Home > Courses > S23 3298 | Sustainable Design (Pilot) > Lily Vo
Lipstick Packaging
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S23 3298 | Sustainable Design (Pilot)
Min Kang
Lily Vo
This project examines the hidden environmental cost of beauty products — specifically lipstick packaging. Each tube, box, and printed label contributes to a global cycle of plastic waste. The goal was to create solutions that maximize waste reduction in beauty packaging through system mapping, life cycle assessment, greener materials, and persuasive design.
Mapping the Makeup Life
A Whole System Map was developed to capture every stage of a lipstick’s lifecycle — from material sourcing to end-of-life disposal. The analysis traced how packaging materials like plastic cartridges, paper boxes, and printed labels move through production, retail, and use.
Measuring the Footprint
The project revealed a strong dependence on injection-molded plastics and printed paper packaging, leading to waste from non-recyclable cartridges. Core materials like trees and beeswax were heavily used, while retail partnerships—especially with brands like Sephora—often prioritized aesthetic packaging over sustainability.
Persuasive Design
The project also considered how consumer habits could change through Persuasive Design — increasing both the ability and motivation to act sustainably.
To improve sustainability in beauty packaging, the project embraced eco-friendly materials and design tweaks—like recycled paper, biodegradable PLA plastics, natural dyes, and simplified single-material formats. The goal: packaging that’s elegant, minimal, and planet-conscious.
