Written by OSEA Staff | Published April 1, 2025
Sustainability has been a core value at OSEA since day one. When we launched in the ’90s, we made a conscious choice to use glass packaging as a more widely recyclable alternative to plastic. While no material is perfect, we continue to prioritize responsible packaging choices and seek out solutions that reduce waste and environmental impact. We believe that sustainability doesn’t stop at the way we design our products, it also extends to what happens after you use them. Knowing how to recycle skincare properly ensures that valuable materials are reused instead of ending up in landfills or polluting our oceans.
Unfortunately, beauty packaging is a major contributor to plastic waste, with over 120 billion units produced each year, (much of which isn’t recycled!). That’s why we design our packaging with recyclability in mind and encourage you to take a few extra steps to recycle our clean beauty products responsibly. Here’s how:
How to Recycle Empty Skincare Bottles
If you’re wondering how to recycle skincare packaging, the good news is that most OSEA glass bottles and jars can be recycled after making sure they’re clean and dry. Empty skincare bottles made of glass are among the most easily recyclable beauty containers, but plastic components like pumps, caps, and droppers require special handling.
For any items that can’t be recycled curbside, we recommend participating in our in-store Recycling Program if you live in Los Angeles or using PACT Collective, a nonprofit which specializes in hard-to-recycle beauty waste.
Glass Bottles & Jars: Recyclable with Consideration
OSEA primarily uses glass packaging because it is highly recyclable and can be repurposed indefinitely without losing quality. However, not all curbside recycling programs accept frosted glass. To recycle:
✔ Check your local recycling program to confirm frosted glass is accepted.
✔ Empty and rinse the jar or bottle to remove any remaining product.
✔ Remove pumps, droppers, or caps (these go in the trash or specialty recycling) before placing clean glass in the recycling bin.
✔ If you’re in the Los Angeles area, bring your empty OSEA containers to our Venice Skincare Studio to participate in our in-store Recycling Program.
Why it matters: Recycling glass saves natural resources and reduces emissions. It takes less energy to recycle glass than to create new glass from raw materials, cutting down on carbon emissions and waste.
Plastic Pumps, Droppers & Caps: Special Handling Required
Pumps, droppers, and caps are often made of multiple materials that aren’t accepted in most curbside recycling programs. Instead:
✔ Check with your local recycling center to see if they accept them. Caps and droppers may vary.
✔ Remove pumps and dispose of them in the trash.
✔ Use a beauty packaging recycling program like PACT Collective, to ensure they’re properly processed.
Why it matters: Small plastic components often end up in landfills or oceans. Recycling them properly prevents microplastics from entering the environment, where they can harm marine life.
Plastic Jars & Bottles: Recycling Guidelines
While OSEA prioritizes glass packaging, some of our products come in plastic jars and bottles made with PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic to reduce reliance on virgin materials. To recycle:
✔ Check local recycling guidelines to confirm which plastics are accepted in your area.
✔ Empty and rinse the jar or bottle to remove any remaining product.
✔ Remove lids and separate different materials—most plastic jars and bottles are recyclable, but caps may need to go in the trash or specialty recycling.
Why it matters: Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats today. By recycling your empty skincare bottles and jars, you help reduce plastic waste, lower carbon emissions, and support a circular economy where materials are reused rather than discarded.
Shipping Materials: Fully Recyclable
OSEA’s boxes, paper wrap, and inserts are made from recyclable and compostable materials.
✔ Flatten shipping boxes before placing them in the recycling bin.
✔ Reuse packing paper or compost it.
Why it matters: Recycling cardboard and paper saves trees and reduces landfill waste. It also cuts down on methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas produced when paper waste decomposes in landfills.
Not Sure What to Do?
For product-specific recycling instructions, visit our product pages and scroll down to the recycling tab. Recycling rules vary by location, so always check with your local program. If your area doesn’t accept certain beauty packaging, consider sending them to PACT Collective to help ensure beauty empties are properly processed.
Every small step adds up. By making the effort to recycle beauty products responsibly, you’re helping to reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect the planet. Thank you for being part of the solution and helping us close the loop!
Sources
1. Vaayu. “The Beauty Industry’s Biggest Climate Impacts of 2023.” Vaayu, 2023.
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Glass Recycling Facts.”
3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Marine Debris Program.”
4. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “The New Plastics Economy.”
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Benefits of Recycling.”
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