What Pact Collective does

Pact Collective is a US-based nonprofit collective founded in 2021 by MOB Beauty and Credo Beauty to address hard-to-recycle beauty packaging waste through pre-competitive industry collaboration. The organization operates a physical and logistics infrastructure of 3,200+ collection bins across the US and Canada, hosted at major retailers including Sephora (600+ stores), Ulta Beauty, and Nordstrom, complemented by mail-back, in-office, obsolete inventory, and bin sponsorship programs. It also developed NewMatter™, a trademarked suite of circular materials—including NewMatter HDPE, manufactured with Marble Plastics—that transforms collected HDPE beauty packaging into 100% post-consumer recycled sheet material for architectural surfaces, retail fixtures, and brand activations.

The technical foundation combines a hard-to-recycle packaging collection and recycling infrastructure with a transparent auditing and chain-of-custody system that tracks material from collection through end-of-life processing against a documented hierarchy (upcycling, downcycling, molecular recycling, waste-to-concrete, waste-to-energy as last resort). Pact collects operational data on volume and end-of-life outcomes for each material type, which feeds back into its knowledge hub and educational resources that guide industry packaging design.

Pact generates revenue primarily through tiered membership dues (Activator and Advocate tiers, $500–$205,000 annually based on FTE count, 50% tax-deductible) and separate collection program fees billed to member brands and retailers. As a nonprofit, it also receives donations via PayPal and is a 1% For the Planet environmental partner. The GTM is community-led rather than competitive sales-driven: founding brand and retailer partners host in-store bins, educational content and annual impact reports drive membership acquisition, and the organization participates in broader circular economy initiatives including the Smalls Consortium led by Closed Loop Partners in California. Customers include 160+ beauty and wellness brands and retailers, with Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, and L'Oréal as named partners.

Name

Pact Collective

Legal name

Pact Collective

Website

https://pactcollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pact Collective is a nonprofit collective that operates 3,200+ collection bins across the US and Canada to recover hard-to-recycle beauty packaging on behalf of 160+ member brands and retailers, including Sephora, Ulta Beauty, and Nordstrom. It also produces NewMatter, a circular materials suite that converts collected packaging into architectural surfaces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Pact Collective generates revenue primarily through membership dues from beauty and wellness organizations. Membership is structured in two tiers: Activator membership for stakeholders that sell beauty/personal care packaging/product, and Advocate membership for stakeholders that do not sell packaging but are involved in the industry. Dues are based on full-time employee count and billed annually. Membership dues are 50% tax-deductible.
2. Collection Program Fees: Collection program costs are separate from membership dues. Activator members are required to launch at least one collection program, with costs varying by program type (In-Store, In-Office, Mail-Back, Obsolete Inventory, Bin Sponsorship). Collection program fees are paid by member brands and retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pact Collective is a nonprofit collective that operates brand-agnostic collection programs for hard-to-recycle beauty packaging through a network of 3,200+ bins at major retailers plus mail-back and in-office programs across the US and Canada. It monetizes primarily through tiered annual membership dues from 160+ beauty and wellness member organizations and separately billed collection program fees. It also produces NewMatter™ circular materials made from collected packaging for sale to members.

