Burt's Bees Commits to Net Zero Plastic by 2025

Burt's Bees' 2020 Impact Report includes its commitments to achieve net zero plastic to nature by 2025, supporting a climate-focused future and enhance the livelihoods of more than 50,000 people across its supply chain.

Previously: [video] Burt’s Bees Gives Lip Balm a Turmeric Twist

The 2020 Impact Report shows:

• Formulas averaging 99.6% natural origin
• Packaging that uses 50% recycled materials on average and is all recyclable curbside or through TerraCycle
• Landfill-free operations since 2010
• $4.1 million in grants to protect biodiversity and connect people to nature

In order to achieve net zero plastic by 2025, Burt's Bees will focus on cutting use of virgin packaging materials (plastic and fiber) by 33% (and, by 2030, 50%) and striving toward 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging for all products.

As a result, Burt's Bees is launching its first waste-free product in partnership with Loop. Available in early March, the new Truly Glowing Gel Cleanser will come in a reusable glass bottle with waste-free delivery and return. This joins recently launched Rescue Lip Balm, packaged in a new hybrid tube featuring bioresin from upcycled potatoes and post-consumer recycled content.  

Burt's Bees will also be partnering with The Recycling Partnership to fund infrastructure improvements in U.S. municipal recycling systems. In addition, Burt's Bees will invest in plastic waste collection and recycling credits that would lead to recovery and recycling of at least as much plastic as their own plastic footprint. 

As of January 2021, Burt's Bees has transitioned to 100% renewable electricity. The company will also continue to CarbonNeutral certified, building on an eight-year commitment to offset carbon emissions, including emissions from their facilities, transportation of raw materials and finished products, and employee travel. 

Burt's Bees continues to advance a climate-focused future through the signing of the We Are Still In and America Is All In declarations, and joining Ceres Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) and The Climate Collaborative.

Accelerating efforts to improve sourcing practices and uplift communities who produce the brand's ingredients, Burt's Bees has impacted over 20,000 livelihoods through a combination of Responsible Sourcing Assessments, third-party audits, and their Global Supply Chain Investment Program. By 2025, they will more than double their efforts—impacting 50,000 livelihoods.

Burt's Bees has visited 115 sites in 25 countries to trace and monitor raw materials—including almost all wax (96%) and butter (97%) sources—and nearly half of all of directly purchased wax, butter and oil sources combined globally.

"Our focus has long been centered on the well-being of people and the natural world. The challenges of the pandemic have only heightened the importance of protecting nature as a resource, for the health of people and all life on Earth,'' said Paula Alexander, Burt's Bees senior director of sustainability. "That's why we've chosen to focus on systemic changes across our supply chain while working toward a circular economy—to enable a more connected and stable relationship between people and nature."

Shannon Hess, associate director of responsible sourcing, said, "As a founding member of Global Shea Alliance, our investments have supported women in shea through new facilities, training programs, and cooperative registration in West African Shea communities. And though Burt's Bees sources most of its mica domestically, we've also helped establish the Responsible Mica Initiative, and worked with partners to develop the Sustainable Mica Policy and Framework Vision to improve supply chain practices in India."