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UpCircle Beauty
United Kingdom
The Story
UpCircle Beauty is a UK brand that makes organic skincare and beauty products using upcycled ingredients—like coffee grounds from spent espresso and plant extracts from juice production. They're certified organic and cruelty-free, focusing on zero-waste formulations.
Oras Index
· 77/100Good to Know
UpCircle's upcycled-ingredient story is compelling and differentiated, but ingredient transparency gaps limit P1 score: while they claim organic certification, no INCI lists with active concentrations are disclosed on the website, and third-party certification rigor is not specified (COSMOS vs. Ecocert unclear). Formulation pedigree lacks named founder/formulator accountability—no independent lab or chief formulator disclosed. Packaging shows strong PCR/glass adoption and refill-program intent, but take-back program appears generic (TerraCycle referral language) rather than direct partnership. Supply-chain ethics for botanicals is not transparent—no Fair Trade certification visible, and sourcing of upcycled inputs (coffee grounds, juice pulp) lacks named-grower or cooperative documentation, though the upcycling model itself mitigates some risk. B Corp + GOTS certifications are strong signals, but Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification would close a reputational gap. Aesthetic longevity is solid for a young brand (founded ~2014); no sign of quarterly-trend launches. Recommend: disclose full INCI + hero-active concentrations, name formulation lead, publish RMI / Fair Trade commitments for botanical inputs, and clarify third-party organic cert rigor (COSMOS Organic vs. standard Ecocert).
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