SUSTAINABILITY AT BIRKENSPANNER
What does sustainability mean to us?
For us, sustainability is not a marketing term but the core of our brand. The Brand BIRKENSPANNER originated from a simple question: How can glitter work without harming the environment?
Most glitter on the market consists of microplastics. These tiny plastic particles, after makeup removal, enter rivers, lakes, and ultimately the environment via wastewater, where they are practically non-biodegradable.
Our bioglitter takes a different approach. It is made from plant-based cellulose and is certified biodegradable. This means that when washed off, it breaks down in the natural cycle instead of remaining permanently in the environment as microplastic. This innovation alone forms the heart of our company and is our most significant contribution to greater sustainability in the world of cosmetics and glitter.
Products & Materials
Our Products
In developing our products, we ensure they are both skin-friendly and environmentally compatible.
We deliberately avoid aggressive or unnecessary chemical ingredients and instead focus on simple and skin-friendly formulations. Whether glitter, primer, or oils, our products should function well without unnecessarily burdening people or the environment.
Another important point for BIRKENSPANNER is transparency in raw materials and manufacturing. We try to source our components as regionally as possible, preferably from Germany or Europe, to keep transport routes and associated emissions as low as possible.
The production of our products also mainly takes place in Germany, especially in and around Cologne. This gives us short distances, good control over quality and production processes, and allows us to work directly with our partners.
Packaging & Materials
BIRKENSPANNER pursues a largely plastic-free business practice. Our goal is to avoid plastic wherever possible.
Therefore, we primarily rely on materials such as glass or metal. Only when there is no technically viable alternative do we use minimal amounts of plastic.
We also strive to use packaging materials that are as simple and easily recyclable as possible. We consciously try to avoid composite materials or heavily coated packaging that is difficult to recycle.
Our claim is not perfection, but continuous improvement. If we find a better solution, we try to implement it.
Social Commitment
For BIRKENSPANNER, sustainability means not only environmental responsibility but also social commitment.
We regularly support social initiatives and organizations, for example through product donations or cooperations with projects and associations. These include campaigns with organizations such as Viva con Agua or other non-profit initiatives.
We also enjoy collaborating with other sustainable companies and startups. We believe that change works best when people and companies support each other.
Shipping to your home
As an online and mail-order retailer, shipping our products is an important part of our work. At the same time, we know that logistics are always associated with emissions and resource consumption. Therefore, we try to make our shipping processes as efficient and resource-saving as possible and continuously improve them.
When packing, we ensure that we use as little material as possible. We always choose the smallest possible package size, avoid unnecessary filling material if possible, and ensure that our shipments are packed with low-plastic or plastic-free materials. We also only print documents such as delivery notes or invoices if it is truly necessary.
All orders are shipped via DHL GoGreen if possible. This means that the emissions generated during transport are offset by investments in certified climate protection projects.
At the same time, we are constantly looking for more efficient and sustainable shipping solutions, for example through optimized packaging sizes, shorter transport routes, or new logistics approaches that can help further reduce emissions.
Despite all efforts: The most sustainable purchase is often the local one. That's why we work with more and more stores that carry our products. You can easily find the nearest store and discover our products locally using our Store Locator. We regularly update this overview as our network constantly grows and new partner stores are added.