Are Burt’s Bees products biodegradable? (5 reasons why Burt’s Bees products are sustainable)

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The article will deliberate the biodegradability of Burt’s Bees products while also covering topics such as 

  • Are the products sourced from nature?
  • Are the products vegan?
  • Are the products packaged sustainably?
  • Are the products produced sustainably?
  • What are the best disposal methods?

Are Burt’s Bees Products biodegradable?

To develop a rigid stance on the biodegradability of Burt’s Bees products, it is essential to know the psychology and mindset with which the products are made. 

As a rule of thumb, it is established that products that are made from natural materials will be closer to nature and eco-friendly whereas the products that are not sourced from nature will not be proximal to being eco-friendly. 

If we look at the Burt’s Bees products, it can be seen that nature’s philosophy is very well depicted in the Burt’s Bees products, let alone their mission and vision statement. 

The most common product is argued to be their lip balm whereas other products adhere to various categories such as 

  • Skincare
  • Lip care
  • Hair care
  • Body lotions 
  • Makeup 

The most common products being 

  • Beeswax lip balm
  • Lemon butter cuticle cream
  • Hand salve
  • Almond and milk hand cream
  • Herbal complexion stick
  • Coconut foot cream
  • Micellar makeup removing towelettes
  • Cleansing oil with coconut and argan oils
  • Overnight intensive lip treatment
  • Wild rose and berry lip butter

A deliberation on the ingredients is enough to herald that the Burt’s Bees products are made in consideration of nature’s benefits and advantages. 

Therefore, it can be concluded that the Burt’s Bees products are sourced from nature because the majority of the ingredients used in the Burt’s Bees products are extracted from nature and there is the avoidance of chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, triclosan et cetera. 

If the products are sourced from nature, does this mean that they are biodegradable too?

Yes, in most cases, products derived from natural sources are more likely to be biodegradable. Biodegradation is the breakdown that is caused by the action of microbes. 

You may wonder why biodegradation matters. Biodegradation matters because it is nature’s way to make sure that there is minimal waste accumulation and generation. 

If we explore the case of Burt’s Bees products, it is seen that the majority of the ingredients used are sourced from nature and therefore, most of the products that are manufactured by Burt’s Bees are considered to be biodegradable. 

This means that these products will break down into simpler materials that can become a part of nature again. 

Are Burt’s Bees products packaged sustainably?

Packaging is perhaps the second most important aspect of any consumer product. The importance or significance of packaging is not only limited to the utility aspect but also the environment. 

With the rise of consumerism, it has been seen and explored that packaging has contributed a lot to environmental problems because the most common material for packaging that has been used is plastic. 

Plastic is a synthetic polymer that takes hundreds of years to degrade. This means that single-use plastic can keep on creating waste and environmental problems for several years. Even 1000 years in some cases. 

Therefore, it is not only optional but rather mandatory for manufacturers to opt for green packaging that does not create such environmental problems. 

The best thing that can be done is to go for biodegradable packaging which can degrade easily and also can be opted for composting. However, if that seems too far stretched, another healthier option that can be pursued is the use of packaging made from recycled material. 

The use of recycled material or rather PCR (post-consumer-recycled) material means that non-biodegradable waste such as plastic is not added to the waste pile but rather is reused and utilised for other purposes. 

Therefore, to develop a stance on the sustainability of Burt’s Bees products’ packaging, consider the following points 

  • The packaging is not biodegradable in most cases (as virgin or recycled plastic is used) 
  • The packaging of Burt’s Bees products is 100% recyclable. This means that, with eco-conscious consumer behaviour, the environmental impact of plastic packaging can be mitigated. 
  • The packaging of Burt’s Bees products uses recycled (PCR) plastic. Although it is not 100%, progress is required to make it up to that status. 

What is the best way to dispose of Burt’s Bees products?

As it turns out, the best way to discard or dispose of Burt’s Bees products is to either reuse the empty bottles or go for the recycling option. 

It has been established that the packaging of Burt’s Bees products does make use of recyclable materials, meaning recyclable plastic.

Therefore, to make sure that the plastic (a synthetic polymer) used in the Burt’s Bees products does not cause harm or havoc is to make sure that the plastic is recycled because if it is discarded in non-eco-friendly manners, it will remain in the landfills for hundreds of years. 

Are Burt’s Bees products made sustainably? (5 reasons)

The production of Burt’s Bees products can be given the status of being green and eco-friendly because of the following reasons 

  • The production features PCR material 
  • The production is carbon neutral 
  • The production is waste-free
  • The production is cruelty-free
  • The production is certified 

There is no testing done on animals when it comes to Burt’s bees products. That is why it is termed cruelty-free. There are a number of conventional and contemporary brands that do animal testing to check and assess their products. However, this is against animal rights violations.

In the case of Burt’s bees shampoo, this does not happen. That is why Burt’s bees shampoos are Leaping Bunny certified. 

This is another very important and commendable point that there is no waste generation during and after the production of Burt’s bees products. What this means is all the waste generated is utilised in efficient ways such as recycling and composting. 

The waste generation scenario is quite dense since more than 2 billion tons of waste are generated every year. However, with the zero waste programs such as that of Burt’s bees products, a positive nudge is given to the waste management systems. 

Burt’s Bees products make use of post-consumer recycled materials which reduces the environmental impact of non-biodegradable substances such as plastics. More than that, the accumulated waste is dealt with better as when plastics are recycled, there is less waste generated. 

Are Burt’s Bees products vegan?

No, Burt’s Bees products can not be said to be vegan because a majority of its products are made from ingredients that are extracted from animals. 

For example, let us take the case of Beeswax lip balm. As it is depicted in the name too, Burt’s Bees lip balm does make use of beeswax and therefore, because of the use of materials such as beeswax and others, Burt’s Bees products can not be given the status of being vegan. 

However, this does not mean that Burt’s Bees products are not cruelty-free. There is a discrepancy between the two terms, although subtle. 

Burt’s Bees products are made into consideration so that there is no harmful animal testing done to make sure that there is a violation of animal rights. 

Conclusion 

The conclusion can be drawn in the following points 

  • Burt’s Bees products are biodegradable because they feature the use of organic and plant-based materials. 
  • Burt’s Bees products are cruelty-free but not vegan 
  • Burt’s Bees products come in recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable 
  • Burt’s Bees products’ production is sustainable, waste-free, and carbon-neutral. 

References

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