In line with “L’Oréal for the Future,” L’Oréal Hong Kong commissioned YouGov to conduct an independent survey that uncovers the latest local trends in consumer behavior trends around beauty, and points towards higher awareness yet meager action when it comes to recycling.

L’Oréal Hong Kong’s Green Beauty Consumer Survey reveals:

• 70% of consumers claim that they have a more serious attitude towards environmental issues and are willing to take more actions to reduce the use of plastic.
• 30% of consumers took proper measures to recycle used beauty bottles and packaging.
• 35% of consumers are aware of beauty brand recycling programs in the market, and only 23% of consumers have participated in these programs.
• Major barriers towards recycling were poor access to recycling facilities (41%) and inadequate recycling points in Hong Kong (32%).
• 80% of the respondents are more aware of the heightened strain placed on the environment by the surge in use of non-recyclable face masks and gloves as well as the increase in food delivery waste.
• 70% of the respondents claim that they are serious about issues concerning the environment and are willing to take more action to reduce their use of plastic.

Increased awareness does not translate into action towards environmental protection:

• 30% of the respondents took proper measures to recycle used beauty containers and packaging.
• 47% of the respondents directly threw away the used containers or packaging, or just put them aside at home.

Beauty brands need to find more ways to engage the younger generation:

• If they know the packaging is recyclable, 61% of the respondents claimed that they are more likely to recycle product containers they have used. The intention is relatively higher in the group aged 41 to 50.
• Compared with the age groups of 31 to 40 (64%) and 41 to 50 (69%), respondents aged 18 to 30 were least engaged in recycling (52%), with 48% of them demonstrating low or no intention of recycling.

The major barriers to recycling indicated room for improvement in beauty brand recycling programs in the market:

• Only 35% of the respondents are aware of beauty brand recycling programs in the market, and only 23% of the respondents have participated in these programs.
• Major barriers towards recycling were poor access to recycling facilities (41%) and inadequate recycling points in Hong Kong (32%).
• Other reasons include the lack of details on the recycling program (26%), unfamiliarity with the recycling process (23%), and not receiving / paying attention to such information (21%).

Consumers showed uncertainty about the recyclability of beauty product packaging and containers:

• 64% of the respondents are not clear about which beauty products’ packaging or containers (including different cosmetics and skincare products) can be recycled in the market.
• The most commonly known recyclable beauty product containers or packaging are face cream (55%) and serum (50%).
• Less than 30% of the respondents are aware of the recyclability of the containers or packaging of other beauty products, such as compact powder cases, lipstick cases, sachet packages, mask packages, brow pencils and mascara tubes.

The survey results also indicate that 62% of the respondents are more likely to recycle their products if in-store recycling is available. Informed by this data, L’Oréal Hong Kong is kicking off its first-ever cross-brand recycling program across the city with its 13 beauty brands. Kiehl’s, Lancôme, and L’Oréal Paris will be taking the lead in accepting used product containers at their stores starting this March. By the end of Q2 2021, the program will cover the Group’s other 10 beauty brands in Hong Kong.

Partnering with local environmental social enterprise V Cycle, beauty packaging that can be recycled in the program includes not only plastic bottles but also glass and metal parts of beauty products such as mascara tubes, brow pencil tubes and body, lipstick cases, and compact powder cases, etc.