We did it!! We won!!
Exhibiting at the Country Living Fair in December was fantastic as it allowed us to connect with customers, share our stories and get direct feedback on our products.
The icing on the cake though was picking up their Sustainability award for 2023.
But why did they chose SE-LF?
Following my own journey with a mental health crisis, I wanted to find an accessible way for people to introduce mindfulness and well-being practice into their lives. My career has been spent in the beauty industry and I saw skincare as a fantastic vehicle to help people embed these practices, as it’s a sensory and experiential ritual that everyone already has in their life to some degree. So I set about creating SE-LF, a company that is passionate about providing high-quality skincare sourced from independent suppliers and manufacturers, brought together into experiences that promote self-care and mental wellbeing.
Our experiences are not simply a collection of products, though. Each box contains an in-depth magazine and audio guide too, designed to not only help with how to use the products but also on relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and mindful practices. Gifting one of our boxes is more than the gift of skincare, it’s the gift of self-care.
That said, one of the biggest challenges within the beauty industry is the amount of waste produced. In the UK alone, 88 million beauty gift boxes were sold in 2021, which is expected to increase a further 25% by 2025. These boxes often contain single-use plastic components, non-recyclable labels, laminated boxes, and toxic artificial inks. Beauty products already make up one-third of all landfill waste, and these boxes are playing an increasingly significant part. I believe that self-care should never have to feel "selfish," and therefore SE-LF is committed to providing self-care boxes that are packaged in environmentally sustainable ways.
As climate change continues to worsen, we are constantly reminded of the need to reduce our waste and recycle more. While recycling is certainly important, it is not the only solution to our waste problem. In fact, reusing components is even more important when it comes to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Here’s why.
When we recycle materials, we typically use energy to break them down and turn them into something new. While this is better than throwing them away, it still requires a significant amount of energy and resources. In addition, many materials can only be recycled a certain number of times before they become unusable. Reusing components, on the other hand, eliminates the need for reproduction energy use. It also helps to extend the life of materials, reducing the overall demand for new resources. By reusing components, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the environment.
I truly believe that reusable components are the future of the beauty industry, and as such, they have become an integral part of what SE-LF is all about. Once our customers have finished with their box, they pack the aluminium bottles and jars back inside, then visit se-lf.co.uk to request a free return. We clean and sterilise them ready for reuse, reducing the overall demand for new materials. By returning these components, our customers can make a positive impact on the environment and help to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
In addition to our reusable aluminium jars and bottles, we use FSC-certified card, recycled paper, biodegradable labels, and non-toxic vegetable inks.
Our commitment to the environment doesn’t end there though. We are also proud to be Carbon Neutral Certified through our work with Carbon Neutral Britain planting 30 trees every month from the very launch of the company. This meant we planted over 1.5 acres of reforestation in 2023 and resulted in 60 tonnes of CO²e offset; far more than we contributed to the atmosphere through production and fulfilment. Increased Carbon Dioxide (CO₂e) emissions in the atmosphere are the biggest cause of global warming on our planet. We believe planting trees is one of the most sustainable ways to offset this carbon - as forest projects absorb CO₂, refract the earth’s heat as well as have a positive impact on wildlife, ecology and biodiversity.
At SE-LF, we create self-care experiences that are good for your mind, body and the planet.