Did you know that over 120 billion pieces of beauty product packaging are wasted globally each year? Cosmetic waste isn’t just a global issue; it’s a local one, too. Here in Wheaton, Illinois, an estimated 6,144 to 12,285 lip products are thrown away annually, contributing to pollution and environmental harm. But the good news is, there are ways we can tackle this issue together—starting with small, intentional choices.  

What is Cosmetic Waste?  

Cosmetic waste refers to the expired or unused beauty products and their non-recyclable packaging that end up in landfills. Products like lipsticks, lip glosses, and other lip care items often have short shelf lives, leading to frequent disposal before they’re fully used. Research shows that 20-40% of beauty products are wasted this way.  

Now, imagine this in a local context. With Wheaton’s population of 52,938, roughly 10,238 women actively use makeup, and between 2,048 and 4,095 people in our community throw away expired or unused lip products each year. That’s thousands of lipsticks and glosses potentially heading straight to our landfills.  

The environmental cost is staggering. Over 95% of all cosmetic packaging is never recycled, while 70% of packaging can’t be recycled at all. This waste significantly contributes to water pollution and harms wildlife, affecting ecosystems both locally and globally.  

How Babe Bodega is Fighting Back  

At Babe Bodega, we believe that beauty doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. We’re taking steps to reduce waste and create a sustainable beauty ecosystem our community can be proud of.  

Here’s what we’re doing to make a tangible change:

• Bulk Purchasing: Instead of buying small, single-use quantities of lipstick and gloss bases, we’re purchasing in bulk, minimizing packaging waste associated with individual containers. With kilogram-sized bases, each purchase produces hundreds of products, reducing the environmental footprint.  

• Reusable Mixing Dishes: For our in-store appointments, we’ve ditched single-use plastics by switching to reusable mixing dishes. This eliminates unnecessary waste and reflects our commitment to sustainable practices.  

• Tube Buyback Program: We’ve launched a program that allows customers to recycle their used-up or expired lip product tubes with us. Each tube returned is responsibly recycled through our partnership with TerraCycle, ensuring it doesn’t end up in a landfill.  

Why Your Participation Matters  

If just 50% of Wheaton’s women recycled 3 unused lip products per year, we’d divert over 9,000 lip products annually from landfills! Participating in Babe Bodega’s sustainable initiatives means reducing waste, conserving resources, and encouraging an environmentally conscious beauty culture.  

It’s not just about beauty; it’s about creating cleaner neighborhoods, protecting our planet, and teaching sustainability to future generations.  

How You Can Help  

Wondering how you can make an impact? Here are five actionable steps to get started:

1. Participate in Our Tube Buyback Program  

Bring in your empty or expired lip products to Babe Bodega and earn a $5 credit toward a refillable product. Recycling your beauty products is an easy way to breathe new life into old packaging.  

2. Choose Refillable Beauty Products  

Switch to products with recyclable or reusable packaging, like the refillable lip gloss and lipsticks available at Babe Bodega. You’ll save money on refills and significantly reduce single-use plastics.  

3. Be Intentional with Purchases  

Choose quality over quantity by opting for beauty products with longer-lasting formulations and sustainable packaging. Browse our curated selections for high-quality, eco-friendly options.  

4. Spread Awareness  

Help educate others in Wheaton about the environmental impact of cosmetic waste. Share this article with friends and family or host conversations about sustainability in beauty.  

5. Support Local Sustainability Initiatives  

By supporting Babe Bodega’s and other local sustainability programs, you’re contributing to a collective effort that goes beyond beauty. Together, we can advocate for long-term change in the beauty industry.  

The Ripple Effect of Eco-Conscious Beauty  

Every small step we take at a local level has the potential to ripple out into a larger global impact. For Wheaton, recycling just half of our wasted lip products could save over 9,000 items a year. Imagine what that could mean for neighboring cities or states if we expanded these sustainable beauty practices.  

It’s not just about reducing waste; it’s about creating something bigger. A beauty industry that values the environment is not only desirable; it’s necessary. Babe Bodega is honored to be part of this movement—joining hands with local communities to promote conscious consumption, reduce waste, and celebrate the beauty of sustainability.  

Join Us on Our Mission  

Are you ready to make a difference in how we approach beauty and waste? Participate in our Tube Buyback Program or try our refillable products today and get rewarded for your eco-conscious efforts. Together, we can transform Wheaton into a model for sustainable beauty practices.  

Visit Babe Bodega today and be part of the movement. Because when it comes to the future of beauty, every small action counts.