Product overview

Pact Collective is a nonprofit collective offering a portfolio of collection programs for hard-to-recycle beauty packaging. The core offerings include In-Store Collection (bins at retail locations like Sephora and Ulta), Mail-Back Collection (direct-to-consumer mail-back options), In-Office Collection (for brand offices), Obsolete Inventory Collection (for unsellable stock), and Bin Sponsorship (for small retailers). Complementing these collection programs is NewMatter™, a suite of circular materials (including NewMatter™ HDPE) that transforms collected packaging into new products like architectural surfaces. The organization also provides educational resources and guides to help the industry design more sustainable packaging. All programs are brand-agnostic, accepting any beauty brand's packaging regardless of brand ownership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NewMatter™: A suite of circular materials made from hard-to-recycle beauty packaging collected through Pact's collection programs, including HDPE sheet material for architectural surfaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1M+ pounds of hard-to-recycle beauty packaging diverted from landfill since inception.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular EconomycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Closed Loop Partners leads the Smalls Consortium, a field testing initiative in California to recover small-format plastics currently lost to landfills. Pact participates as part of this multi-stakeholder consortium which also includes L'Oréal, Kraft Heinz, CVS Health, Circular Action Alliance, and Potential Industries Inc. The consortium aims to develop scalable recovery solutions ahead of California's Extended Producer Responsibility packaging law taking effect January 1, 2027.
• L'OréalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Founding partner of the Smalls Consortium led by Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy, focused on recovering small-format plastics in California. L'Oréal's involvement signals the beauty industry's commitment to addressing packaging waste ahead of California's EPR law.
• Kraft HeinzminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Supporting partner of the Smalls Consortium led by Closed Loop Partners, focused on recovering small-format plastics in California ahead of California's EPR packaging law.
• CVS HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Supporting partner of the Smalls Consortium led by Closed Loop Partners, focused on recovering small-format plastics in California ahead of California's EPR packaging law.
• Circular Action AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Strategic advisor to the Smalls Consortium, providing expertise on circular economy approaches and Extended Producer Responsibility policy for recovering small-format plastics in California.
• Potential Industries Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 16 June 2026Recycling operator partner in the Smalls Consortium, responsible for processing and recovering small-format plastics that are too small for conventional recycling equipment to capture.
• Saie BeautyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025Saie Beauty is highlighted in Pact's Earth Day 2025 coverage as having partnered with rePurpose Global (distinct from Pact) to recover 5 million pounds of plastic waste. Saie is also a Pact member with a mail-back collection program.
• rePurpose GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025Featured alongside Pact in Pact's Earth Day 2025 coverage. RePurpose Global has partnered with Saie Beauty (a Pact member) to recover 5 million pounds of plastic waste across India, Indonesia, Cameroon, and Colombia. RePurpose Global is a Pact member.
• Marble PlasticscoreTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2025Marble Plastics is Pact Collective's manufacturing partner for NewMatter HDPE. Together, they transform HDPE beauty packaging collected through Pact's programs into 100% post-consumer recycled sheet material with a terrazzo-like appearance, used for countertops, retail fixtures, and brand activations. Marble Plastics was built on the principle that waste shouldn't be wasted.
• U.S. Plastics PactminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2025Pact Collective is highlighted in the U.S. Plastics Pact's 2023-2024 Impact Report as demonstrating real-world implementation of circular economy initiatives through its NewMatter 100% recycled content resin pilot with Credo Beauty. Pact participates in the U.S. Plastics Pact ecosystem as an Activator member.
• Sephora (continued)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sephora's take-back partnership with Pact Collective at over 600 stores across the US and Canada for hard-to-recycle beauty packaging. Sephora tracks supplier compliance data through Novi Connect. Pact bins are featured prominently at Sephora locations.
• Atmosphera BeautyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Canadian skincare brand Atmosphera Beauty has committed to packaging sustainability through a partnership with Pact Collective. Atmosphera launched in the US market in 2025, achieving $700,000 in pre-launch sales and building a network of 3,000+ affiliates.
• AnthesisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Anthesis is listed as a Pact Strategic Partner on Pact's current members page. Anthesis is a sustainability consulting firm that provides expertise in sustainable business transformation.
• 1% For the PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Pact Collective is a 1% environmental partner member of 1% For the Planet, committing to donate 1% of sales to environmental organizations. Pact is recognized on 1% For the Planet's member listing as an environmental partner.
• SephoracoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Sephora's Beauty (Re)Purposed program, launched via a partnership with Pact Collective in 2023, enables Pact bin collection at over 600 stores across the US and Canada. The program has collected over 68,800 pounds of packaging (equivalent to ~1.37 million lipstick tubes). Sephora also features Pact bins with NewMatter HDPE tops in stores. Pact also partners with Sephora on its Planet Aware certification requiring 32 mandatory sustainability criteria.
• Ulta BeautycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Ulta Beauty hosts Pact collection bins at its US retail locations, providing consumers with convenient access to hard-to-recycle beauty packaging disposal. Ulta Beauty is listed among Pact's key retail partners alongside Sephora and Nordstrom.
• NordstromcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Nordstrom hosts Pact collection bins at its US retail locations, enabling customers to drop off hard-to-recycle beauty packaging at point of purchase. Nordstrom is listed as one of Pact's key retail member partners.
• Credo BeautycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Credo Beauty is one of Pact Collective's two co-founding organizations (alongside MOB Beauty) and serves as a founding member. Credo hosts in-store Pact collection bins and piloted NewMatter HDPE, installing a NewMatter countertop in one of its store locations to demonstrate circularity to customers. Credo also participated in Pact's NewMatter 100% recycled content resin pilot.
• MOB BeautycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MOB Beauty is one of Pact Collective's two co-founding organizations (alongside Credo Beauty). MOB Beauty was the catalyst for creating a pre-competitive collective to address beauty packaging waste. MOB Beauty hosts a mail-back collection program through Pact.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• How2Recycle: How2Recycle is a standardized labeling initiative that helps brands communicate recyclability instructions to consumers across packaging categories including beauty. It addresses the same packaging waste challenge as Pact through consumer education and labeling rather than collection infrastructure.
• Closed Loop Partners: Closed Loop Partners is a circular economy investment and advisory firm that leads the Smalls Consortium with Pact and other partners. It operates across multiple verticals with similar pre-competitive infrastructure-building objectives, though at broader scope and with capital deployment capabilities Pact lacks.
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition: The Sustainable Packaging Coalition is an industry working group advancing sustainable packaging practices across multiple consumer goods verticals. It addresses similar packaging sustainability issues to Pact but through education, guidelines, and pre-competitive collaboration rather than operating physical collection infrastructure.
• Eastman: Eastman is a molecular recycling technology provider that partners with Pact to recycle hard-to-recycle beauty plastics via depolymerization and conversion technologies. It operates upstream of Pact's collection infrastructure as a critical recycling technology enabler for materials the municipal system cannot process.
• U.S. Plastics Pact: The U.S. Plastics Pact is a multi-stakeholder coalition targeting circular plastics across all industries by 2025, of which Pact Collective is an Activator member. It shares Pact's pre-competitive collaboration model for packaging sustainability but operates at broader plastics-industry scope without focused beauty infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Terracycle: Terracycle is the closest direct peer to Pact Collective, operating brand-sponsored recycling programs for hard-to-recycle waste streams including beauty and personal care packaging. Both operate pre-competitive collection infrastructure, accept materials municipal systems cannot process, and monetize through brand/retailer partnerships rather than consumer fees.
• Loop by Terracycle: Loop is Terracycle's reusable packaging platform that partners with major consumer goods brands and retailers (including in beauty) to enable refillable packaging at scale. It addresses the same upstream beauty packaging waste problem as Pact but through reuse rather than recycling, competing for the same brand sustainability budgets.

Emerging players

• Plastic Bank: Plastic Bank operates collection infrastructure for ocean-bound plastic with social impact components in vulnerable coastal communities. It offers an alternative plastic recovery model that competes with Pact for brand sustainability investments, though focused on ocean-bound rather than post-consumer beauty packaging.
• rePurpose Global: rePurpose Global is a plastic action platform enabling brands (including beauty brands like Saie, a Pact member) to fund verified plastic waste recovery globally. It competes with Pact for corporate sustainability budgets in beauty, though focused on plastic offsets rather than industry-specific collection infrastructure.
• Algramo: Algramo operates a refillable/reusable packaging platform serving consumer goods brands and retailers with dispensing systems designed to eliminate single-use packaging. It targets similar brand and retail partnerships as Pact in beauty and personal care, though through reuse infrastructure rather than recycling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pact-collective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pact Collective