The circular economy comes to cosmetics

Squaring the circle? This could be the purpose of RRR'biocosmetics, a new company from Barcelona that has set itself the goal of manufacturing high-end body cosmetics products that are of natural origin, ecological, biodegradable, not tested on animals, free of silicones and parabens, that do not generate plastic packaging and that, in addition, contribute to generating jobs for people with functional diversity or with a severe intellectual disability.

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The philosophy with which RRR'biocosmetics is born is based on the circular economy, since the brand's cosmetic products are presented in an attractive returnable aluminum container that can be reused many times. That is, it is a product designed to be a round trip. It is in this process of handling and cleaning the empty containers returned by customers where employment is generated for workers with special needs, a workload that is covered through an agreement with the Aspasim Foundation, which manages various occupational centers for laundry, crafts, manufacturing, and organic farming.

Each time the customer returns the container to the brand, they are offered a 50-cent discount on the next product purchase. If the container is not returned, it should be noted that aluminum is a 100% recyclable material, so if the bottle is deposited in the yellow container, the product is also given a new life. In addition, to minimize waste generation, the brand's containers are large, containing half a liter.

"We are the first European brand of ecological body cosmetics based on the circular economy and plastic-free, which allows us to reduce the carbon footprint by 96%," explains the Catalan startup, which has already managed to sign a first distribution agreement with Veritas, the largest chain of organic supermarkets, with a network of 77 points of sale. Soon, RRR'biocosmetics will also be available in El Corte Inglés parapharmacies, although the goal is to expand sales points with agreements with more chains. The brand also has its own online store, where it offers a home collection service for containers (a minimum of four must be returned each time to reduce environmental impact).

Shower gel, shampoo, and body cream

The circular economy brand launched in November with three products: a shower gel, a shampoo with conditioner, and a moisturizing lotion made with aloe vera, shea butter, and almond oil. In addition, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with aluminum packaging is now also sold online to address the flood of single-use plastic containers generated by the pandemic. New products are already under development, such as hair masks and a children's cosmetic line.

Behind RRR'biocosmetics are the sisters Vicky and Ana Ribalta and the engineer and businessman Agustín Vilar. Vicky is a graphic designer with experience in the cosmetic sector, having worked at Natura Bissé. Ana Ribalta, for her part, is deputy general manager at Banco Sabadell, where she is responsible for the corporate and international banking division.

"My father was ultra-advanced in issues related to recycling and the circular economy; in the 70s at home we already had seven types of trash and we also stored rainwater," explains the banker, who is also very involved for family reasons with various entities dedicated to the labor insertion of people with special needs and disabilities. "The idea of creating RRR'biocosmetics came from my sister Vicky, horrified by the amount of plastic generated, for example, by all the little bottles of hotel amenities. The dream of this brand is to turn the shower we all enjoy daily into a gift for the planet," says Ribalta.

The dream of this brand is to turn the shower we all enjoy daily into a gift for the planet

"RRR'biocosmetics does not want to be a luxury brand or for the elites, quite the opposite; we have opted to offer the highest quality, with a very elegant packaging but at an affordable price for everyone, since we have renounced the margin in favor of the social and environmental aspect of the brand," says Ribalta, who designed the company's strategic plan. The products are sold at a price between 14 and 17 euros per package.

The goal of RRR'biocosmetics is that, at a minimum, 40% of the containers they put on the market enter the return system, that is, they are recovered to be refilled. "The best thing for nature is not to produce; the more containers we can reuse, the better, and furthermore, we will be able to generate more and more employment opportunities for people with special needs," concludes the banker.

In its various workshops, the Aspasim Foundation now has 284 users. Those who work for RRR'biocosmetics will have to carry out the process of classification, selection, cleaning, and disinfection of the aluminum containers, which will then be reincorporated into the production process at the Capel factory, thus closing the circle and giving meaning to this new brand.