In recent years, we’ve seen sustainability go from a buzzword to one of the biggest considerations consumers have when it comes to the beauty products they buy. As science has enabled a greater understanding on both sides of the cash register, brands and buyers alike are asking for greater transparency when it comes to the cosmetics we use and the impact they have on our planet.

Retailers are recognising it too, with local cosmetics purveyor MECCA recently announcing its partnership with global recycling program TerraCycle. From April 27, consumers will be able to drop beauty packaging into over 100 MECCA stores to be recycled. The best part? It can be from any beauty brand, regardless of whether its stocked in MECCA.

As the need to adapt and evolve beyond wasteful practices becomes ever more urgent, a number of beauty brands are taking innovative approaches to their formulas, their packaging and their ingredients. Here are a few of our favourites, who are celebrating this World Earth Day by strengthening their commitments to the planet.

Sea Our Beauty

This innovative, vegan Australian brand chose to launch on the day that felt most aligned to their environmentally conscious ethos – World Earth Day. Sea Our Beauty marks the first beauty member of The Water Footprint Network, having chosen to omit water and the fillers, preservatives, fragrances, and harsh irritants that are often found in water-based products from its gentle, hydrating formulas.

Sea Our Beauty Conserve You Serum, $55 SHOP NOW

Sunday Riley

Having recently obtained B-Corp certification after a two year process, cult skincare brand Sunday Riley is celebrating World Earth Day by planting trees across Australia and the rest of the world. Locally, this will help to recover forests affected by last year’s Black Summer Bushfires and restore native habitat vital for wildlife.

Sunday Riley Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence, $73 SHOP NOW

Biossance

Clean beauty brand Biossance has paved the way for many others since it first launched several years ago, allowing access to their natural squalene and recently making a commitment to be completely zero waste by 2025. They’ve also partnered up with industry competitors REN Clean Skincare, Caudalie, Herbivore and Youth To The People for the #WeAreAllies campaign, which aims to bring brands together in an effort to create meaningful change regarding packaging waste.

Biossance Rose Vegan Lip Balm, $30 SHOP NOW

NUDESTIX

Makeup favourites NUDESTIX have pledged to plant a minimum of 10,000 trees in celebration of World Earth Day. The brand has released a limited edition Heaven & Earth kit – which comes as an array of colourful cosmetics in a fabric makeup pouch made from 100% post-recycled plastic bottles – and for every one sold, NUDESTIX and partner The Canopy Project will plant one tree.

NudeStix Heaven & Earth 7 Piece Makeup Kit (Limited Edition), $123 SHOP NOW