Up Circle

Packaging

The brand uses 100% recyclable glass jars and aluminum lids for virtually all products. Refill and reuse are integral to its model: UpCircle launched a return-and-refill program (in 2020) allowing customers to send back empties for sterilization and refilling. While the original return system is currently paused due to scaling challenges, UpCircle is transitioning to at-home refills using plastic-free, biodegradable pouches to expand reuse globally. UpCircle is also Plastic Negative Certified, collecting more than double the amount of plastic pollution from the environment than they produce.

Ingredient Sustainability

UpCircle’s entire business is built on innovative ingredient circularity. The company repurposes residual plant by-products from other industries as cosmetic ingredients, thereby slashing raw material demand and preventing waste. To date, UpCircle has collected and transformed over 450 tonnes of used Arabica coffee grounds from artisanal cafes into exfoliators. All palm oil derivatives are avoided or kept sustainable (the soap base relies on coconut and olive oils.

Impressively, many of these upcycled inputs come from local or ethical sources (e.g. argan shells via women’s cooperatives in Morocco), which supports sustainable agriculture communities.

Energy Use and Footprint

On the operations side, the company powers its facilities with renewable energy sources. This likely contributed to its high environmental score in B Corp assessments. UpCircle’s upcycling model inherently carries a lower energy burden: using materials like spent coffee or fruit residues avoids the significant energy inputs needed to grow, harvest, and process brand-new resources. UpCircle has not yet announced carbon-neutral status or detailed CO₂ accounting.

Waste Management

Foremost, the brand’s core product philosophy is “waste-fighting.” Every UpCircle formulation diverts materials that would otherwise be discarded. Beyond ingredients, UpCircle has tackled packaging waste aggressively. Its now-evolving packaging return scheme (2019–2023) allowed thousands of glass jars and bottles to be reused rather than thrown away. Importantly, UpCircle is Plastic Negative certified, meaning it funds the removal of twice the amount of plastic from the environment than its products use. Internally, UpCircle minimizes waste by maintaining a plastic-free HQ and opting for compostable/recycled shipping materials. 

Business Model

UpCircle’s business model is built around sustainability and ethical innovation, aligning profit with planet-positive principles.

UpCircle champions “clean” formulations, avoiding any ingredient that could compromise human or environmental health. All products are free from common harmful chemicals such as parabens, mineral oils, phthalates, sulfates (SLS/SLES), and synthetic “parfum” fragrances. UpCircle’s commitment to non-toxicity is validated by third-party standards: many products carry the Soil Association/COSMOS Organic certification, meaning they meet strict criteria for organic content and prohibit a “red list” of unsafe chemicals.

As a family-founded company with a small in-house team, UpCircle fosters a supportive, inclusive company culture that values diversity and collaboration. UpCircle’s B Corp certification process vetted its labor standards, including worker compensation, benefits, and working conditions. Key ingredients are often procured via fair partnerships: for instance, the brand works with women-led cooperatives in Morocco for argan shells.

All products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, ensuring no harm to animals in the making or testing of its skincare line. UpCircle has never tested on animals and holds the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny certification.

Locally, the brand supports other businesses and artisans by partnering with independent cafés and juice bars for ingredient sourcing, thereby bolstering those small enterprises with additional income and collaboration. This kind of community-symbiotic relationship (e.g. collecting used coffee grounds from local coffee shops) not only reduces waste but also creates a network of businesses co-operating for sustainability.