What is Pact? Pact is a nonprofit collective on a mission to close the loop on hard-to-recycle packaging waste in the beauty and wellness industries.
What can I drop off?
PLASTIC
Must be 2x2 inches or smaller
Small tubes, bottles, jars, caps
Lipstick, lip gloss, and mascara tubes, wands, and applicators
Eyeliner, prow, and lip pencils
Pumps, dispensers
COLORED GLASS
Small bottles, jars
MIXED MATERIALS
Palettes, compacts, pumps
Dental floss containers
Toothpaste tubes
FYI: Beauty empties don’t have to be from products purchased at Sephora! View Pact’s complete collection guidelines here.
What NOT to drop off: Items accepted through your local curbside recycling program, which may include: plastic packaging larger than 2x2 inches, clear or frosted glass bottles and jars, and more. View Pact’s complete collection guidelines here.
What happens to my empties after drop-off? Depending on volumes/contamination of empties collected for each eligible material, they may be:
MECHANICALLY RECYCLED -into packaging, carpet, pallets, and more
DOWNCYCLED -into asphalt or other useful products
MOLECULARLY RECYCYLED -into material used to build something else
CONVERTED TO ENERGY -could be turned into electricity
Which Sephora locations have drop-off bins? All US and Canada stores now have dedicated collection bins. Find your nearest one here. View more details about the program here.
Have you been tossing your empty mascara tubes, makeup palettes, and more in your regular recycling bin? You might be surprised to learn that most beauty packaging isn’t accepted through curbside recycling programs. We created our Beauty (Re)Purposed program with Pact Collective so you can drop off those beauty empties at any Sephora store, giving them a second life. Together we can take a big step forward in making beauty packaging more sustainable and better for our planet.
So how does it work?
Clean out your empties. After you squeeze out every last drop, be sure to clean out any leftover product or residue.
Visit any Sephora store and discard your unbagged empties in the Pact bin (hint: it’s usually near checkout).
Feel good! Be sure to stock up on new beauty or repurchase old favorites while helping to create less waste.
Check out the Pact website for more details on exactly what you can drop off, what happens with your empties after drop-off, and more!