Podcast 211: Revolutionizing beauty with recycled ingredients

This is our fourth episode this year on upcycling in beauty. It’s an issue that, thankfully, we’ll be hearing about in the long run as more voices in the cosmetics industry realize that recycling should be the rule, not the exception, in how we source ingredients.

In this episode, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Harry McIlwraith, of The Upcycled Beauty Companya pioneering venture revolutionizing the beauty industry by repurposing overlooked food waste resources into powerful skin care ingredients.

With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Harry’s insights shine a light on the incredible potential of recycled beauty and inspire us to rethink traditional production practices. Join us as we uncover the fascinating story behind The Upcycled Beauty Company and discover how this visionary approach is reshaping the future of skincare.

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Inspirational Quote:

“In the long run, everything on the shelf is packaged and all raw materials will be recycled.” – Harry McIlwraith

In this episode with Harry McIlwraith, you’ll hear:

• An introduction to the Upcycled Beauty Company and its mission to revolutionize the beauty industry through recycled ingredients.
• Information on recycled ingredients offered by the company, including nectars, tonics and disintegrants, derived from various waste sources such as fruit juice residues, brewery residues and humus production residues.
• Discussions on the vision for the future of upcycling in the cosmetics industry, including the possibility for all beauty products to use recycled materials.

Packed essentials include:

• Recycled beauty ingredients offer a sustainable alternative in traditional cosmetics, using waste streams from various industries to create valuable raw materials.
• The Upcycled Beauty Company aims to lead the way in promoting upcycling in the beauty industry, with a vision for all beauty products to incorporate recycled materials.
• The upcycled beauty movement is gaining momentum despite challenges such as a lack of certification standards, thanks to growing consumer interest and awareness of sustainability issues.

Meet our guest Harry McIlwaith

Harry McIlwraith is Managing Director of the Upcycled Beauty Company, a UK-based manufacturer specializing in upcycled cosmetics. With a background in formulation and a passion for sustainability, Harry aims to transform the beauty industry by promoting the use of recycled ingredients.

Harry graduated from the University of Bath in 2009 where he studied Chemistry. He joined contract manufacturer Acheson & Acheson Ltd, starting as a Lab Technician and working his way up to Technical Director before joining The Upcycled Beauty Company as General Manager in 2020. In 2023, Harry was also invited to join the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition formed by the British Beauty Council.

Connect with Harry McIlwraith:
The Upcycled Beauty Company | LinkedIn | Instagram

There is a wealth of information in our old episodes and we encourage you to go back and listen to them. If you want to learn more about some of the topics we covered in this episode, check out the podcast archives again. Go and listen:

Episode 59: How Recycled Waste Created a Global Beauty Brand
Episode 175: The Future of Pure Beauty – Evolve or Die
Episode 201: FRUU Cosmetics and the sustainable recycling of kidney fruits

Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode at iTunes, Spotify the Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier is a biologist, certified environmentalist, and CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetics school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica team.