MYGroup is rolling out a take-back network to recycle beauty packaging made from Shellworks’ plant-based, compostable biomaterial – aiming to keep waste out of landfill and incineration.
Vivomer is a biomaterial made through the natural fermentation of plant waste. According to Shellworks, the feedstock produces natural polymers, which are then converted into a ‘shelf-stable’ and fully biodegradable material with properties comparable to plastics.
Reportedly, Vivomer has been proven to match the cost of conventional materials such as aluminium and glass despite operating at a fraction of the scale.
Intended as a simple solution for households with less access to compost heaps, MYGroup’s take-back network claims to have recovered 31 million kg of used health, beauty and cosmetic items over the previous five years.
The containers are processed at MYGroup’s facility in Hull, England, and recovered into MYboard – MYGroup’s wood-replacement board material used in furniture, fit-outs and point-of-sale displays.
“Shellworks is a forward-thinking company, rethinking packaging from the material up,” says Steve Carrie, group director at MYGroup. “Our role is making sure there’s always somewhere for Vivomer to go after use. Not everyone has access to composting, so our take-back network gives customers of the products a simple, traceable alternative.”
“It’s incredible to be able to collaborate with innovative companies like MYGroup who’ve built systems to actively address areas of waste management that are conventionally regarded as extremely difficult,” adds Shellworks co-founder Amir Afshar.“As we continue to scale Vivomer, take back schemes like this are an important part of us providing consumers and brands with multiple end of life scenarios, resulting in truly waste free experiences.
“For us, real change doesn’t just stop at a material, with this partnership we can address infrastructural change and with such wide coverage in the UK, Vivomer now has better disposal outcomes than many incumbents too.”
Earlier this year, Shellworks raised $15 million in Series A funding to scale up global production for its plant-based Vivomer material and expand into the US and EU wellness market. It plans to establish regional production capabilities to reduce carbon footprints and strengthen supply chain resilience.
