looking your best is what's best for the planet. let us explain

Not to be dramatic, but we know you're dying to do better... with recycling, repurposing, and refilling your favourite products. And honestly, so are we. Our beautiful planet needs us to take the best care of it as we can, and now that we're open in Winnipeg, we're ready to take the next step:

We are opening a refillery at portia-ella on Lilac this summer!

Yup, you heard that right, our bestsellers will be available as refills very soon so that you can enjoy the self-care products you love with even less impact on the planet. But it doesn't stop there. New initiatives, effective immediately at portia-ella on Lilac, are here to help each of us put the planet first while looking and feeling our most beautiful. Happy Earth Day 2025, and we're so grateful to continue this journey with you!

local manufacturing

It's no secret. We've always been proudly Canadian-made since the beginning. Why? In addition to the numerous benefits to society and economic development, it's also much more sustainable for the planet. Manufacturing product locally, even down to product boxes, means fewer emissions, a lower carbon footprint, and more sustainable business model. Think about it this way: your product originates from Canada and only travels within the country to you, versus potentially numerous trips halfway across the globe by plane or ship when manufacturing takes place overseas.

sustainable ingredients

It's one of the first things we look at when partnering with new brands. Are their ingredients sustainably and responsibly sourced? We believe this should be the standard across the industry, but unfortunately, it's only something that conscious brands commit to doing.

Our brands don't stop there though. In addition to responsibly and sustainably sourcing all of their ingredients, they also try to use as many upcycled ingredients as they can (think blueberry seed oil extracted from by-products of the juicing industry). This means that your favourite products aren't nourishing your skin at the expense of the planet's wellbeing, the two are possible synergistically.

Read more about upcycled ingredients here:

Graydon | Three Ships | Étymologie

Read more about sustainably sourced ingredients here:

Graydon | Plume | Pure Anada

intentional packaging

Packaging is controversial to say the least. On the one hand, a package-free, low to no waste world would be fantastic where everyone only buys refills, and our main disposal system is composting. We’re working toward this direction but yet there is still much to do to get there.

At the end of the day though, nothing is truly zero-waste, even when it is refillable. From ingredient sourcing, to production, to transportation and distribution – there are lots of steps involved to make any given product. What we do at portia-ella is offer you an array of products, each sustainable, conscious, ethical, and intentional in their own way and give you access to all of the possibilities.

Each of our brands approach their sustainability missions based on (no surprise) the products they make. A packaging strategy that's genius for deodorant won't necessarily work for lipstick. The packaging for a facial moisturizer, although fantastic, may not work for a foundation.

Instead, each brand is continuously testing, innovating, and receiving feedback from their customers to reach the best solution. What might be low waste and sustainable in theory may not be any more sustainable than single use plastic. How?! Because if no one can functionally use this product, if it's not an enjoyable experience, no one will choose to use it. So we aim for balance and the best possible options.

Some of the ways our brands consciously package:

locally made, fully recyclable boxes made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper
no boxes on some or all products to minimize waste
soy or vegetable ink used on boxes, which are less harmful to the environment
labels printed directly onto glass or plastic to avoid extraneous paper/plastic labels
package-free options (soaps, hair bars)
biodegradable solutions (compostable makeup wipes, eyemasks, sponges) shop low-waste
refillable makeup & skincare (body care coming soon) shop now
choosing dark glass bottles that help keep products fresh and protected for longer.
packaging in PCR (Post Consumer Recyclable) plastic
repurpose-able glass packaging (come visit our boutique to see how we repurpose product packaging in store!)

how to recycle your product packaging responsibly

For brands Pura Botanicals, Cocoon Apothecary, Malechemy, Elate, Graydon, Routine, and Zyderma, we accept back your packaging so that they can be returned to the brand and to PACT, whom these brands have partnered with to help close the loop and life cycle of packaging. Please ensure that items brought back are fully cleaned. Learn more about PACT and the brands that they partner with.

For all of our other brands, please keep in mind that plastic indicates whether it is recyclable on it itself, and most glass is recyclable. Plastic components are not recyclable in most cases, but after being cleaned, could be utilized for other purposes in your home if you so desire. Please either recycle, upcycle, or refill your packaging that can't be brought back to us for disposal, and we promise you, these are truly the best solutions out there. With many of our brands offering refills or refill sizes of their products, we are truly heading in a new direction, a positive one, filled with continued innovations, ideas, possibilities, and beauty.

what do you want to see?

What we want to know is, what do you want to see in our refillery starting this summer? We are all ears, so feel free to message us on social media, on our site, or reload our home page and fill out the form that pops up automatically.

Happy Earth Day beauties!