Some “Of Interest” stories and news that are currently on my mind: repaving roads with recycled materials, a clean beauty mentorship program for BIPOC founders, and new green beauty releases.
A California Highway becomes the first state road made from all recycled materials in the U.S.
California-based company, TechniSoil Industrial has created a process that integrates recycled plastic into road repaving. The process also incorporates 100% of the old asphalt, another aspect that saves on air pollution and landfill waste. The TechniSoil’s polymer-infused roads have also proved to be sturdier, flatter, safer, and more durable than those made with regular asphalt. This new repaving process using all recycled materials was first tested last month, replacing three lanes of 1,000-foot highway in Northern California highway, becoming the first state road made from all recycled materials in the U.S. Los Angeles plans to test out the TechniSoil repaving process on a quarter-mile stretch of downtown L.A. in October.
Ace & Jig launches The Renewed Collection, made from previously damaged garments.
Known for bold textiles, the sustainable clothing brand Ace & Jig has created a recycled collection from their previously damaged garments. The brand partnered with The Renewal Workshop, an innovative company that uses a proprietary Renewal System to take discarded apparel and textiles and transform them into renewed products, upcycling materials or feedstock for recycling. The Renewal Workshop partners with leading eco-conscious brands like prAna, Mara Hoffman, Carhartt, and Lo & Sons to recover value from unsellable returns and excess inventory, and provide a zero waste circular system.
Customers can also send back used, unwanted, or damaged Ace & Jig pieces to be renewed, and receive $20 credit per item to the brand’s shop or to The Renewal Workshop. Ace & Jig says that the partnership will allow the brand “to bring pieces back to life and divert more textile waste from landfills.” They will also be donating profits from the partnership to a different organization each quarter. This quarter, all profits will be donated to the organization, WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
There are many types of clothing for men and women, and bags available. I’m looking forward to shopping for repurposed clothes here!
New Refillable, Pressed Powder SPF Compact from Suntegrity.
Powder sunscreens have always fascinated me, yet my dry, sensitive skin has kept me a bit weary from most loose mineral powder with SPF. I am quite intrigued by the latest product from my favorite natural sunscreen brand, Suntegrity which seems to perfectly blend makeup and skincare. The Pressed Mineral Powder Compact is a zinc oxide-based, mineral pressed powder that is translucent and can blend into skin while also providing SPF 50 sun protection. This makes for easy, mess-free application, and sun protection while also setting makeup.
Suntegrity claims the formula provides a natural matte finish and “helps minimize the appearance of pores, blurs imperfections, evens out skin tone and controls shine.” The compact includes a mirror and a makeup sponge, plus it is also refillable! I can’t wait to try this out. As of now, it seems to only be available directly through Suntegrity but I imagine other green beauty retailers will be offering it soon. $48, 14.5g at Suntegrity.
More green beauty brands like, Follain and Indie Lee are available at Ulta!
While Ulta has offered some solid green beauty brands for a while now (mostly online), like Juice Beauty and Honest Beauty, it seems they are offering some less mainstream green beauty brands too. Follain, Indie Lee, Hynt Beauty, and Ursa Major are all brands we love and know in the green beauty community, and now you can find them online at Ulta! Maybe someday soon in-store too. I’m pretty pumped as I have a ton of lingering Ulta Beauty Rewards and coupons to use up. Hopefully this means more great cleaner brands to come at Ulta.
Rubbermaid and TerraCycle create a recycling program for well-used food storage containers.
Not sure if this is a new addition to TerraCycle’s recycling partnerships, but I keep getting ads about this one: Rubbermaid now has a free recycling program with TerraCycle. The container company is partnering with TerraCycle in accepting well-used, plastic and glass food storage containers from any brand to be recycled. Simply join the free recycling program on TerraCycle’s website, print a free return label, and send back your well-used food containers. This is a great way to get rid of used food storage containers and know that they are being properly and eco-consciously recycled!
Credo Beauty’s first-ever mentorship program for BIPOC aspiring founders or new clean beauty brands.
As part of their commitment to encourage and cultivate more diversity within the clean beauty retail space, Credo rolled out a mentorship program called Credo for Change for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) aspiring founders or new clean beauty brands with the intent to provide guidance that may help prepare their brand for larger distribution in retailers or online distribution.
Credo awarded 13 winning founders as part of the mentoring program’s first class. The stories of these are so many amazing founders are so inspiring and it is amazing to see so many diverse faces behind clean beauty brands. (There are a few familiar faces to me!)
I really hope more initiatives like this will not only improve the lack of diversity among clean beauty brands, but also encourage beauty retailers to recognize the need for diverse brands sold in their stores.
