The company claims its paper jars are the ultimate in green packaging because even the label is biodegradable meaning that consumers can plant the product in the garden and help the environment by doing so.
The jars were created for the release of Pure Shea Cream and Pure Shea Butter this month, which are both USDA organic certified.
Consumers of organic cosmetics are those most likely to be interested in going green and buying products that are packaged in an environmentally-friendly way.
Trade off between green and quality
But they are unlikely to sacrifice quality for green aims. Organic Essence claims to have created jars that perform just as well as glass or plastic but will break-down without a trace.
“People shouldn’t have to give up quality for environmental responsibility; I think we can improve our standard of living while also lightening our footprint at the same time,” said co-founder of Organic Essence Ellery West.
West said consumers are looking for genuine green packaging but they have to fight through a lot of green washing to find it.
“We needed an authentic green jar, so I went to the major packaging expos looking for alternatives to plastic and glass,” said West. “Like everywhere else in our culture, there’s a lot of green hoopla, but the industry is just getting started on being ecologically responsible, so there wasn’t much to see.”
Calls for copycats
Organic Essence therefore decided to develop its own biodegradable jars and is encouraging other companies to follow their lead.
West said: “I am actively encouraging other manufacturers to copy our biodegradable jar design, because if they do, the environment and everybody in it, wins.”