Packaging
The brand primarily uses single-use containers (e.g. plastic bottles for shampoos and lotions, plastic jars for scrubs, glass bottles for oils) with no evidence of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content or refill systems. There is minimal information on their site about packaging sustainability – no mention of biodegradable or FSC-certified materials, and no refill or take-back program for bottles.
Ingredient Sustainability
The brand’s formulations are largely plant-based and biodegradable, with some safe synthetics, but also include a few ingredients flagged by sustainability criteria.
Their body oil is mostly natural oils (almond, sunflower, coconut-derived triglycerides) that are renewable and biodegradable. Such plant oils replace petrochemical emollients, aligning with best practices. Fragrance is the only synthetic input. In their hydrating cream, many components are naturally derived or benign: aloe, almond oil, glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5), hyaluronic acid (often produced via fermentation), and mineral UV filters (zinc/titanium oxides) which are inert.
These align with sustainable sourcing (aloe and plant oils are renewable). The cream also uses Octyl Methoxycinnamate, a petroleum-derived UV filter, and EDTA (a synthetic chelator). Both are considered problematic for environmental health – octyl methoxycinnamate is linked to coral reef damage and persistence, and EDTA is non-biodegradable and can accumulate in water systems.
The brand significantly avoids known high-impact materials like parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde releasers, heavy silicones, etc., opting for plant oils, gentle surfactants, and naturally derived actives in many recipes. However, the inclusion of a few problematic synthetics (like EDTA, synthetic fragrance, PEG emulsifiers, and reef-harming UV filters) shows the brand has not fully committed to the highest standard of green chemistry.
Energy Use & Carbon Footprint
Khan El Kaser provides no public information about its manufacturing energy use, emissions, or climate initiatives. The company is a small, family-run manufacturer in Lebanon, which implies a limited scale of impact, but also means fewer resources dedicated to formal sustainability reporting.
Waste Management
We found scarce information on Khan El Kaser’s policies for waste reduction in production, packaging end-of-life, or product circularity. The brand does not advertise any recycling programs (for example, no take-back of empties for recycling or reuse) and has no refill options for its bottles. Packaging appears single-use (as discussed in Packaging Sustainability), meaning post-consumer packaging waste is likely destined for disposal by the customer.
The only initiative is the “Empty Jar Guarantee,” where customers can return a used product within 30 days for a refund. While this might result in some jars coming back, it’s not aimed at reuse or recycling.
Business Model
Khan El Kaser positions itself as a slow beauty brand that values quality and longevity over trend-driven product churn. In the brand’s own words, “Our products are not created to follow noise or trends. They are made to be useful, thoughtful, and reliable – the kind you keep reaching for because they fit naturally into your life.” Khan El Kaser does however expand its line (they regularly add new formulas – e.g. recently launched hair mists).
Their marketing, as seen on their site and social media, leans on education (blog posts about skin routines, climate considerations like mountain vs. coastal skin care.
