Our Sustainability Commitment
We think in systems - from our practices to our products.
At Kumo®, we are as thoughtful about what goes into our packaging as we are about our formulations. We aim to minimize our environmental impact and close the loop between what we take from the Earth and what we give back.
This means thinking beyond recycling with its current infrastructure issues and limitations.
Our packaging has consistently embraced a utilitarian design.
We are proudly part of noissue's Eco Packaging Alliance.
We do not test, and have never tested, our products on animals.
The future is circular.
Less is more.
In pursuit of a more sustainable practice.
Ethical formulations
Since our establishment, predating global bans on cosmetic testing, we vehemently reject any form of animal testing. Our product line exclusively features ingredients responsibly sourced from non-animal origins. Notably, even industry favourites like beeswax, honey, and lanolin are absent from our labels, making all our formulations proudly Vegetarian.
Every ingredient undergoes rigorous scrutiny by our Research & Development team, ensuring not only safety and effectiveness but also compliance with global market regulations. We thoroughly investigate each ingredient animal testing, adhering to this standard process for both new and existing components.
Our internal Ethical Sourcing Programme mandates environmentally responsible practices from all suppliers. We prioritize safe working conditions and fair treatment for workers, fostering long-term partnerships with those sharing our values. Regular assessments and improvements in supplier practices are integral to maintaining the highest standards of ethical and sustainable production.
A circular economy
Our approach to packaging has remained largely unchanged over the years. This is not just a design choice—it is an ethos. Vessels must be functional, modest, and have minimal environmental impact. Closing the loop - A circular economy eliminates the concept of waste, this means that materials flow around in a loop, continuously reused or repurposed, rather than being used once and discarded - which is a heavily burdened aspect of overconsumption.
Even when bottling our first-ever formulations, waste was a consideration. The idea of encasing a container in an outer carton—when this is not a legal requirement—seemed at best an excess of effort, and at worst a contribution to environmental degradation.
Our formulations are housed in premium biophotonic glass which preserves the potency and shelf life of our organic botanical products. This unique glass is indefinitely recyclable and provides a home to our entire meticulously curated skincare collection. The protection from sunlight reduces molecular decay by filtering out damaging rays of the visible light spectrum and allowing portions of the energizing UVA and infrared waves in. Our bottles and jars contain a minimum of 10% recycled glass content.
In addition, we use glass bottles and jars with a peel-off label so that the bottles and jars can be repurposed. Our glass bottles can become beautiful bud vases and small keepsake jars. Simply wash the jars thoroughly with soap and warm water, towel dry, and think of creative ways of using them for decorative storage.
Our screw caps are made from recyclable PET or PP. We are waiting for an alternative solution to plastic to become available and will make the switch as soon as that happens.
Return To Sender
Continuing this journey towards circularity, customers at Kumo® in Auckland, are invited to partake in an in-store packaging refill trial. As part of this pilot, new reusable glass bottles are available, filled with formulations from a custom-made dispensary machine. Once depleted, they can be returned to be traded for a refilled replacement, and the used vessel is washed in-store, and ready for another customer.
Once you have enjoyed your purchase, simply return the container to the store and trade it for a refilled replacement. All reusable glass bottles then undergo a stringent cleaning cycle. Once completed, they re-join circulation, to be purchased by another customer.
Step 1 – Complete your purchase
Step 2 – Take home, use, and enjoy
Step 3 – Once depleted, return the used bottle to the store
Step 4 – Choose another reusable glass bottle, and repeat
With our Return To Sender initiative, we can close the loop on waste by keeping every component of our packaging in circulation. We can sterilize and refill our glass packaging, recycle our labels, and ensure that plastic lids stay out of landfills by having them recycled or repurposed.
Because every material is valuable, including plastic, we want to ensure every component of our packaging is kept in circulation and out of landfills.
Help us to close the loop by returning your empty bottles and jars to your local Kumo® stockist in New Zealand.
With your help, each bottle and jar returned to us gets to continue its life as a Kumo® product. Sterilizing and refilling our packaging saves significant amounts of energy and resources over and above the benefits of recycling.
Better still? By reusing existing glass bottles and jars, 610 kilograms of CO2 is saved for every 1 ton of glass reused. ethical formulations
Made in Micro batches
Each year millions of bottles and jars end up in landfills because of mass production and products that went past their expiration date. Most of these products do not decompose and place a burden on our ecosystem.
Our products are made in small batches instead of mass production. This ensures that what we produce will be used within the shelf life so as to not end up in landfills. Each month we locally produce only the products that have been ordered
Full Circle Beauty
We use upcycled ingredients o create more sustainable formulas and to improve our own practices.
Our plans to expand the use of upcycled ingredients in formulations, which we believe is a core tenet for any brand that claims to be sustainable in the future.
We follow the 'responsible beauty' philosophy, looking deeper into our supply chain at each ingredient's sourcing and sustainability profile, integral to maintaining the highest standards of ethical and sustainable production.
