In today’s episode of Packaging Today, we’re diving into the shiny, guilt-washed world of recycled beauty packaging and asking the tough question: is this actually sustainable, or just another PR pump & dump?
We unpack MOB & Credo Beauty’s collaboration with the Pact Collective to create the first-ever lotion pump made from recycled cosmetics packaging, much like Method did years ago with ocean plastics. This is an impressive feat built on 232 tons of waste, hundreds of retail collection points, and a touch of ocean plastic from Malaysia.
Cory Connors, Adam Peek, and Evelio Mattos debate:
Are recycled stunts like this scalable… or just symbolic?
Why most beauty packaging can’t be recycled, and never will be without massive infrastructure changes, or changes to packaging design like MOB.
How these high-effort projects highlight the real investments we need: better recycling systems, simplified materials, and smarter regulations.
Should designers aim to make packaging precious... or recyclable?
We also share what packaging WE would actually keep, what we throw away, and why design for landfill is the default unless we flip the system.
🔁 This episode is a must-listen for designers, brand managers, and packaging professionals trying to balance storytelling, sustainability, and real-world scalability.