How Wheaton, Illinois Can Reduce Cosmetic Waste and Create a More Sustainable Beauty Routine

When was the last time you threw out an expired lipstick or a still-half-full lip gloss? If you’re like most of us, it probably wasn’t that long ago. Cosmetic waste is an issue the beauty industry rarely talks about, but its environmental impact is impossible to ignore. Here in Wheaton, Illinois, we have an opportunity to lead by example in reducing this waste.

The Reality of Cosmetic Waste in Wheaton

Globally, the beauty industry produces over 120 billion units of packaging annually, with 95% of cosmetic packaging ending up in landfills. And it’s not just the packaging—expired or unused products contribute significantly to the waste problem. 

Here’s how it stacks up locally:

• Wheaton has a population of approximately 52,938, and about 50.9% of residents are women.

• Roughly 38% of these women (around 10,238) wear makeup regularly.

• Research shows that 20–40% of beauty products are tossed due to expiration or overconsumption. That translates to approximately 2,048 to 4,095 women in Wheaton discarding expired or unused lip products each year.

• On average, each person discards 3 lip products annually, totaling 6,144 to 12,285 wasted lipsticks or glosses in Wheaton alone.

That’s tens of thousands of lip products ending up in landfills—that’s just from our community. Imagine the impact if more cities joined in tackling this issue!

Why Cosmetic Waste is Harmful

Most lip product packaging is made from difficult-to-recycle plastics and non-biodegradable materials. When improperly disposed of, these materials can harm the environment:

• Packaging waste clogs landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to degrade.

• Microplastics from cosmetic containers often end up in oceans, posing a threat to marine species.

• Manufacturing processes for these products consume significant amounts of energy and water, increasing their overall carbon footprint.

What Can We Do to Make a Change?

Thankfully, change starts at a local level. Here at Babe Bodega, we’re committed to reducing cosmetic waste in the Wheaton community and beyond. Here’s how:

1. Participate in our Tube Buyback Program

We offer a simple solution to breathe new life into old lip products. Bring us your used or expired lip glosses and lipsticks, and we’ll recycle them responsibly through our partner, TerraCycle. Every product you return earns you a $5 credit toward a refillable lip gloss or lipstick tube. Together, if just 50% of Wheaton’s women joined in, we could redirect over 9,000 lip products annually away from landfills.

2. Opt for Refillable Beauty Products

Single-use plastics don’t belong in your beauty routine—or our environment. That’s why we’ve introduced refillable packaging for our lip products. Keep the same tube and simply refill your favorite shade. Not only does this cut down on waste, but you’ll also get a discount on every refill!

3. Choose Longer-Lasting Products

Most big-name beauty brands recommend replacing products every 3-12 months. But Babe Bodega’s lip products have a shelf life of three years from their manufacturing date. That’s six times longer than many alternatives, meaning you can use them guilt-free for much longer while reducing unnecessary waste.

4. Support Sustainable Practices

We’re doing more than just recycling. At Babe Bodega, we’ve switched to purchasing our product bases in kilogram quantities, allowing us to produce hundreds of items from a single container. This step significantly reduces packaging waste on our end. Plus, we now use reusable mixing dishes for in-store appointments, cutting down on single-use plastics.

5. Spread the Word

One of the most powerful ways to make an impact is by raising awareness. Share these facts and tips with your friends, family, and fellow beauty lovers. Every person who commits to reducing waste makes a difference.

Wheaton’s Opportunity to Lead

Wheaton may be a small community, but that doesn’t mean we can’t lead in sustainability. Small, consistent actions — like recycling lip products, choosing refillable options, and buying long-lasting cosmetics — can create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond our city borders.

Recycling 9,000 lip products a year may seem like a small number when compared to the 114 billion pieces of beauty packaging wasted globally each year. But when Wheaton inspires neighboring communities and cities to follow suit, the impact becomes monumental.

Together, we can reduce landfill pollution, protect our local environment, and set an example for others to follow. 

Start Your Eco-Beauty Journey Today

At Babe Bodega, we’re more than a beauty business—we’re a community dedicated to sustainability. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Drop off your used or expired lip products and earn a $5 credit through our Tube Buyback Program.

• Explore our collection of refillable beauty products and enjoy discounts on refills.

• Commit to making smarter, more sustainable beauty choices by extending the life of your products.

Together, we can make Wheaton a shining example of sustainability in the beauty industry. 

What’s your next step? Visit Babe Bodega today to participate in our recycling program or explore our eco-conscious products. Let’s make every lip product — and every choice — matter.