6 brands that use sustainable packaging you can feel better about buying

The mission of Seed Phytonutrients is to make clean and natural hair, face, and body products that are better for us and the environment. One way the brand is living up to this mission is by using more environmentally friendly packaging. Seed takes the title of making the first-ever shower-friendly paper bottle. Each bottle is made out of 100% post-consumer recycled paper and lined with a post-consumer recycled plastic liner, resulting in a bottle with 60% less plastic than a traditional one. When you shower, the paper will get wet (it's still paper), but thanks to a mineral coating it will dry quickly and look good as new in no time.

Alter Eco makes some of your favorite indulgent treats with simple, natural ingredients — salted caramel truffles, a crisp mint chocolate bar, and dark chocolate coconut clusters are just some of the delicious combinations. Beyond using clean ingredients, Alter Eco is committed to using cleaner packaging as well. The plastic packaging it uses for the outer boxes of its chocolate bars is recyclable. The brand has also launched Gone4Good — the first compostable stand-up pouch made from renewable, non-GMO, plant-based materials — which is used to house its dried quinoa. Chocolate truffles are also wrapped in this compostable material.

Constantly buying new makeup usually means constantly throwing away a lot of little plastic containers, but Alima Pure is changing that. The certified B Corp sells its makeup in refillable compacts. So, when you're done with your foundation (for example) just pop it out of the compact, then buy a refill magnetic pan filled with your desired new foundation and pop it in. It's less messy, less wasteful, and full of ingredients that'll nourish your skin. Alima Pure is also proud to be carbon neutral and a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization whose members donate 1% of annual gross revenue to grassroots environmental organizations.

When RMS Beauty founder Rose-Marie began dealing with health issues, she did plenty of research into what could be the cause. To her surprise, many of the toxic chemicals and heavy metals found in her system were also found in the beauty products that she used all the time. Thus, RMS Beauty was born to give all women access to clean, healthy beauty that looks great and actually is great for their bodies too. This concern with health goes beyond just providing clean beauty products and extends to providing packaging alternatives that are healthier for the planet. RMS Beauty packaging is very minimal, with most products packaged in glass and the rest being recyclable or reusable.

Creating beauty products with a direct link to nature is at the center of Captain Blankenship's mission. The small, women-run B Corp makes luxurious hair and body products with organic and locally-grown (whenever possible) ingredients. As the name alludes, Captain Blankenship's founder was infatuated with the ocean — swimming in it, enjoying it, preserving it — and thus, keeping the ocean clean is at the forefront of the brand's values. Most products are equipped with packaging made from 100% recovered and recycled ocean plastic; the rest use recyclable paperboard.

If you head to the bath and body aisle at your local drugstore, you'll notice how almost all shampoo, conditioner, and body wash is packaged in single-use plastic. Most of that plastic will just end up in a landfill — only 1 in 5 people consistently recycle items from the bathroom. To counter this, Plaine Products makes bath and body products packaged in aluminum bottles and eco-friendly shipping cartons. Plaine Products offers a refill program where you can send your bottle back to be refilled with product again and again, so you can save money and cut down on waste. You can also choose whether or not you'd like to add a plastic pump, which helps cut down on consumption. When it does come time to say goodbye, you can easily recycle your bottle.