Spring is here, things are blooming and growing again, and we hope that you, our readers and customers, are all staying safe and well.
Thursday April 22nd marks Earth Day 2021. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Restore Our Earth’ which, in these difficult times, resonates with us now more than ever.
Our planet’s natural beauty can offer the kind of comfort and tranquillity that a lot of us really need right now. So, we hope that wherever you are, you’re managing to get outside and enjoy nature, even if only for a small part of your day.
At Philip Kingsley we have a heartfelt pledge to the environment. Being a multi-generational family company, we care deeply about our planet’s future – as well as its present. We’re committed to fighting climate change, and to helping preserve Earth’s natural beauty for future generations.
That’s why we’re doing everything we can to lower our carbon footprint and reduce waste, while still delivering our much-loved products to you in a safe and sustainable way.
Here are four ways we’re working towards keeping our planet healthy.
1. Our Bottles Are Made From 100% Renewable Bioplastic
All of the beautifully designed bottles which house our award-winning formulas, are made from 100% renewable bioplastic. After researching thoroughly into sustainable product packaging options, here is why we made this choice:
Traditional plastic
Bottles made from traditional plastic present lots of environmental problems. For a start, traditional plastic is made using ethanol obtained from crude oil, and crude oil is a rapidly declining, non-renewable resource.
Plus, during the plastic manufacturing process, huge amounts of carbon are released into the atmosphere. And carbon emissions are one of the biggest culprits of global warming.
Glass
Did you know that, due to its weight and density, glass has a relatively high carbon footprint? Add to this that it’s breakable and therefore unsafe in the shower, and glass was a definite no for us.
Renewable Bioplastic
By contrast, our bioplastic bottles are safe, sustainable, and renewable. They’re created using ethanol which is a natural by-product of the sugar industry – meaning they’re actually carbon negative! They’re also completely recyclable. Just remember to wash out your empties and put them in your recycling bin.
2. Our Bottles Have a Negative Carbon Footprint
The bioplastic we use, I’m green™ Polyethylene, is produced from sugarcane. During sugarcane’s growing phase, the plant absorbs a good deal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. In fact, the amount of CO2 absorbed by the sugarcane is much greater than the amount of CO2 generated during the manufacture of the bioplastic. So, we’re very proud to say that our bottles have a negative carbon footprint.
3. We’re Getting Rid of Cardboard Packaging
Outer packaging is often just decorative. It’s wasteful – and feels awfully frustrating – when you open your wonderful new hair products and simply throw the cardboard straight in the (recycling) bin.
So, we’ve removed 95% of our cardboard cartons from shelves. We’re working on the remaining 5%. In the meantime, we’ve switched to FSC-certified cardboard, supporting sustainable forestry.
4. We’re Local
At the Philip Kingsley Clinics in London and New York, all our products are handmade either on the premises or nearby. When you come visit us for a Consultation or Treatment, the specialised products you purchase have a journey to you that’s even shorter than the average commute!
We work with a variety of delivery partners who are prioritising reducing their carbon emissions. They have invested in fleets of electric vehicles, bicycle delivery options, and increased numbers of on-foot postal workers, providing an efficient service that reduces your carbon footprint.
What’s more, all of our retail products are manufactured in the UK. So, if you’re a UK customer, rest assured: your hair heroes are not clocking up any air miles on their way to your door.
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