10 Zero Waste Lip Balm Brands You Need to Know About
Discover 10 of the best zero-waste lip balms for soft, hydrated lips, without the plastic waste. Organic, vegan options, SPF protection options.
Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes
It’s a problem worth pouting about.
You grab another plastic tube of lip balm, swipe it on, and, if you’ve managed not to lose it beforehand, you toss the empty one months later.
Multiply that by millions of tubes sold every year, and suddenly, we’re looking at a major environmental issue worth giving lip service to.
In fact, it’s estimated that around 200 million to 1 billion plastic lip balm tubes are discarded each year in the U.S. alone, most of which end up in landfills or oceans where they can take over 500 years to break down. That’s a long time for a quick swipe on the lips!
But here’s the good news: clean beauty is evolving fast, and there’s no need to compromise performance for principles. With plastic-free, all-natural, and vegan lip balms, you can hydrate your lips and help the planet at the same time.
Why Switch to a Zero Waste Lip Balm?
1. Plastic tubes don’t get recycled.
Traditional lip balm packaging is too small for most recycling facilities to process, meaning nearly all of it gets tossed as waste.
2. Clean ingredients, cleaner conscience.
Many conventional balms contain petroleum (a fossil fuel byproduct), synthetic dyes, and artificial fragrances that can irritate your skin and harm the planet.
3. More balm for your buck.
Zero waste lip balms often come in larger, compostable tubes that last longer and use richer, natural ingredients like cocoa butter, candelilla wax, and castor oil.
4. Your purchase has power.
Choosing small-batch, ethical makers helps fund circular economies and regenerative practices that care for both people and planet.
For more simple ways to make your beauty routine more sustainable, check out our Top Zero Waste Skincare Brands and Guide To Zero Waste Beauty.
Our Top 10 Zero Waste Lip Balm Brands
1. ZWS Essentials All-Natural Lip Balm
First up, it’s our very own ZWS Essentials Lip Balm! Made in-house with nourishing, plant-based ingredients and comes in five delicious flavors:
- Organic Almond Vanilla
- Organic Orange Vanilla
- Organic Raspberry Mint
- Vegan Peppermint
- Vegan Lavender Lemon
Each balm is packed with everything your lips need, and nothing they don’t. No plastic, no parabens, and no petroleum. You can also buy in a bundle, whether you’re after the vegan duo, organic trio, or want to get your hands on all 5!
Why You’ll Love It:
- Made in the USA with clean, simple ingredients
- Castor oil boosts moisture and supports natural collagen production
- Cocoa butter restores and protects with long-lasting hydration
- USDA Organic options
- Vegan options
- Plastic-free, compostable tubes
- Holds 30% more than conventional balms (0.15 oz vs. ours at 0.20 oz)
2. Fat and The Moon All-Natural Lip & Cheek Stain
Only 4 powerhouse ingredients make up this tinted multi-functional balm, but that’s all you need to keep your kissers hydrated. Sunflower oil and beeswax provide hydration and shine while Alkanet Root provides a buildable blackberry-red tint. This is not a vegan option as it does contain beeswax, but it is packaged in a small aluminum tin making it upcycleable, recyclable, and not likely to break open in the bottom of your bag.
Shop All-Natural Lip & Cheek Stain
3. Sustain Yourself Tinted Lip Balm 3-In-1
This multipurpose lip stain from Sustain Yourself is perfect for those looking for some extra color and can be used on lips, cheeks, eyes, wherever you want it! Coconut Oil and jojoba oil provide the perfect combo of moisturization. Beeswax adds an extra kick and is sourced from a local farm that practices sustainable beekeeping. These balms come in a push tube container that are 100% biodegradable and compostable.
4. River Organics Tinted Vegan Lip Balms
These buildable vegan tinted balms from River Organics provide extreme hydration and — you guessed it — are multipurpose! These balms use the superpowers of Cacao and Mango butter to provide nourishment to chapped lips (or skin). River Organics uses conflict-free lab made Mica and each balm is packaged in jumbo push tubes made of cardboard that are compostable, including for their Mulberry Lip Stain! The company matches donations to offset carbon emissions.
5. No Tox Life Lip Butter
The creators at No Tox Life are at it again with this ultra hydration lip butter. Wildcrafted Candelilla Wax and Cocoa Butter are the first two ingredients which sink into your lips, making this butter longer lasting than a balm and providing a smoother application and finish than a chapstick. It comes in a paper push tube that is not only compostable but about 2X the size of store-bought Chapstick. Talk about long-lasting hydration!
6. Meow Meow Tweet Vegan Lip Balm
A cult favorite among eco-beauty lovers. Each balm is comes in large compostable tube with a creamy, vegan formula that soothes dry lips with rich organic butters and plant oils.
7. Utu Hydrating Sun Balm SPF50
This zero waste SPF lip balm is made with 23% non-nano zinc oxide for broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection. Enriched with ceramide NP, snow mushroom, and vitamin E, it keeps your skin barrier strong and your lips soft all day long.
8. Peppermint Shea Butter Lip Balm & Overnight Treatment
Get ready for a unique lip balm experience with this Peppermint and Vegan Lip Balm. Made with creamy, sustainable ingredients like Shea and Mango butters, it hydrates and plumps your lips for hours while leaving behind a subtle, refreshing scent. Housed in a biodegradable paper tube, it’s as good for the planet as it is for your pout.
Shop Peppermint Vegan Lip Balm
9. Strawberry Kissie Lip Balm & Overnight Treatment
Strawberry Kissie Lip Balm is thoughtfully formulated and packaged with sustainability at its core. Made entirely from plant-based, vegan ingredients and packaged in a reusable glass pot, this lip treatment is 100% plastic-free and cruelty-free.
Shop Kissie Lip Balm & Overnight Treatment
10. All Good Goop All-in-One Healing Salve
The All Good Goop Healing Salve isn’t just a deeply hydrating zero waste lip balm, but an soothing all-purpose skin treatment. The organic, plant-based formula is free from aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMO, and gluten…phew! Plus, it’s made with USDA Certified Organic Ingredients.
The Bottom Line – Best Zero Waste Lip Balm 2025
All of these zero waste lip balms are smooch-worthy, but of course, we have to give our All-Natural Lip Balms the top spot.
Crafted in-house with both vegan and USDA Organic options, it’s 100% home compostable and formulated to keep lips smooth, hydrated, and naturally soft, without the need for any harsh toxins or plastic packaging.
Making the switch to a zero-waste lip balm might seem small, but the impact is real. Every compostable tube helps cut down on plastic waste, supports ethical makers, and shows that sustainability and self-care can go hand in hand, proving that clean beauty can feel just as good as it looks.
So the next time your lips need a little love, reach for something that loves the planet back.
So the next time your lips need a little love, reach for something that loves the planet back.
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