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From Coffee Grounds to Coffee Scrub: 5 Beauty Brands Upcycing Food Waste into Conscious Skincare Products
Upcycling in the beauty industry refers to making skincare and cosmetic products out of leftover or wasted ingredients from the food and beverage sector. These items include used coffee grounds, leftover fruit from juice, less visually appealing fruits and vegetables, or expired food that would otherwise go bad. These rejected components are repurposed to create skincare products such as scrubs, balms, cleansers, and other cosmetics. Companies that use repurposed materials contribute to a decrease in food waste, a critical environmental issue. In addition to cutting waste and the carbon footprint of food production, the upcycling movement has led to skincare products enhanced with antioxidants and other advantageous qualities that could have otherwise been thrown away.
1. Upcircle
Instagram | @upcircle
Food Waste Ingredient | Coffee
Brand Born in | United Kingdom
Shipping | Worldwide
UpCircle is a skincare company specializing in creating environmentally friendly products by reusing coffee grounds. They gather spent coffee grounds that would otherwise be thrown away from neighborhood cafés and coffee shops in London and turn them into natural skincare products. After that, these coffee grinds are made into scrubs, oils, and exfoliators for their skincare line. By providing a material that would otherwise wind up in landfills a new lease of life, UpCircle's upcycling process for coffee grounds helps minimize waste and promotes a more ecologically responsible and sustainable method of producing skincare products.
2. Kadalys
Instagram | @kadalys
Food Waste Ingredient | Bananas
Brand Born in | France
Shipping | Worldwide
Certifications | Cosmos Organic by EcoCert, Vegan Society
Another company that uses upcycling is Kadalys; they use leftover bananas to make skincare products. These overripe bananas that would otherwise be thrown away are repurposed and made into valuable ingredients for their beauty products. The company separates these leftover bananas' peel and other healthy elements to produce bioactive compounds high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Their skincare products contain these components, providing skin sustenance and beneficial benefits. This creative method lowers waste by giving extra bananas a new lease of life and a functional purpose and producing sustainable, potent skincare products.
3. CocoKind
Instagram | @cocokind
Food Waste Ingredient | Coffee, Citrus
Brand Born in | United States
Shipping | Worldwide
Focusing on sustainability, Cocokind is a skincare firm that turns leftover food items into effective skincare products. They primarily source from organic farms and juicing operations, upcycling residual plant materials, including fruit rinds, husks, and stems. These materials—usually regarded as waste—go through an upcycling process to release bioactive chemicals, antioxidants, and healthy minerals. For example, Cocokind's skincare formulations repurpose leftover grains from brewers, coffee grounds, and citrus rinds from oranges or lemons. They show a dedication to environmental responsibility and skin health by repurposing these leftovers into eco-friendly skincare products through creative approaches.
3. Le Prunier
Instagram | @leprunier
Food Waste Ingredient | Plum oil
Brand Born in | France
Shipping | Worldwide
Le Prunier uses recycled plum oil as a main component in their skincare line. After plums are used in the food business, their seeds are extracted to produce this oil, usually as a byproduct or residue from processing. Le Prunier turns these rejected plum seeds into premium, nutrient-rich oil using a painstaking extraction procedure. Through upcycling, the firm utilizes the advantageous characteristics of these seeds, including vitamins and antioxidants, to produce skincare products that nourish, moisturize, and revitalize the skin. This environmentally friendly method not only reuses materials that would otherwise be thrown away, but it also highlights the natural strength of plum oil, offering skincare products and lowering waste levels.
4. Loli Beauty
Instagram | @lolibeauty
Food Waste Ingredient | Plums, Citrus
Brand Born in | France
Shipping | Worldwide
Loli Beauty championsthe beauty of imperfection by turning food waste, often considered discarded,into a source of potent skincare ingredients. Embracing the notion of upcycling, the brand meticulously extracts and processes fruits, vegetables,and flowers that would otherwise be wasted. Through sustainable methods likecold-pressing, distillation, and blending, Loli Beauty harnesses the inherentpower of these ingredients, transforming them into concentrated, multipurpose skincare, body, and hair products. Their commitment lies in redefining beauty by utilizing nature's imperfect yet beneficial elements to create effective andeco-conscious solutions for your skin and beauty routine.
5. Pai Skincare
Instagram | @lpaiskincare
Food Waste Ingredient | Plums, Citrus
Brand Born in | United Kingdom
Shipping | Worldwide
Certifications | B Corp, COSMOS Organic by Soil Association, The Vegan Society, Leaping Bunny Certified
Pai Skincare iscommitted to unlocking the hidden potential of nature's gifts by upcyclingfruit remains that the food and juice industries ignore. As a pillar of ourdedication to sustainability, the brand treasure the transformation of bilberries,plum seeds, and apricot kernels—ingredients that are usually thrown away. The brand repurpose these leftovers with passion and creativity to create opulentskincare products that highlight the beauty of rejuvenation. Embrace the benefits of repurposed herbs for glowing, healthy skin.
