DECIEM has offices, warehouses, distribution centers, laboratories, and retail stores around the world; many of our locations are in Canada, including our headquarters in Toronto. 

The majority of our research, development, and supply chain operations are in-house, with limited third-party manufacturing. This allows us to evaluate each step of the product creation process to ensure we are making a concerted effort to address our environmental impacts. We also operate 22 retail stores across seven countries. Our operations—both in manufacturing and in every store—affect our consumption of energy and water, as well as the production of waste, and we remain conscious of this fact in our decision-making.

WE AIM TO:

  • Maximize resource efficiency and minimize waste
  • Embed sustainability into retail design and operations
  • Enhance water stewardship and reduce water consumption

  • MAXIMIZE RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND MINIMIZE WASTE

    We’ve developed several ways to optimize how we use what we have and dispose of what we don’t. This allows us to source only the minimum amount of raw materials we need, avoiding needless waste.

  • THE ISSUE

    Human demand for resources is placing increasing pressure on the planet. Between 2000 and 2017, global material use rose by over 40% - from an estimated 8.7 metric tonnes per person in 2000 to 12.2 in 2017. This growth reflects the rising demands of a growing population and expanding economies.

    As consumption increases, so does the challenge of managing waste. Landfills are under strain, waterways face growing pollution risks, and ecosystems are experiencing mounting pressure. Plastics, in particular, have become a significant concern due to their persistence in the environment and widespread use.

  • These trends highlight the importance of rethinking how we consume, reduce, and manage materials. Shifting toward more sustainable practices is essential - not only for environmental health but for long-term human well-being.

WHAT WE ARE DOING.

  • No Time for Waste

    We aim to make the most of our resources while limiting the amount of waste we produce. This includes a regulated third-party system to manage any expired raw materials and failed batches, ensuring that they are adequately collected, stored, transported, treated, recovered, and disposed of. See the below examples of our waste mitigation initiatives.

    Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Recycling

    We’ve all become much more aware of PPE since 2020, and at DECIEM, this equipment is crucial to prevent contamination of products during manufacturing as outlined in the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines set by the World Health Organization.Our manufacturing, clinical, and R&D teams rely on a consistent supply of gloves, hair nets, and other protective gear to maintain clean and controlled environments. While this PPE is vital, it also generates a considerable amount of waste over time. To address this, we’ve partnered with Vitacore, a PPE recycling company in British Columbia, to help give used materials a second life. In this case, where reduction isn’t possible, we’ve committed to finding a responsible way to manage disposal.

  • Don't Destroy, Donate

    Not all products we produce can be sold. In some cases, this is due to excess inventory nearing expiry, damage to the packaging, or discontinued items. While we are actively working to reduce these occurrences through improvements in our manufacturing processes, a certain amount of unsellable product is inevitable.

    When this happens, we prioritize donation over disposal. Each year, we donate about 300,000 units of product to communities in need around the world through our 100% Good program. These donations support individuals who may not otherwise have access to quality skincare, while also reducing waste. This helps avoid unnecessary product destruction, giving them a second life where they’re needed most. 

    If you are a charitable organization who would like to receive donated products, please contact good@deciem.com.

    Closing the Loop on E-Waste

    In Canada, we’ve partnered with a third-party organization to donate all of our electronic waste. Devices that can be refurbished are given a second life through community programs, and anything beyond repair is ethically recycled. Electronics are full of materials that are better kept out of landfills, so we make sure they are.

  • Waste Diversion 

    In 2024*, DECIEM diverted over 70% of our waste across our global facilities, sending this waste to be composted, recycled, or converted into energy. We know there’s still work to do, which is why, as of July 2025, we’ve started diverting waste from our Canadian offices, manufacturing, and distribution centers to waste-to-energy facilities. We’ll continue to track and share this number openly, holding ourselves accountable as we work toward 100% diversion.Waste-to-energy facilities burn waste to generate electricity, releasing more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than landfills. However, landfills also release methane, a greenhouse gas which traps 25 times more heat than CO₂, and leaks for decades as the landfill decomposes waste. We recognize that this is not a perfect solution, but the net climate impact of waste-to-energy facilities is a reduction of 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per tonne of waste processed compared to landfills. This is the same volume as ⅕ of an Olympic swimming pool.

