Most people know EOS for its cute, distinctive lip balm. Launched in 2006, this lip balm quickly became one of the most popular in the world. Within several years, it dominated the lip care market. Now, a decade later, EOS is still securely popular with availability in retail stores across the globe. Much of this popularity can be linked to a quality product and distinctive branding. However, there is much more to this lip balm than meets the eye.

In fact, one of the sustaining characteristics of the brand is its literal sustainability. EOS resonates with younger buyers because the company strives to make environmentally responsible choices. This means that it is possible to enjoy your convenient lip balm without worrying about any incidental harm to the environment.

While this has been part of the EOS marketing scheme since the beginning, few people realize just how committed EOS is to this sustainability. It has been more than 10 years since EOS first made its big debut, but it is ready to make new headlines in 2019 thanks to recent developments in its innovative and comprehensive sustainability program.

The big news for EOS is its new partnership with TerraCycle. Although this company is not as widely known as EOS, it has actually been around longer. TerraCycle got its start in 2001 and is based in Trenton, New Jersey. As a waste management company, it does not overtly have much in common with EOS. While EOS develops lip balms and other skin care products, TerraCycle operates curbside collection programs with its volunteer base. With the items collected, TerraCycle licenses other manufacturers to reuse the waste materials for an innovative recycling scheme that has saved countless items from the landfill.In practice, EOS and TerraCycle clearly provide very different service sets. However, both companies share core values that stress a commitment to sustainability. Their partnership, therefore, is an important step forward for environmental causes. By working together, these two companies have managed to make a product that potentially creates a lot of waste and turned it into a viable recycling program that consumers will want to use.

The way it works is simple enough. In order to encourage recycling, the partnership has sought to reduce as much of the burden on the consumer as possible. Consumers do have to go through a few extra steps in order to participate, but both TerraCycle and EOS have worked hard to minimize any inconvenience. It starts by printing off a free UPS label from the TerraCycle website. This label can be put on an envelope or box that is filled with empty EOS products. Consumers are encouraged to send empty EOS products in bulk in order to streamline the process. Then, the envelope or box can be handed over to UPS with the label affixed. At this point, the empty EOS products will be shipped to a TerraCycle recycling center for a new use.

For some consumers, that is all there is to it. However, for the curious out there, it is worthwhile to look into what TerraCycle plans to make with these discarded EOS products. The recycling efforts will vary depending on supply and demand. Some examples of products that TerraCycle can make from EOS products include park benches, bike racks and picnic tables. These green assets will then be available for use in public spaces, making it a recycling effort that truly gives back.

While many people might embrace this program for love of the environment, EOS has worked out a few perks with TerraCycle to encourage wider participation. With every shipment consumers send out to TerraCycle using the special label, they can earn points. These points can be redeemed with the TerraCycle incentive program. These incentives can be applied to schools and other nonprofit organizations of the consumer’s preference.

This partnership with TerraCycle is not the first foray into recycling for EOS. Just last spring, EOS joined forces with Sustainable Surf. Through this collaboration, old lip balm spheres from EOS were collected and donated. With those donations, Sustainable Surf was able to move ahead with its “Waste to Waves” initiative, turning these old plastics into new surfboards.

The news with TerraCycle is worth the headlines, but it is only half of the story when it comes to EOS. The fact is that sustainability has to work in both directions. True sustainability in manufacturing certainly has to address what happens with products when they are in need of disposal. However, it is also important to look at the creation of the products themselves. This two-sided sustainability is something that EOS is very serious about maintaining. While the company continues to innovate new ways for its products to be repurposed, it has always sought to use safe and sustainable materials in the manufacturing process.

To accomplish this, EOS looks carefully at how its materials are sourced. While some ingredients are cheap to get, they are not always sustainable over time. In order to avoid this environmental burden, EOS only works with resources that are natural and sourced sustainability. EOS is currently an active member of the Global Shea Alliance as part of this commitment. Shea butter is an ingredient with natural soothing abilities, and it is common in lip balms and lotions. The GSA, therefore, seeks to make the production of this ingredient as sustainable as possible. The GSA focuses on creating quality practices and standards to help providers maintain sustainability.

In fact, EOS is even part of the GSA’s Sustainability Working Group. Through this group, EOS ensures that it sources its ingredients from registered cooperatives in West Africa. The group also seeks to better the communities where these cooperatives are located. In particular, EOS works with the group to provide meaningful employment to women in the Shea collection industry.

EOS got its start by making lip balm. However, at second glance, the company is so much more. By partnering with TerraCycle, EOS continues its ongoing commitment to provide quality lip care through sustainable methods.