Making an impact – how do we do that?

At Food for Skin, we prefer to speak of responsibility rather than sustainability.

We don't try to make everything sound greener than it is. On this page, we prefer to share the concrete choices we are making today and what we are still working on.

You can read more about Green Claims here.

Ingredients of natural origin

  • Upcycling residual flows

    At the moment, about 20% of our ingredient volume comes from residual streams. For the CO₂ emissions of upcycled versus virgin raw materials, specific LCA comparisons calculate up to approximately 45% less emissions. The process of upcycling raw materials naturally requires energy and also has to be transported, so that also creates emissions. However, no new raw materials are used for upcycled ingredients, giving it a significant positive impact.

  • Local

    We produce our products in the Netherlands and the Apple Peeling and Rocket Eye Cream in Italy. All our ingredient suppliers are European and know the origin and sourcing of their ingredients. Approximately 90% of the ingredients come from Europe, but for some - such as Kakadu plum and Shea butter - that is not possible. In those cases, we opt for collaborations with social or local initiatives or wild harvesting.

  • Organic

    If we have the option of choosing organically certified, we do so! Currently, our products are largely organic (60% of the volume). Unfortunately, it is not always possible. For many farmers, organic certification is too expensive. If there is no certificate, we do check if they produce according to organic guidelines. All ingredients are tested in the lab, and only cosmetically approved ingredients may be used.

  • No fillers

    Did you know that 'aqua' is the main ingredient in many cosmetics? This means that about 60-90% of your product consists of water. It doesn't harm, but it doesn't do anything for your skin either. Microplastics are also often added as a cheap filler. Our formulas contain no added water or microplastics and are packed with active ingredients. Powerful, rich products that you only need to use a little of!

Recyclable packaging

  • Vegan oogcrème | Food for Skin

    Glass jars and bottles

    Our glass packaging is made from Miron Violet Glass from Germany and the Czech Republic, which protects the contents and extends shelf life. This glass consists of 50% recycled material and is 100% recyclable in the glass bin. For every tonne of recycled glass, more than one tonne of primary raw materials is saved, and air pollution is reduced by 20% and water pollution by 50% (source).

  • Mono-material plastic

    For effective recycling, monomaterial (single type) plastic is important. Our pumps are made of PP plastic, and despite intensive searching for a more environmentally friendly alternative, there is no better option due to our use of oils. Fortunately, monomaterial PP is easily recyclable! Therefore, separate the cap/pump and dispose of it with plastic waste.

  • 100% PCR tube

    Our sunscreen comes in a 100% recycled mono-material tube (excluding the cap), fully recyclable and circular when properly separated (that's where you come in!). The plastic is sourced from the Netherlands, which limits CO₂ emissions. The tubes are produced at Multitubes in Wormerveer by a factory that uses 100% green energy and is zero-waste.

  • No extra boxes

    Packaging is one of the biggest polluters in the beauty industry. Redundant material creates extra waste. That's why we omit the extra box for orders placed through our site. Not always easy, as all information must fit on the label, but we choose the path with the least packaging!

  • Model met FSC kartonnen lipbalm koker Food for Skin

    FSC cardboard tubes

    Our lip balms come in fully FSC certified cardboard tubes, sourced from Asia. We extensively searched for a cardboard option from Europe, but have not yet found one. Cardboard is strongly preferred over plastic, which is why we ultimately chose this option. Please recycle the tube with paper waste!

  • Elderberry Shower oil in badkamer

    100% PCR bottle Shower Oil

    Our Elderberry Shower Oil comes in a bottle made from 100% PCR material. This means the bottle is entirely made from recycled rPET and is recyclable again after use. The bottle is produced in Germany, allowing us to consciously keep the production chain close.

The social projects of Food for Skin

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    Boro Workshop

    Since late 2024, our washcloths have been carefully crafted by Boro Atelier from 100% organic, unbleached cotton. This unique social textile studio and natural dye house in Amsterdam works with people recovering from burnout and uses circular production methods. Local, social and circular – a match made in heaven!

  • Local foraging

    If we cannot obtain the ingredients locally or through upcycling, we look at other social aspects. For example, our Shea comes from wild harvesting in Uganda. The company supports women affected by the war. And organic castor oil from India from a family business that works with small-scale farmers.

  • The Plastic Soup Foundation

    We are a paid partner in the revenue of the Plastic Soup Foundation to support them in their important research into microplastics. With their donations, the Plastic Soup Foundation has already achieved great successes in new legislation and in tackling intentional microplastic polluters.

  • Sheltersuit toilettas ingezoomd met tag 'Food for Skin'
     

    Sheltersuit

    Our toiletry bag is made by Sheltersuit from reused fabrics. Sheltersuit is a Dutch social enterprise that makes jackets that can be transformed into sleeping bags for people experiencing homelessness. The products are produced from largely recycled materials and partly made in social workshops where people with a distance to the labor market work.

The Food for Skin subsidy projects

  • Own residual flow Pumpkin Seed Oil

    We were part of a circular pumpkin chain project where we produced Pumpkin Seed Oil for our Pumpkin Serum from residual streams of Dutch pumpkins. This was a collaboration with Varta Research Laboratory and EdelKraft, an organic natural oil pressing company. You can find out more about it on BinnensteBuiten on NPO3.

  • Protein of Columbus

    The aim of this collaboration is to create a realistic business model for farmers and processors of residual flows from legumes . Our goal is to extract useful ingredients from legumes and convert them into cosmetic-grade active oils and juices. By making residual flows commercially attractive for both suppliers and processors, we accelerate the integration of upcycled ingredients in our and other skin care products.

  • 100% circular

    Together with The Upcycled Beauty Company, Arkive, Collateral Projects, and Weboxit, we are working on an innovation to create a 100% circular beauty product. This means that not only the formula, but also the glass jar, the box, and the label will be designed to be completely circular.

    The result? A completely circular skincare product that raises the bar in the beauty industry. Will we succeed?