csr initiatives

Arcade Beauty partners with TerraCycle

Arcade Beauty is leveraging TerraCycle to Tackle Hard-to-Recycle Waste

The Challenge of Hard-to-Recycle Waste in Beauty Packaging

Much of the waste resulting from the beauty and personal care industry is considered to be “hard-to-recycle” waste. This is primarily a result of the industry’s use of multi-layer and multi-material packaging which is designed to preserve the complex formulas the packages contain.

62% of cosmetic plastic packaging was still considered non-recyclable in 2022

Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation

This is partially due to the complex packaging, but regional recycling laws, size constraints, varied collection options and reprocessing specifications also contribute to the challenge of reaching full recyclability. 

Arcade Beauty partners with TerraCycle to reduce and redirect operational waste

Arcade Beauty has made it a priority to reduce and redirect its operational waste.  As Arcade Beauty becomes a pioneer in sustainable beauty packaging through the exploration of recycled material use in its products, it is simultaneously going above and beyond to enact diversion initiatives within its own waste streams. Arcade Beauty began a partnership with TerraCycle at the end of 2024 to assist with this goal.  

What is TerraCycle?

TerraCycle is a leader in diversion solutions for hard-to-recycle waste, with a mission to direct waste away from disposal streams such as landfill and incineration.

To redirect Arcade Beauty’s hard-to-recycle waste, TerraCycle targeted three sources of waste on the individual plant level:  

Break Room Waste

Initial collection in progress

Line Trial Waste

46 Pounds of Waste Recycled as of March 2025

PPE Waste

19 Pounds of Waste, such as Hair Nets, have been recycled as of March 2025

With the recent introduction of these bins onsite, Arcade Beauty is currently monitoring the project’s progress and success while gearing up to send the first shipment of waste to Terracycle. 

Fostering a Culture of Sustainability Through Waste Awareness

In addition to reducing the amount of plant-level waste sent to landfill, the introduction of TerraCycle bins poses an interesting challenge and opportunity to develop recycling and waste management awareness among individual plant employees. Specifically in the case of the bin devoted to breakroom waste, Arcade Beauty has an opportunity to promote a culture that prioritizes reusables over disposables in a context which applies more directly to lifestyle habits.  

This opportunity perfectly lends itself to Arcade Beauty’s mission of being sustainable and responsible in all its operations. Arcade Beauty is committed to the continuous development of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives through company-wide actions such as decarbonization plans, product life cycle analyses, global DEI policies, and more, while also working to promote the adoption of a CSR mindset among its individual plants and employees.  

With this in mind, Arcade Beauty is excited to see the impact TerraCycle can have not only on its waste stream, but also through the educational opportunities that will arise as a result of the partnership.