The Real Sustainability of the Lash Industry
Sustainable Packaging Matters: The Steps We Took to Reduce Waste in the Lash Industry
At London Lash, we understand the environmental impact of the beauty industry, particularly in the eyelash extensions space. With the beauty industry producing 146 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, according to a 2019 article by Commercial Waste, sustainability has become central to how we do business. From our packaging to our shipping methods, we’ve made several eco-friendly changes to reduce waste and promote more sustainable practices.
Ethical, Vegan Lash Products
Back in the early 2010s, when the eyelash extension industry was emerging, mink fur and silk were commonly used in lash extensions. Thankfully, today’s lash extensions are made from synthetic PBT fibre, known for its durability and curl retention, ideal for creating long-lasting classic eyelash extensions, hybrid lashes, and volume lashes. While terms like ‘mink’, ‘silk’, and ‘cashmere’ are still used to describe lash collections, rest assured they refer to the style, not the material.
We’ve always been proud to offer 100% vegan and cruelty-free lash products. This extends beyond lashes—we’ve worked with developers to remove animal-derived ingredients like collagen from our under eye patches and other lash accessories, ensuring that your eyelash extension kit remains ethical and eco-friendly.
Eco-Friendly Product Development
Our sustainability journey began in 2018 when we replaced plastic eyelash extension trays with cardboard boxes. At the time, this was groundbreaking in the industry. Since then, we’ve moved even further towards sustainable packaging by introducing fully recyclable, matchbox-style trays for our lash extensions.
We’ve also switched to glass bottles where possible for products like eyelash primer and lash cleanser, reducing plastic use and giving lash technicians more eco-friendly options for their eyelash extension kit. Additionally, we’ve introduced reusable stainless steel brush handles for lash shampoo and lash prep brushes, which reduces plastic waste by 80% compared to traditional plastic brushes.
For our shipping, we faced a challenge with the plastic wrap used to protect lash extension boxes. While it was necessary for keeping products safe in transit, it wasn’t ideal for reducing plastic waste. We found a solution by switching to a plant-based, compostable material, so now when you order classic lashes, volume lashes, or wispy lashes from us, the protective wrap is eco-friendly too.
Smart, Sustainable Procurement
Our Procurement Team plays a key role in reducing waste by carefully managing inventory to ensure we only produce what’s needed. Many beauty brands bulk-buy items like lash glue to lower costs, which often leads to excess stock and waste. Instead, we focus on smaller, more frequent orders, ensuring the freshest and highest-quality products for your clients.
For products like tweezers and eyelash extensions, which don’t expire like lash glue, we offer them in our outlet store at discounted prices. This not only reduces waste but also provides beginner Lash Technicians or those looking for a bargain with affordable tools for their eyelash extension kit.
Lowering Our Carbon Impact
Our Operations Team has made significant strides in reducing our carbon footprint. All of our parcels are shipped in cardboard boxes, paper envelopes, and biodegradable mailer bags. We’ve also swapped out bubble wrap for a paper alternative, and our packing peanuts are made from starch, which dissolves in water.
By opening distribution centres in the EU and USA, we’ve reduced our reliance on air shipping, helping us lower our carbon footprint while still delivering lash extensions and other lash products quickly to customers around the world.
In 2022, we implemented a Shopify app that calculates the CO2 emissions of each parcel we send. Each month, we make donations to offset these emissions, ensuring that all our shipping is 100% carbon neutral. We’re proud to say that our commitment to sustainability extends to every aspect of our business, from packaging to shipping.
Our Next Sustainability Steps
Sustainability is an ongoing effort, especially in the eyelash extensions industry. There’s always room for improvement, whether it’s finding more eco-friendly alternatives for products or making better packaging decisions. We’re committed to continuously researching new ways to make our products and practises greener. Our Product Development, Procurement, and Operations Teams are always on the lookout for innovative solutions, and we’re lucky to have customers who are as passionate about sustainability as we are.
We know that by working together—whether you're a lash tech using classic eyelash extensions or a client seeking eco-friendly lash extensions—we can make a real difference in reducing the environmental impact of the lash industry. The journey to sustainability is long, but we’re committed to making steady progress, one sustainable swap at a time.
