage via Amorepacific app, where they can click the “container collection” button and place a minimum of 10 empty containers in provided boxes outside their homes.

The feature could scale up the recycling effort, given that procedural inconvenience leads many customers to give up on sending back empty bottles, causing quite a lot of packaging to end up in landfills.

Container pickup service Amorepacific's container retrieval service traces its roots back to the 1990s, aligning with the “Environmental Infinite Responsibility” declaration of 1993.

Amorepacific has engaged in cosmetic bottle recycling since 2009 and has collected a total of 2,743 tons of bottles through December 2022. [AMOREPACIFIC]

The campaign took a more comprehensive turn in 2009 with the introduction of “GREENCYCLE.” Originally operating in select brand stores on a temporary basis, that campaign expanded to encompass the majority of Amorepacific's offline brands by 2022. From 2009 to December 2022, the cumulative amount of collected containers reached 2,473 tons, bringing in approximately 120 tons annually.

Amorepacific recognizes the challenge of in-person store visits, and the AMORE:CYCLE” campaign has extended its container collection service online. The scope of collected items has also widened to include various beauty products.

A large tree made from collected cosmetic bottles [AMOREPACIFIC]

Containers turned into a Christmas tree Collected cosmetic containers are often repurposed into construction materials, and Amorepacific is pioneering the production of terrazzo by blending crushed cosmetic containers with cement. This material is used in the making of benches, store flooring, furniture and facilities within residential complexes.

Some containers are even transformed into art. A Christmas tree crafted from 1,332 cosmetic containers was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Amorepacific Foundation in collaboration with the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

The journey of these containers extends to the Amorepacific Beauty Park in Osan, Gyeonggi, where they undergo separation at plastic and glass recycling facilities before being physically recycled. A waste heat recovery method is employed for items that are challenging to recycle physically,

FSC environmentally friendly paper packaging material is used instead of plastic wrapping [AMOREPACIFIC]

From paper mesh packaging to easy-peel labels Other initiatives to reduce environmental impact include incorporating a minimum of 30 percent recycled or bio-plastic in packaging. The company aims for all plastic packaging to be fully recyclable, reusable or compostable. For example, Hera's Skin Radiant Glow Cushion incorporates 50 percent recycled plastic, and its puff, which is directly applied to human skin, is made from plant-derived plastic.

The company has adopted paper mesh packaging over plastic and labels that easily separate in water to simplify the recycling process. Innisfree's Blueberry Rebalancing Skin features an easy-to-peel, moisture-resistant label for straightforward separation without adhesive residue.

Cosmetic containers are also designed for easy reuse. Innisfree's Collagen Peptide Firming Ampoule Cream features a refillable jar, allowing users to replace only the internal container after use while repurposing the same external container. The refillable internal container utilizes 97 percent recycled plastic, while the external container is made of 60 percent recycled glass.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]