Insights / Sustainability
Unpacking Sustainability Impact: Amika
Amika PCR Plastic Bottles
About Amika
Amika is a leading hair care brand and certified B Corp that prioritized clean beauty before it was “in.” The company’s mission is to do good for hair, people, and the Earth. They achieve this through cruelty-free products that are safe for their customers, philanthropic initiatives that serve their communities, and a sustainable mindset that protects their planet. They have pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and part of that plan is a commitment to packaging with purpose.
Our Partnership
Amika and Berlin Packaging share the philosophy that sustainability can be the foundation for a brand, not an afterthought—and that packaging can be both beautiful and sustainable. That made us the perfect strategic partner to help Amika move closer to their sustainability goals through thoughtful and impactful packaging.
Our Impact
Our Global Sustainability Team and beauty packaging experts worked with Amika to reduce their use of virgin plastic and introduce a refill system that promotes a closed loop.
We helped Amika revamp their shampoo and conditioner bottles, moving from 100% virgin plastic to 90% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic through coextrusion. This improved their carbon footprint without sacrificing the brand’s beautiful and vibrant package designs.
Our design team also created Amika’s “forever friend” reusable and refillable shampoo and conditioner bottles. The custom-designed bottle utilizes a fun flower shape inspired by the brand’s iconic floral prints. The compact size easily fits on the shower shelf, and a simple embossed logo maintains a minimalist aesthetic that fits in with any bathroom décor.
The eco-friendly bottles are made with impact-resistant, BPA-free, and EA-free Eastman Tritan™ plastic. According to an independent lifecycle assessment, using these refillable bottles for one year reduces the packaging’s carbon footprint by 69% as compared to using two of the brand’s PCR plastic bottles.
In 2023, Amika’s sales were up 93%, with profitability 4x that rate. CEO Chelsea Riggs says, “We’ve done a lot of brand awareness campaigns this year with [clean beauty and sustainability] in mind to accelerate that perception of the brand as this more effective, professional, high-quality brand. All of these things combined have led to this brand taking off.”
Amika "Forever Friend" Refillable Bottles
By: Moira Stein
& Celine Yang
Date: June 7, 2024