    *2024 refers to DECIEM’s fiscal year 2024, which runs from July 2023 to June 2024

  • RETHINKING RETAIL

    Our most visible spaces can help us lead the way in reducing waste, with retail designs that bring sustainability into everyday moments in simple, thoughtful ways.

  • THE ISSUE

    Retail spaces allow us to connect in person. We are committed to making our stores a more responsible place to shop, incorporating sustainable principles into our design playbook. Every new store follows minimum guidelines for environmental efficiency.

  • WHAT WE ARE DOING

    Revitalizing Our In-Store Takeback Program

    For years, we’ve offered an in-store takeback program, giving customers the ability to recycle empty containers from any beauty brand. Some packaging, like mixed-material components (such as our droppers), still can’t be recycled through traditional streams. Our in-store takeback program offers one solution. While it varies by jurisdiction and isn’t perfect, we’re working with our partners for continuous improvements.Our program is available in our stores globally, except in South Korea and California. We know this means not all customers can reach a drop-off location. We encourage customers to check their local recycling facilities’ instructions for curbside recycling options.Our largest recycling partnership is with Close the Loop, a leader in product stewardship and resource recovery. Operating across all our North American stores, this partnership has helped us recycle over 2.5 tonnes of hard-to-recycle beauty packaging over the past year – materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.This is just one step toward more responsible beauty, and we’re excited to keep pushing for progress.

  • Shopping Bags

    Our paper shopping bags are FSC-certified, made from renewable non-wood fibers (60% sugarcane + bamboo) and recycled fibers (40%), and as the case with all paper bags, they are 100% recyclable. We encourage our in-store customers to reuse our shopping bags when possible, or to bring their own bags to help us reduce production.

    The Good Board


    The Good Board is an in-store feature that highlights key initiatives, partners, and stories we’re proud to share with our community. From our Recycling Program to our Beauty is Being Proud campaign during PRIDE, each story brings our values to life.Our goal is to feature a new story regularly as a meaningful way to connect, inform, and invite anyone visiting our stores to be part of the good we’re doing together.

    Perfectly Imperfect Giving (in stores)*

    Sometimes our products end up a little crooked. These perfectly good formulas may have slightly dented boxes or tubes that have been closed off center. Rather than send these items to  a landfill, we donate them to local communities through our 100% Good program. We also distribute products at our retail stores when available, free of charge. These small imperfections can lead to moments of joy with our community. 

    *Due to logistics, this program is currently only available at select Canadian locations and while supplies last. It’s not a permanent program and may vary by season.

WATER STEWARDSHIP

  • Water is essential for life, yet it’s also one of our most threatened resources.

THE ISSUE

  • Only 3% of the Earth’s water is freshwater, and an even smaller fraction is accessible for use by humans. The simple fact is more than one billion people lack safe access to water.

    Climate change is making things worse: rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather continue to harm not only the bodies of water but the ecosystems and people that depend on them. Pollution and overuse add to the crisis. Protecting our water sources means protecting the planet.

  • WHAT WE ARE DOING.

    We aim to improve water protection and reduce our consumption throughout our manufacturing process.

    • At our manufacturing facility, we use a closed loop chiller which cools down our batch processes in a circular way. Our water is constantly being recycled, preventing the need for fresh water in the cooling process.
    • We treat any of the water we discard using Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), Reverse Osmosis (RO), and Sedimentation, removing potential contaminants or other hazards.
    • We’re exploring partnerships centered around our access and usage of water in our facilities worldwide.

QUESTIONS?

  • Curious to know more? We love questions. Feel free to message us through our contact page and we'll get back to you.

    Go to Earth or People.