Launching on 2 March 2026, the month-long campaign will aim to mobilise brands, retailers, salons and spas to help consumers refill, reuse and recycle more of their beauty products, many of which are currently unsuitable for kerbside recycling.
Victoria Brownlie, Chief Policy and Sustainability Officer at British Beauty Council, commented: “Knowing that only 9% of beauty waste is actually recycled, we hope that this programme will up our rates and educate people on how easy it is to reduce our impact.
“This is an easy way to get involved in our annual Great British Beauty Clean Up, and we can’t wait to see our bins up and down high streets, in offices, warehouses and beyond.”
Take-back scheme to tackle cosmetic waste
The take-back scheme will provide collection boxes for participating locations, enabling customers to drop off used beauty items loose and without separation.
The scheme covers a broad range of materials and formats, including hazardous items and products traditionally considered too small, composite or complex for conventional recycling.
Accepted items include compacts, concealers, foundations, eyeliner pencils, eyeshadow palettes and tubes, lipsticks, glosses, balms, mascara tubes, make-up palettes, beauty jars, cream containers, skincare bottles and tubs, lotion and soap pumps, shampoo and conditioner bottles, vitamin and supplement containers, perfume and fragrance bottles, nail varnish bottles and blister packs.
Supporters of the British Beauty Council and Sustainable Beauty Coalition will be able to access additional discounts to activate the scheme.
According to MYGroup, UK households generate an estimated 21kg of plastic packaging each year, with bottles, pots, tubs and trays commonly found in the cosmetics and personal care sector.
Despite this, 56% of households do not recycle bathroom empties, and 86% of used beauty and cosmetics products never reach a recycling facility due to their small size, mixed materials or residual contents.
MYGroup expands beauty sector impact
The initiative builds on MYGroup’s ongoing collaboration with the beauty industry.
Earlier this year, the company became the first waste management business to join the British Beauty Council as a patron.
Carrie added: “We know the industry is determined to reduce its waste footprint, but consumers still struggle to recycle many everyday beauty items at home.
“Our work with the British Beauty Council on the Great British Beauty Clean Up focuses on removing barriers and providing businesses with a straightforward way to capture what kerbside systems simply can’t.
“We believe there must be a growing convergence between beauty brands and waste management partners to build the systems and drive the behaviours that will define a more sustainable sector.”
MYGroup already operates established take-back schemes with leading retailers and brands including Boots, Harrods (H beauty), Cult Beauty, LOOKFANTASTIC and Superdrug, having processed 40,000 tonnes of used cosmetics, plastics, metals, glass and cosmetic residue to date.
Through its ReFactory arm, MYGroup converts recovered materials into new products such as injection-moulded combs and mirrors, as well as MYBoard furniture and point-of-sale items made entirely from processed plastic waste.
The company also holds full Environment Agency permits for hazardous waste, enabling safe processing of residual cosmetic materials, which are converted into bio-fuel.
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