Packaging
Many products are housed in recyclable, possibly reused or recycled-content containers (glass bottles for oils/serums, metal or recyclable plastic caps). The “Potions In Cycle” return program is a strong circularity measure, allowing packaging to be collected and reused or recycled by the company. This indicates packaging is not treated as single-use waste but as part of an ongoing loop, aligning with a circular economy approach.
Some plastic is still in use (e.g. in pumps or the 65ml travel sizes), meaning the brand has not completely eliminated plastics.
Ingredient Sustainability
Potion Kitchen’s formulations are overwhelmingly plant-based and naturally derived, which generally confers a lower environmental footprint than petrochemical-based cosmetics. The brand actively avoids ingredients linked to deforestation or unsustainable harvesting – for example, no palm oil or petrochemical silicones appear in its products. Potion Kitchen uses botanical oils, clays, and mild plant-derived surfactants. Notably, they source locally from the Mediterranean region (~80% of inputs) and even upcycle ingredients from waste streams.
Some of their ingredients include lavender hydrosol, coco-glucoside (plant-based cleanser), lavender essential oil, and lemon essential oil. Both lavender and lemon oils are sourced from common, renewable crops (lavender and citrus fruit).
Their Hair Heroes Hair Oil blends 10 different types of oils including almond, castor, olive, avocado, grapeseed, coconut (virgin, organic), argan, plus essential oils of rosemary and lavender, and Vitamin E. Most of the listed ingredients are sustainably sourced - but with an area of concern when it comes to avocado oil as avocado orchards have driven deforestation and high water usage in some countries.
Energy & Carbon Footprint
Potion Kitchen is conscious of its climate impact and has begun taking steps to manage its energy use and emissions. The most notable commitment is the public goal to become carbon neutral by 2026, which shows the brand is planning for carbon accounting and offsets in the near future. This forward-looking target aligns with best practices, but actual implementation and results remain to be seen.
At present, the brand’s carbon footprint benefits from several inherent factors and small-scale choices. Being based in Lebanon and sourcing 80% of ingredients from the Mediterranean region means shorter supply chains and less transportation emissions for raw materials.
Waste Management
Waste reduction is an area where Potion Kitchen truly shines through innovative initiatives and product design. The brand takes a comprehensive approach to minimizing waste at multiple stages – from ingredient sourcing to end-of-life product packaging – reflecting a circular mindset that goes beyond basic recycling.
The standout waste initiative is the empties return program. Encouraging customers to return six empty containers in exchange for a reward serves multiple waste goals: it incentivizes consumers to not throw packaging in the trash, it allows the company to retrieve and refill or properly recycle those containers, and it raises awareness about packaging life cycles. If the returned bottles are glass or sturdy plastic, Potion Kitchen can potentially sanitize and reuse them for future batches (true reuse), or ensure they enter appropriate recycling streams in bulk (improving on the often low individual recycling rates.
Business Model
Potion Kitchen’s business model embodies slow, conscious consumption rather than fast, disposable beauty. From product strategy to brand philosophy, everything suggests an emphasis on quality, longevity, and ritual instead of rapid trend-chasing.
