Urban Resourcing Group and Lush Cosmetics recycle ocean plastics

More than 25 tons of plastic marine litter collected by the Ocean Legacy Foundation. Lush Cosmetics shipped plastics to Urban Resource Group in Toronto for recycling. (CNW Group/Canada Fibers Ltd.)

Urban Resource Group Inc., a Toronto, Ontario-based affiliate of Canada Fibers Ltd., has announced successful collaborative trials with Lush Cosmetics, Vancouver, involving recycling of ocean plastic into cosmetic containers.

In late 2016, Lush delivered plastic collected from a six-month long, volunteer-led ocean cleanup project to Urban Resource Group's plastic recycling facility in Toronto. Urban Resource Group took on the challenge of converting the mix of plastic into a plastic pellet to use in a standard manufacturing setting.  

Lush partnered with environmental nonprofit Ocean Legacy Foundation to collect approximately 25 tons of plastic from the ocean and shorelines of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Staff scientists at Urban Resources Group tested the materials through its plastic recycling facility. After a series of trials, the group successfully created plastic pellets to meet Lush's specifications needed to make their 100 percent recycled cosmetic containers.

Gary Calicdan, Lush ethical buyer, reflected on the pilot saying, "Urban Resource Group was willing to adjust their system to support this important environmental cause. Their technological abilities allowed them to transform broken down pieces of ocean plastic into high-quality pellets that hit our standards. I'm very happy they accepted the ocean plastic, it's been great having them as a partner in this initiative."

Mark Badger, a senior executive with Urban Resource Group and Canada Fibers Ltd., says, "We are keen to be pushing the frontiers of material recovery and recycling with leaders like Lush. Together, we are providing creative solutions to global problems."

Urban Resource Group has been providing full-service recycling solutions for Lush for all material generated at manufacturing, warehousing and logistical operations for the east coast of North America.