Our Zero-Waste Empties Recycling Program

Protocol has partnered with TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box to create our zero-waste Empties Recycling Program, to fully and efficiently recycle every last molecule of your empty cosmetics. Including from other brands!

Our groundbreaking serum bottles are 100% recyclable and made of medical-grade, FDA-registered materials. 

However, in recent years, US curbside recycling programs — despite their best effort with limited funding — have become less and less effective. In fact, many of the plastics submitted through curbside programs can end up in landfills or the oceans. 

This inspired our Lab Team to find a 100% reliable solution that would guarantee the complete and efficient recycling and reuse of every product and material submitted. 

Through our Empties Program, we will accept up to one pound of your empty cosmetics bottles per year, whether they’re our own or from other brands. We’ll cover the cost of recycling every component through TerraCycle's high-end, private recycling facilities. 

To join the program and return your empties, simply email recycling@protocol-lab.com and we’ll send you a return label for use with our Protocol mailer. 

🌎
Sincerely,
The Lab Team

Note: We are currently developing plant-based, biodegradable versions of our pharmaceutical-grade serum bottles to further enhance our sustainability effort.

Glass remains a costly drain on the environment because of its added weight and the additional fossil fuels needed to transport it––which can make their use less sustainable for the Earth than responsibly recycled plastics. For that reason, we anticipate moving away glass material in future iterations of our product designs and focusing solely on plant-based materials.