Plastic waste remains one of the most pressing environmental and economic challenges for the beauty industry. While much attention has been paid to large-scale packaging waste, small-format plastics—such as bottle caps, travel-size containers, cosmetic tubes, and closures—pose a unique and often overlooked problem.Despite call to action campaigns and the rise of initiatives to dismantle the problem, billions of small plastic packaging units are still discarded, with the vast majority ending up in landfills due to inefficiencies in recycling infrastructure.The updated Small Plastics Recovery Report 2025 by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners explores an untapped opportunity in the recycling industry—the recovery and reintegration of small-format plastics into the supply chain. Backed by leading industry sponsors such as Kraft Heinz, L’Oréal, P&G, Target, and Maybelline New York, the report provides a detailed roadmap for tackling this waste stream, emphasizing technological advancements, regulatory pressures, and market demand for recycled materials.By implementing targeted recovery solutions, the industry could divert tens of thousands of tons of plastics from landfills, meet rising regulatory standards, and unlock new economic opportunities. “This is inherently a cross-industry challenge, as small-format packaging is used in beauty, pharmacy, food service, beverage, retail, and beyond.