Terracotta & Sustainability

When deciding on which packaging material to use for Oquist's products, we compared different materials based on the six most impactful sustainability criteria (see diagram). Although carton is the most sustainable material it is not suitable for storing cosmetic products. At the same time, bio- and semi-degradable plastics are not suitable for upcycling/repurposing. We were happy to realize that terracotta clay is the most sustainable material both from an upcycling as well as from a Low Carbon Footprint perspective. And it is perfect for storing cosmetic products.

CO₂ emissions from producing 1 kg of material:

Aluminium: 10–12 kg CO₂

Plastic: 2–3 kg CO₂

Bioplastic: 1.5–3 kg CO₂

Glass: 0.8–1.2 kg CO₂

Cardboard: 0.8–1 kg CO₂

Terracotta: 0.5–0.8 kg CO₂

No machines, only caring hands

Our packaging is produced in Riga Latvia, right across the street from Pavel’s boutique cosmetic factory. No machines are used during the production process (except for the oven used for firing the material, of course). Liquid terracotta is poured into carved forms where it sits over night to solidify. After solidifying each vessel is carefully taken out from its form and polished by hand to eliminate any unevenness. The vessels are then left to dry for a second round before they are heated in the oven to obtain its characteristic terracotta structure and hardness.