Sustainability has become a buzzword in the beauty industry, but it’s more than just a passing trend. 

The products we use daily— from cleansers to moisturisers— can have a significant impact on the environment. 

Packaging waste, overconsumption, and unsustainable sourcing practices all contribute to the beauty industry’s footprint.

Read more about our sustainability ethos here.

Sustainability is no longer a trend — it’s a responsibility. The beauty industry contributes significantly to global waste, and the products we use every day can have a much bigger impact on the environment than most people realise. 

From packaging to water usage to ingredient sourcing, every choice contributes to your personal footprint.

Here are 12 easy, practical, and SAMI-approved ways to make your skincare routine more sustainable.

Understanding Why Sustainable Skincare Matters

How Beauty Waste Impacts the Environment

The beauty industry produces billions of units of packaging every year — much of which isn’t recyclable. 

Coloured plastics, pumps, multilayer lids, and composite materials often end up in landfill. Over time, this contributes to pollution, microplastics, and a higher carbon footprint from manufacturing and waste processing.

Why Consumers Are Shifting Toward Eco-Conscious Choices

People want transparency. They want to know where ingredients come from, how products are made, and what happens to packaging once they're finished. 

Choosing more sustainable skincare encourages brands to take action — something we’re deeply committed to at SAMI through recycled materials, refill-free routines, and environmental restoration initiatives like Plastic Bank.

1. Simplify Your Skincare Routine

One of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental impact is to use fewer products. More products equal more packaging, more transport emissions, and more waste over time.

By embracing a minimalist routine — think cleanser, moisturiser, and SPF — you reduce unnecessary steps and simplify your life. Your skin barrier often responds better to fewer actives and gentler layering, reducing irritation and creating more consistent results.

A minimalist routine doesn’t mean compromising. It means choosing smarter, more effective formulas that do more with less.

2. Choose Refillable and Recyclable Packaging

Packaging is one of the beauty industry’s biggest sustainability obstacles. That’s why choosing products packaged responsibly is one of the most impactful changes you can make.

Look for bottles made from 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic, FSC-certified cartons, and compostable shippers. These choices help reduce the production of virgin plastic and rely instead on materials already in circulation.

Not all plastics are recyclable in every council area, so checking local guidelines helps ensure your empties actually get processed.

3. Support Brands with Sustainable Ingredients

Sustainability also extends to the formulas themselves — from how ingredients are sourced to how they impact the environment.

Look for botanical oils harvested responsibly, upcycled plant extracts, and vegan formulations that minimise environmental stress.

Choosing brands with strong transparency helps push the entire industry toward better practices.

4. Buy Less, Use More

Overconsumption is one of the biggest contributors to beauty waste. It’s easy to get caught up in new launches and trending ingredients, but many products end up half-finished and expired.

Being intentional with purchasing — finishing what you own before buying more — drastically reduces waste. It also helps keep your routine consistent, which is better for your skin barrier and your bank account.

Store products away from heat and sunlight to extend shelf life and ensure every last drop gets used.

5. Switch to Multi-Use Products

Multi-tasking products reduce the number of items in your routine and significantly cut down packaging waste. They also simplify your routine, making skincare feel effortless.

Think nourishing oils that cleanse and hydrate, tinted moisturisers with SPF, or balms that soothe everything from lips to dry patches. Fewer products mean fewer bottles — and fewer resources used overall.

6. Be Mindful of Water Usage

Sustainability isn’t just about the products you use — it's also about how you use them.

Water is a finite resource, and reducing consumption is one of the simplest eco-friendly switches.

Small shifts add up over time, especially when applied consistently.

7. Recycle and Upcycle Empty Containers

Instead of tossing empties straight into the bin, consider how they can be reused or responsibly recycled.

Clean jars and bottles can be repurposed for travel sizes, cotton pads, jewellery, or small storage. Some beauty retailers support take-back programs for hard-to-recycle components like pumps and lids.

8. Support Transparent and Ethical Brands

Supporting brands that prioritise sustainability helps create industry-wide change.

At SAMI, we’re transparent about our materials, manufacturing, and impact. We’re proud to partner with Plastic Bank, removing 1,000 plastic bottles from the environment every month.

We commit to Australian-made formulas, vegan and cruelty-free certifications, 100% PCR plastic bottles, FSC cartons, and compostable mailers — because real progress requires real action.

When you support ethical brands, you’re voting for a better future for both skin and planet.

9. Choose Products Made with PCR or Compostable Materials

PCR materials reduce the need for virgin plastic and help divert waste from landfill. Compostable packaging offers an alternative to traditional plastic and breaks down naturally.

10. Prioritise Slow Beauty Over Fast Beauty

Fast beauty encourages constant buying and rapid product turnover — leading to clutter, waste, and unnecessary packaging.

Slow beauty is the opposite. It’s about choosing long-lasting, high-quality products designed to actually support your skin. It focuses on consistency over trends, and effectiveness over excess.

11. Check Your Local Recycling Guidelines

Every council has different recycling capabilities. Some accept pumps and coloured plastics — others don’t. Knowing what your area supports helps ensure the effort you make actually leads to recycling, not landfill.

If something can’t be recycled kerbside, look for in-store drop-off programs or specialty recycling streams.

12. Make Sustainability Part of Your Everyday Routine

Sustainability is built on small, consistent habits — not perfection. When you make mindful choices daily, your routine becomes greener almost automatically.

Whether it’s choosing responsible brands, turning off the tap, finishing your products, or switching to low-waste skincare tools, every small step counts.

A Simple Sustainable Swap: Organic Cotton & Bamboo Reusable Rounds

If you want a quick, high-impact change, swap single-use cotton pads for SAMI’s Organic Cotton & Bamboo Reusable Rounds.

These cloud-soft, cushiony rounds:

• Replace hundreds of disposable wipes and pads
  

• Pair perfectly with no-rinse cleansers and exfoliators
  

• Are gentle enough for sensitive or delicate skin
  

• Come with a breathable wash bag for easy cleaning
  

• Hold product beautifully without wasting formula

They’re an effortless upgrade that reduces daily waste — and feel far more luxe than throwaway options.

Final Thoughts

Making your skincare routine more sustainable doesn’t require a complete overhaul. It simply asks for awareness, intention, and a few conscious swaps. 

The more mindful we are about the products we buy, how we use them, and the brands we support, the more impact we can collectively create.

You can shop the full SAMI range here, including our discounted bundles.