Sustainability
Below, you will find more information about our ingredient sourcing, packaging, shipping and packing materials and office.
All of our packaging (plastic/glass/metal) can be recycled for free at any TerraCycle® drop-off location. You will find these in Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores nationwide. Click here for an interactive map of drop-off locations.
Ingredient Sourcing
We purchase about 85% of our ingredients from a supplier that is 10 miles from our office. While some of these ingredients are sourced in the US, many of the oils are ultimately from Europe (apricot, avocado, grapeseed and olive oils). About 80% of the oils we purchase are certified organic. Certified organic ingredients are grown and harvested in a much more earth-friendly way, free of harsh chemicals. We purchase our raw ingredients in as big a quantity as possible for a small business. This means that many of the ingredients are in 5 gallon sizes which cuts down on plastic. All of the plastic packaging that our ingredients come in, is recycled locally.
Product Packaging
This is the area we spend a substantial amount of time on. We purchase our packaging from US companies. Our plastic packaging is made in the US. We are always working on changing out plastic for products where this is possible. Refill sizes, products used in the shower and products that require squeezing to be applied are more difficult to figure out. We have looked at aluminum, however, as a small business it has proven to be cost prohibitive currently (eight times as high as plastic). Glass is another option. This requires more packing materials, outer boxes and has a large carbon footprint to ship. We do not ship our products with outer boxes that end up being thrown away. Please read below for information on our current packaging and recyclability.
- NEW IN 2025: Herbal Balm, Cleansing Grains and Calendula Cream are now packaged in amber glass jars with a metal lid. Recyclable and reusable. Glass is infinitely recyclable.
- 2 oz Day and Night Creams and Shea Butter Hand Cream packaged in 2 oz amber glass jars with a metal lid. Recyclable and reusable. Glass is infinitely recyclable.
- Powders, Dry Shampoo- Aluminum shaker bottle with metal cap. Recyclable and reusable.
- Serums, Argan Oil, Blemish Defense- glass bottle. Dropper bottles have a glass dropper with rubber bulb and plastic surround. Roller bottles have a metal ball and plastic polypropylene cap. Glass is infinitely recyclable.
- Powder and Dry Shampoo Refills and Cleansing Grains refill- Packaged in a compostable zipper pouch. Label can be recycled with paper.
- Shea Butter Tin- metal tin container. Fully recyclable.
- Sample size jars of Day and Night Creams- white polypropylene. Recycle code <5>.
- Shower Gels, Toners, Facial Cleanser, Body Oils, Makeup Remover, Hair Oil, Lotions- PET amber bottles. Recycle code <1>.
- Trial size 1 oz white and natural bottles - HDPE. Recycle code <2>.
- Foaming Soap 8 oz- PET bottle. Recycle code <1>. Foaming pump- polypropylene. Recycle code <5>. Pump can be reused for many refills before recycling.
- Green Tea Cleaner, Shaving Foam 8 oz- HDPE natural bottle. Recycle code <2>. Foaming pump- polypropylene. Recycle code <5>. Pump can be reused for many refills before recycling.
- Baby Balm- PCR (post consumer recycled) PET white jars. Recycle code <1>.
- Deodorant tubes- white polypropylene tube. Recycle code <5>.
- Bottle caps- white and black polypropylene caps. Recycle code <5>. White and black metal caps for 64oz jugs and 4oz jars are aluminum and recyclable.
Product Labels
Our labels are printed by Leapin' Lizard Labels on FiberStone® Paper. They are made from 80% Calcium Carbonate and 20% non-toxic resin (HDPE- High-Density Polyethylene). The Calcium Carbonate comes from limestone collected as waste material from existing quarries for the building and construction industry. It is ground down to a fine powder like chalk and the HDPE acts as a binder for the Calcium Carbonate. Some of the benefits of Fiberstone® are:
- Tree-free, water-free, chlorine-free, acid-free
- Water and oil resistant
- Strong and durable
- Clean production process does not emit toxins into the environment
- Labels are recyclable with paper recycling
Shipping Materials
Our products are shipped via USPS for 95% of orders. For large orders, it may be more cost effective for us to use UPS.
Orders are shipped in :
1. Paper padded mailing envelopes or cardboard boxes, both of which are fully recyclable.
2. Paper bubble mailers. These are made from recycled kraft paper and compostable cornstarch bubbles, printed on with water-based inks. They are certified to fully biodegrade in just 180 days in your home composting bin!
3. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Mailer. This mailer can be placed in the plastic film recycling bin at your local grocery store.
Our shipping labels are from Ecoenclose. They are printed thermally so no ink is needed. They are curbside recyclable. The labels come on zero waste release liners that are 100% recycled and curbside recyclable. We do use these release liners as void fill when packaging large orders.
Our packing tape is from Minliving. It marries a cellulose backing with a high-performing natural rubber adhesive. It is plant-derived, renewable, and can achieve 85% biodegradability in 180 days.
Our Be Green branded tissue paper and sticker that your order will be wrapped in is from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, acid free paper printed with soy-based ink.
