Boomii is a cosmetics company that creates clean, cruelty-free, and non-toxic balms formulated to simplify customers’ beauty routine. Unlike other beauty brands, when customers place their first order, Boomii sends a permanent container with a separate refill ‘balmie’ for an easy swap-out. In their packaging brief, they asked for a sustainable material to anchor their reusable cosmetics compact. A majority of skincare compacts are made of multi-material plastics, and the makeup is filled directly inside, leading to millions of single-use and very difficult to recycle containers. Boomii established their business based on refills as a strategy for reducing plastic waste in the beauty industry. The final design reflects Boomii’s natural ingredients and their mission to reduce plastic waste. Like water flowing over a stone, the recycled aluminum compact molds to the hand, elevating the daily beauty ritual. It is lightweight yet premium, encouraging customers to cherish their compact for as long as possible. Boomii is part of a recent wave of conscious beauty brands rooted in natural ingredients, ethical sourcing, and eco-friendly packaging materials. Up until recently, the cosmetics industry has had a questionable reputation when it comes to animal testing, toxic chemicals, and plastic waste. Boomii was founded in opposition to traditional cosmetics. From their minimalist makeup formulas to their plastic-free packaging, the LA-based brand doesn’t deviate from their mission. While plastic can be durable and reusable, it’s not the right material for boomii. We expanded our search for a more natural material with similar properties. Inspired by the beverage industry, we turned to aluminum, a material that is both easy to recycle and infinitely recyclable. Once we landed on aluminum, we compared virgin aluminum to its recycled counterpart. Unlike plastic, aluminum does not diminish in quality or strength when it is recycled. Virgin aluminum also needs to be mined and processed. And since aluminum is one of the most widely recycled materials on the planet, there exists a robust and well-established recycling system to accept aluminum input and create fresh aluminum output. For the shape design, boomii wanted something that exuded natural beauty while feeling satisfying in your hand. It had to stand out from other brands in an extremely competitive cosmetic market. The name ‘boomii’ comes from ‘bumi’, the Indonesian word for ‘earth’. Despite the wide scope of the word, we used it to narrow our focus: smooth curves rather than sharp edges, organic forms instead of overly intricate designs. After many rounds of sketching followed by 3D modeling and sample testing, the resulting compact resembles a river stone shaped by centuries of flowing water. The compact is made from recycled aluminum with a polished steel mirror and magnetic insert to hold the stainless steel balm refills. Ideally, the boomii compact will be used indefinitely as customers refill it regularly. If or when the compact is discarded, customers can drop it into their curbside recycling program, like an aluminum beverage can. As standard procedure at recycling facilities, the magnet closure and steel mirror can be easily removed. All secondary packaging is made using recycled paper-based materials. The new boomii structure promotes reuse and minimizes material waste on consumable items in an industry that relies heavily on single-use plastic. Social media buzz and word of mouth are driving sales as the brand focuses on improving current balms and releasing new products. Boomii Balm Case
A compact to combat single-use plastic
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