Sustainable beauty products are committed to the environment, people, and the economy throughout the value chain. This means that all the processes, from sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and selling, to transportation, are eco-friendly and have minimal impact on the environment including carbon production, water waste, and energy consumption.
Post-pandemic Trends
Increasing awareness of the harmful effects of conventional cosmetic products on the skin and the environment led to the soaring interest of consumers and retailers in sustainable cosmetics. This has resulted in a 15% annual growth rate of the green cosmetic market, which is far greater than that of the global personal care and cosmetics market (5%). Today, 76% of the cosmetics consumers—especially the Gen Z shoppers—plan to buy sustainable products, while 70% of the US consumers are willing to spend more for sustainable packaging.
Moreover, a recent survey conducted by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) reported that South Korea’s cosmetics industry was the most significantly impacted sector by the post-pandemic demand for eco-conscious products. This is evident from 72% of the companies reporting that their export performance of eco-friendly products increased by 5% or more after the pandemic.
Looking forward, the market size for global sustainable personal care is expected to amount to US 42.19 billion by 2030.
How Are Sustainable Cosmetics Made?
Sustainable Ingredient Sourcing
involves using ingredients that respect the environment by causing minimal or no harm to biodiversity and ecosystems. It also refers to producing and transporting ingredients in ways that minimize carbon emissions. Sustainable ingredient sourcing is often indicated by logos such as the Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance.
Ingredients
that do not harm human health and the environment are used. These include:
- Organic ingredients are grown without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
- Natural ingredients are chemical compounds extracted from plants, animals, minerals, or microbial kingdom.
- Upcycled ingredients are the by-products, waste products, and discarded raw materials.
- Locally sourced ingredients which do not incur extra transportation during production.
- Ethically sourced ingredients are derived in ethical and sustainable methods, with little or no adverse impact on humans and the environment.
- Ingredients from renewable plant and bacteria sources.
Click here to shop for our natural actives.
are involved, such as using renewable energy during production.
Vegan-approved Products
do not consist of any animal-derived ingredients. View our vegan product, Natori Pea Collagen 80.
Cruelty-free Products
indicate that the welfare of animals is protected since they do not contain animal-derived ingredients, and are not tested on animals. They are indicated by logos such as Leaping Bunny Certification.
Innovative Packaging
such as refillable or recyclable packaging does not require additional transport for the product to reach a recycling station.
Click here to read more about certifications and labels of natural and organic cosmetics.
Why Switch to Sustainable Cosmetics?
Environmental Responsibility
According to Zero Waste Week, 120 billion units of cosmetics packaging (plastic, paper, glass, metals, etc) are produced annually by the global cosmetics industries, and 91% of these wastes are never recycled. Plastic packaging, in particular, causes severe environmental issues. Firstly, plastic is not biodegradable, and it undergoes photodegradation instead for 100 to 500 years. Furthermore, microbeads in plastics not only kill millions of sea lives, but also adversely affect humans who consume them. Using sustainable cosmetics can thus reduce such detrimental effects.
Increased Effectiveness
Skin irritation or allergic reactions are less likely when using sustainable products. This is because natural and oleochemical ingredients are not only selected based on their beneficial and healing properties, but also do not contain any synthetic, toxic chemicals or artificial colors.
For example, glycerine (a humectant from palm oil) is a perfect moisturizer and can be applied to every part of the body.
Long-term Health
Consumers can invest in their long-term health and beauty by using sustainable cosmetics instead of those made with petrochemicals, synthetic, or toxic ingredients. These materials not only harm the environment, but have also been found to be associated with headaches, eye damage, hormonal imbalance, acne, and premature aging.
For example, phthalates were found to be linked to cancer and type II diabetes.
Innovations in Sustainable Beauty
Garnier’s No Rinse Conditioner
This product does not require rinsing, which saves 100L of water per tube in comparison to 200mL of conventional rinse-off conditioner. An overall carbon footprint reduction of 92% per tube is achieved by manufacturing the product in carbon-neutral factories. Moreover, the packaging—the FSC certified cardboard tube—saves 75% less plastic compared to 200mL bottles. Lastly, it is Leaping Bunny approved, and 98% of its ingredients are natural in origin.
Fermented Complex 94 Boosting Essence
Fermented ingredients such as probiotics, enzymes, bacteria, or yeast act symbiotically with the skin. The fermentation process breaks down the ingredients’ molecular structure and increases the nutrient concentration, resulting in easier and faster nutrient absorption. Similarly, this product contains a highly concentrated 94% fermented complex which improves the overall skin tone by enhancing the absorption of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Organic Face Serum with Coffee Oil
In this eco-friendly upcycled product, coffee grounds from the food and beverage industry have been repurposed as coffee oil, and its ingredients are 100% vegan and natural. Such ingredients serve to effectively hydrate, brighten, refresh, and renew the skin. Furthermore, it has 99% plastic-free packaging and is Organic Soil Association certified.
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