Amorepacific takes eco-friendly initiative to the next stage

[Courtesy of Amorepacific Group]

Amorepacific Group is accelerating its eco-friendly efforts by reducing its use of plastic in cosmetics packaging by almost 50 percent and by minimizing the water consumption during consumers’ product usage.

Amorepacific Group announced on Tuesday that it expanded its range of refillable products to over 30 items in 2023. These refills reduce plastic usage by over half compared to their full-packaged products and the group reduced its usage of newly synthesized petroleum-derived plastics by 1,080 tons in 2022 alone, resulting in an estimated reduction of about 1,620 tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions. Amorepacific Group aims to reduce plastic usage in product packaging by 2030, ensuring that plastic packaging is either 100 percent recyclable, reusable, or compostable.

A notable product with significant plastic reduction effects is Sulwhasoo New Jinsul. The product underwent a transition from plastic packaging to glass containers in 2023 that reduced plastic usage by about 72 percent, and which translates to a reduction of around 33 tons of plastic annually based on sales volume.

Amorepacific Group also launched refill products to decrease plastic usage even further. Using a refill for Jinsul Cream, for example, can reduce plastic usage by up to 55 percent vis-a-vis purchasing a new product.

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is also expected to help reduce about 7.3 tons of plastic annually starting in 2024 after its inner cap was removed.

Refill products are a significant part of Amorepacific Group’s main eco-friendly initiatives and consumers also benefit from using refill products at a lower cost. Although insufficient demand led to the discontinuation of Refill Stations in 2023, the number of refill products actually increased.

The Hera Rouge Classy

For example, LABO-H Scalp Skin Shampoo, made from 50 percent paper layers, reduces plastic usage by 90 percent compared to the original product. The Hera Rouge Classy, a new product for 2024, is entirely refillable from the beginning to enable the reuse of plastic used in the original product. The company’s Laneige line also offers cream refills that can reduce plastic usage by 70 to 90 percent compared to the original product.

Products such as shampoo and treatments, which consume a lot of water and energy during use due to the process of raising water temperature, indirectly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, Amorepacific also offers water-free treatments such as the No Wash Treatment, helping consumers save about 300 liters of water or the equivalent of 150 2-liter bottled water bottles, per product. Consumers also save time as they do not need to rinse their hair with water.