A look at our collection partner protocol
Pact collaborates with best-in-class collection and recycling partners to guarantee proper chain of custody and ensure that all materials are processed for their highest and best use. We’ve developed a continuously improving protocol to maintain our rigorous standards for transparency and visibility into the sorting, processing, and selling of Pact's collected material. Below provides a look into our standards.
Values Alignment
Partners must align with Pact’s mission to work collaboratively to process all collected hard-to-recycle beauty material to find the best and highest use of material. This includes commitments to zero-waste to-landfill and certifications that validate this claim. This also includes aligning with Pact’s highest and best use hierarchy for end of life solutions (Upcycled→ Downcycled→ Molecularly recycled→ Waste-to-energy) and strive to only use waste-to-energy when recycling, upcycling, and repurposing are not viable.
Chain of Custody
Partners must ensure the collected material is properly tracked and documented to verify responsible recycling or destruction. This includes providing real-time tracking data access to provide status updates when a package of collected material leaves the member's or consumer’s location, is sorted/processed, and reaches the recycling partner for the relevant material type. We require data including total weight per package, material breakdown per package, and end-of-life outcomes per material type.
Sorting Ability
Partners must be able to separate material by the material categories deemed critical (we currently sort upwards of 16 categories). Partners must educate sorting staff on the specifics of beauty packaging. The process needs to include individually inspecting each packaging unit, manually breaking apart mixed material packaging, and individually inspecting each unit of the larger package that was separated. Our partners also collaborate with us to identify sorting equipment to boost efficiency.
Processing/Recycling
Partners must receive final approval from Pact before moving collected material to a reclaimer or processing facility. Pact has the right to deny materials being recycled by an unaligned partner. Our partners also work to ensure all material is processed to be used again in beauty when possible, which involves working closely with Pact to create innovative solutions specifically for beauty.
Audits and Open-door Policy
Partners allow Pact one physical audit of facility/facilities each year and allow Pact members to visit to see our full operations. Our partners also agree to welcome discussion on third party verification when required by Pact or members.
If you are interested in becoming a collection or recycling partner, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out below.