The void fill we use includes air pillows, paper, bubble wrap, compostable peanuts and other misc. products. All of the fill is donated to us by friends, family and local businesses to be reused and recycled. Please recycle air pillows and bubble wrap with plastic film recycling. We do purchase protective paper packaging for glass bottles and jars. This is a sustainable paper alternative to bubble packaging. It is compostable and recyclable.
Your packing slip is printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper. On the reverse side, we print information about Be Green and our products.
Office
In our office, we use 100% LED lighting. We use an energy efficient Mitsubishi mini-split for both heating and cooling. (Honestly, though, we don't use the heat or AC very often.) All lights are turned off at the end of the work day and electronics are powered down to sleep mode to conserve electricity. All of our paper and plastic waste is recycled on a weekly basis. We use nearly all of our paper waste as void fill when shipping products.
We strive to be as earth-friendly, sustainable and low waste as possible. If you have any comments, questions or ideas about we can become more sustainable, please reach out to karen@begreenbathandbody.com.
Let customers speak for us
I love how my hands feel after using the hand cream. So soft !
This facewash makes my face glow! I used to break out a little bit but I haven't seen a pimple since I started using this. My face also feels less greasy when I wake up. For reference, I'm a 34 year old woman with combination and light colored skin.
My skin loves this product! It makes my skin feel smooth and nourished, plus it smells great and hydrates without feeling greasy.
This makeup remover leaves my skin feeling so soft! I wish I ditched my makeup wipes sooner. I feel great using this product on my face because it has great ingredients and it really works!
I’ve used Be Green foaming hand soap for years since discovered through EWG. Never drying, always fun to use and smells great.
I found Be Green from a search on the EWG website, looking for products with all natural ingredients that still functioned well to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize. I was impressed after reviewing the ingredients of their facial cleanser with real soap (saponified oils) and exfoliating salicylic acid (from aloe leaf juice). I first got the traveling set with face wash, day and night cream, and toner, and loved every product I’ve tried. The face wash lathers so well, smells so clean, and leaves my skin feeling and looking so clean but not stripped or over dried. I use this cleanser every night and once a week double cleanse with their green tea cleanser (with willow bark extract, another source of salicylic acid) and have never seen my skin so smooth other than after a professional facial. The day and night creams are also incredible, I love how not very much is needed to distribute across the face, and that there is SPF protection in the day cream as well. The formulation feels so compatible with my skin and does a great job to moisturize. I even got my boyfriend to try this face wash, and he hated any other products he’s tried, but he loves this product and uses it consistently! Before trying this brand I was struggling with breakouts which were not resolved by consistent use of my previous cleaners (from “dermatologist recommended” LaRochePosay), and now my skin looks better than ever and I feel comforted to know and trust every ingredient in every step of my skincare. Not to mention it feels great to support a small business and every purchase has a hand written note thanking me for my order. I love this brand with all my heart, thank you Be Green for providing exceptional natural skin care products.
This lip balm is very soothing and softening. I love that it is EWG certified. The tinted version looks so natural, yet gives you a subtle color. The peppermint twist is refreshing.
I can't take aerosols in my carry on bag, so I carry little baggy of this and a makeup brush to apply it. I love that it is EWG certified.
I've been using Be Green Bath & Body exclusively for my facial moisturizing needs (both the day cream & the night cream) for several years now...and I could not be happier! It always feels like a bit of luxury opening a new jar...the creams go on so smoothly and blend in beautifully. My skin is the healthiest & most blemish free it's ever been thanks to BGBB. The fact that I can trust the ingredients used as well? Perfection!
I've had fun trying various creams for the dry skin on my arms, chest and soles of my feet. This is the best one I've tried and I'll stay with it. A little is all that's needed and it's so rich that it sinks right into my thirsty skin. It has the shea butter like the small tin but the other ingredients make it soft to apply and rub in. A winner!
It's hard to find a clean lip balm that doesn't feel caley or leave your lips still chapped. I have the citrus which smells great and glides on smooth. Happy with this purchase!
First time purchase here. I had been scouring the Internet for talc free powder and found this brand on EWG who I trust. Shipping was so fast! I got the lavender scent because it's relaxing after a nice hot shower. Scent is not too strong and powder is finely milled/smooth. Feels great on the body. Would love additional scents. Def a repeat customer.
My family has been using this lovely hand soap for years. We first started using it when we were trying to minimize toxic products in our house. I love that it is EWG verified. What kept me coming back and ordering more was the fact that this soap (in conjunction with some nice hand cream) has helped heal my once dry, painful, cracked hands. I have not been able to find a gentler cleanser for my hands. I also love the fragrance options. I feel good stocking all of our sinks with this soap, especially because it give us the opportunity to support this small business. Thank you, Karen, for this excellent soap!!
Be Green's lip balm applies easily, is smooth and comforting, lasting most of the day or night with just one application. Of all of the lip balm products available, Be Green's has the fewest and finest ingredients. Most of all, the lip balm cures and prevents chapped lips!
Very good cleansing foam, skin feels clean and no dryness, highly recommended. Definitely buy again.
