Dates and waste
Frugal and fabulous! Discover the beauty of saving!
Waste! It's something none of us can afford, and yet about 2% of cosmetic items are thrown away due to over-production - including those items that are thrown away due to short 'best before' dates. These are shocking statistics - to put it in perspective, the level of waste in cosmetics (which includes soaps, creams, shampoo and conditioners etc) is higher than for fashion waste, pharmaceuticals, food and the auto industry!
We can all do our bit to reduce this waste by recycling empty bottles and packaging and by using our common sense when it comes to deciding if products should still be used or whether they should be binned.
'Best before' and 'Use by' dates in food
“Best before” dates are a guideline as to when to expect the best flavour, texture and colour, Use By dates are instead the date up to which the food can be safely consumed. Since 2022, Waitrose, Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Co-op and others have been scrapping “best before” dates on hundreds of fresh food items, in a drive to reduce food waste. Catherine David, of the charity Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), was quoted as saying that these dates ‘create food waste because they get in the way of people using their judgement when food is still good to eat’.
This is a good start to tackling the enormous amount of waste we produce. You may have noticed “best before” dates on cosmetic products too. They have slightly different implications, but the same common sense applies.
Let’s take a closer look at “best before” dates in Cosmetic products.
Cosmetic products like shampoos can have either a “best before” date or a “period after opening” date (often shaped like an open can with a number). These are there to show when you can expect the product to perform as expected by the manufacturer.
What can happen once the product is past its date? Sometimes you can see quality changes: changes in colour and thickness, changes in the fragrance and occasionally the product may not perform as well. Also, although cosmetic products don’t have the same safety issues as food products, you can see issues with contamination and spoilage if the product is not stored or sealed correctly.
At The Neem Team, we often have products that reach their “best before” dates and are taken off the shelves. As a result, our staff benefit from this stock, and are witness to the much longer shelf lives of these products.
We have decided to offer this ‘staff benefit’ to our frugal and fabulous - or just plain curious- customers in the shape of Mystery boxes.
Our current Mystery Box contains 9+ products from the Theraneem (human) range, all still in perfect condition but near their “best before” date. This allows you to enjoy these high-quality cosmetics at a fraction of their usual price, without compromising on performance.
See our current box here Theraneem | Mystery Box | THE NEEM TEAM!
Factors that affect product life-span (how to get the most out of your products)
- Storage: Store products as much as possible in cool and dark conditions. Keep out of the sun and away from direct heat
- Packaging: Air-tight packaging and seals help keep product quality at its best.
- Hygiene: Use clean hands and tools (spatula,s, spoons) to apply products, keep the closures clean and close tightly when not in use to avoid contamination with bacteria and moulds. It is good practice to always use a clean spoon or spatula when picking up cream or ointment from a jar.
- Formulation: Some ingredients degrade faster than others. Some ingredients, such as neem, are active against bacteria and moulds, and help keep products in tip top condition for longer.
Take home message
While you should be mindful about “best before” dates, it’s important to use your own judgement. If a product feels, smells and looks as normal, it is fine to use. If there are changes in its appearance or performance- especially if it has already been used- then you should discard it.
By understanding the meaning of the dates on cosmetic products, consumers can make an informed decision about whether their products can still be used or need to be replaced, minimising waste and maximising respect for the Earth’s resources.
References
Around 2% of cosmetic items are thrown away due to overproduction – higher than statistics for fashion waste, pharmaceutical, food, and the auto industry. Packaging is responsible for 70% of all cosmetic waste. Between 20 and 40% of beauty products end up as waste
- Waitrose to drop best before dates on fresh food - BBC News 1/8/2022 accessed 29/7/24
Waitrose has become the latest UK supermarket to scrap best before dates on hundreds of products in an attempt to tackle food waste. It will remove the dates from nearly 500 items of fresh food - including fruit and vegetables - from September. Tesco and Marks & Spencer have also scrapped best before dates on some of their products. Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) says 4.5 million tonnes of edible food is thrown away each year., external. Catherine David, director of collaboration and change at the charity, said: "Wasting food feeds climate change and it costs people money. Best before dates on fruit and veg are unnecessary and create food waste because they get in the way of people using their judgement when food is still good to eat."
Use by labels are the dates until which perishable food can be cooked and consumed safely. Best before guidance, however, is for when the product should be consumed to get the best quality, taste and texture.
