Verity has developed the FIRST full metal packaging + pump solution for Beauty

Kerri Leslie, with a background in medical devices, co-founded Verity, a company focused on sustainable packaging, recognising a need for an independent sustainability solution in the beauty industry. Kerri Leslie worked on the development of full-metal packaging solutions, including refillable systems and an all-metal "Forever Pump," motivated by the challenges of recycling monomaterial plastic containers.

re/sources: Kerri, you mentioned there’s a real need for a third-party perspective in a sustainability solution. I completely agree, so much of the information in the industry is biased by suppliers or brands. From your perspective, what pushed you to move from medical devices into the beauty space?

Kerri Leslie, Verity: It was solving my own problem, honestly. I came from the medical device space, where I was focused on product development for surgical products using all-metal mechanisms. In 2014, I started a natural deodorant company as a side project, but I quickly struggled to find a container that matched the sustainability of the ingredients.

re/sources: And that led you to discover the recycling problem with plastic?

Kerri Leslie, Verity: Exactly. I was hot-pouring the product into what I was told was a recyclable monomaterial plastic container. I wanted to ensure the container had a home at the end of its life. After going down a rabbit hole of research and visiting recycling facilities, a specialist broke it down for me: their business is selling our trash. Metal is valuable, so it will always get recycled. But small plastic pieces, even monomaterial, are not valuable—they cost more money to sort, and there are few buyers for them. I was told none of my containers had ever been recycled.

re/sources: So, you took your metal fabrication expertise from the surgical instrument space and applied it to beauty packaging. Could you tell me more about the metal solutions you've developed?

Kerri Leslie, Verity: We realised that existing packaging companies weren't equipped or interested in creating metal containers. So, we leveraged our expertise to solve the problem ourselves. The high cost of metal was a challenge, so we engineered two-piece, refillable systems. The customer keeps the majority metal mechanism—the case—and just pops in inexpensive refills, which brings the cost closer to plastic options. Our products currently include:

• Refillable Deodorant Case: A solid-state component case made of steel or aluminum, designed for durability on a countertop. The refill insert is aluminium with a cork stopper, and it's curbside recyclable.
• Single-Use Aluminium Push-up Tubes: We created these as a sturdy alternative to paper tubes, which often break down or let oils seep through. It uses a cork driver for a push-up function.
• Jar System: A steel or aluminium jar system that uses plastic-free aluminium refill pods, which have seen traction in the supplement space as a decorative, counter-friendly component.

re/sources: The innovation I found particularly impressive is the "Forever Pump." Can you explain what that is and how it solves one of the industry's toughest challenges?

Kerri Leslie, Verity: The pump is the single most difficult component to eliminate in liquid packaging because traditional pumps are complex, multi-material plastic pieces that are not recyclable. Every customer told us, "Great, now do the pump." So we developed the Forever Pump, which is an all-metal pump. The engine is entirely metal, with only a few small elastomeric gaskets. It is designed to be a durable, permanent fixture that is reused endlessly within a refillable system.

re/sources: That’s truly next-level. Finally, you also mentioned expanding your product line to include more "commoditised" options. What was the thinking behind that?

Kerri Leslie, Verity: We were focused on premium innovation, but the market was uncertain due to fears of a recession. Brands were hesitant to make big investments. To help brands wherever they are on their sustainability journey, we started vetting factories and became a distributor for high-quality, more commoditised aluminium components, like jars, squeeze tubes, and bottles, as well as glass components. Our goal is to help growing brands improve incrementally by focusing on materials such as aluminium, steel, and glass that are highly likely to be recycled within the current infrastructure.