Ulta Beauty, in collaboration with the environmental initiative Pact Collective, has announced the expansion of its Beauty Drop-Off program across all 1,350 U.S. stores, marking a significant milestone in the effort to reduce beauty product packaging waste. Originally piloted in 2023 across 90 stores, this initiative aims to address the alarming trend of beauty packaging ending up in landfills.
The expansion introduces collection bins in all Ulta stores, where customers can responsibly dispose of their empty beauty product containers for free. These items are then processed by Pact Collective through various methods, including upcycling and waste-to-energy conversion.
Ulta’s Conscious Beauty program, which emphasizes clean ingredients and sustainable practices, has seen a steady increase in certifications since its inception in 2020. With over 86% of customers expressing interest in purchasing consciously made beauty products and 64% interested in in-store recycling options, Ulta aims to meet this demand by expanding its Conscious Beauty assortment to include over 300 certified brands.
Looking ahead, Ulta pledges that by 2025, half of its product assortment will be recyclable, refillable, or made from recycled or bio-sourced materials. Additionally, Ulta collaborates with compliance platform Novi Connect to verify Conscious Beauty brands and products, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Ulta’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its own operations, as it engages with an advisory council comprising industry leaders to guide and shape its Conscious Beauty program standards. Partnering with Pact Collective aligns Ulta with other leading beauty brands like Sephora and Fenty Beauty, demonstrating a collective effort towards a more sustainable beauty industry.
