You may or may not have heard of the term circularity recently. This refers to the life cycle of a product, focusing on creating a closed loop system to reduce waste and repurpose materials. Health supplement brands are innovating with new materials, reusable containers, and reduced packaging. As a supplement distributor, we have little control over the circularity of the products we stock. One thing we can do to help this, is to educate our customers on how to recycle your empties with confidence, as well as repurpose empties for another use.
While many of us are diligent about recycling household items like paper, plastic bottles, and cans, we often overlook the smaller, yet equally important, supplement bottles that accumulate over time. Before throwing them into the recycling bin, empty supplement bottles can be upcycled as storage for small household items and even for DIY projects!
What is Upcycling?
Upcycling is the process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or environmental value. Unlike recycling, which breaks down materials into their basic components, upcycling retains the original structure and gives it a new, often unexpected, life.
Why Upcycle Supplement Bottles?
- Environmental Impact: By upcycling, you reduce the demand for new raw materials, lessen the volume of waste in landfills, and decrease pollution.
- Cost-Effective: Upcycling can save you money by repurposing items you already have instead of buying new ones.
- Creativity and Personalisation: It allows for creative expression and the creation of unique, personalised items
Steps for Effective Upcycling
- Clean Thoroughly: Wash bottles with soap and hot water to remove any residue. Let them dry completely.
- Remove Labels: Soak bottles in warm water and peel off labels. Use hand sanitiser if necessary to eliminate sticky residue.
- Inspect for Damage: Ensure bottles are free from cracks or damage that could compromise their new purpose.
- Get Creative: Use paints, markers, stickers, or other decorative materials to
Upcycling Ideas for Your Empties
Here is how we have upcycled some of our empties in the office and at home.
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We accumulate a lot of used batteries in our office, so we use a large empty container to store them and then take them to a battery recycling point once full. |
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We love a biscuit in the office but surprisingly they seem to take a few days to get down. Storing them in a large clean container keeps them nice and biscuity for longer. |
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These small round containers are perfect for small items like cotton pads, especially when travelling. |
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Small plastic containers are perfect for the tiny craft/card-making items that you never know where to put. |
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Small glass bottles are very useful for storing 1-2 servings of homemade ginger shots. Great for you and better for the planet. |
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Supplement pots are made from food-grade materials, so they can be reused for protein powder servings on the go. |
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Our colleague Emma has used her empty glass pots to store bulk-bought herbs and spices. The dark glass helps extend their shelf life too! |
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These easy access lids are great for small stationery items! |
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Our colleague Millicent recently used an old empty container when repotting a succulent plant. If you decide to do this too, make sure you add holes at the bottom for drainage! |
By upcycling, you’re not only reducing your environmental footprint but also crafting unique and functional items. If you have a growing collection of empties or next time you finish a pot of supplements, see if there is a way you can give them a new purpose within your home. There are endless possibilities.
If you have upcycled any empty supplement bottles already, we would love to hear about it!