Marketing Assistant, Annabelle Mayor, explores the state of sustainability within the beauty industry and what brands are doing to tackle consumers’ increasing concerns.
The spotlight on beauty only seems to be shining brighter. New brands spring up on a frequent basis; others enjoy explosive growth. Beauty influencers attract even more views and likes. Customers continue to add to their shopping carts wanting to try out the latest hit products.The industry is certainly thriving. In 2017, it was valued at $456 billion; by 2032, it’s estimated it will rise to $905 billion. However, concerns over the industry’s sustainability are also growing. Stylish packaging and the promise of an effective formula are often what draws us to beauty products, but at the same time these are wreaking havoc on the environment.
The spotlight on beauty only seems to be shining brighter. New brands spring up on a frequent basis; others enjoy explosive growth. Beauty influencers attract even more views and likes. Customers continue to add to their shopping carts wanting to try out the latest hit products.The industry is certainly thriving. In 2017, it was valued at $456 billion; by 2032, it’s estimated it will rise to $905 billion. However, concerns over the industry’s sustainability are also growing. Stylish packaging and the promise of an effective formula are often what draws us to beauty products, but at the same time these are wreaking havoc on the environment.
8 million tonnes of waste ends up in the ocean each year
Around 8% of the world’s deforestation between 1990 and 2008 is believed to be down to palm oil production as forest land is burned down to make space for oil palm trees.
When it’s not used to package the product, plastic can sometimes be found in formulas. Microbeads, tiny balls of plastic, are commonly used in scrubs and other beauty products. Thousands of tonnes of them end up in the ocean each year where they’re ingested by fish and other sea creatures. They’ve even been reported to have made their way up the food chain to humans. In recent years, several countries have banned the use of microbeads in products.There’s a plethora of other cosmetic and skincare ingredients that are detrimental to the environment. The widespread use of palm oil (across multiple industries) has led to the destruction of habitats. Around 8% of the world’s deforestation between 1990 and 2008 is believed to be down to palm oil production as forest land is burned down to make space for oil palm trees. Silicones are another common beauty ingredient and while they’re recyclable, they’re not biodegradable. Traces of silicones have been found in plants and sea life.
Water-free beauty products are also on the rise. The UN predicts two-thirds of the world’s population could face water scarcity by 2025 due to climate change, population growth, rural to urban migrations and our current consumption rates. Consumers are becoming more aware of water usage and the thought that water may be a luxury in the future. Companies are responding too – L’Oreal is aiming to reduce 60% of water consumption per finished product by 2020 compared to 2005. Unilever is also working to reduce its ‘water footprint’. Brands like PWDR formulate their products to be mixed with water before use so they can be stored in smaller, lighter containers, cutting down on packaging and shipping weight.
Demand for natural or clean beauty products has been on the rise, partly down to consumers believing these are safer for their skin. However, the world of natural beauty isn’t clear-cut; companies are free to label a product natural or clean according to their own definition. However, the growing preference for natural ingredients over plastics or other synthetics is leading to more products being developed with sustainable ingredients. Retailers are also taking note of this trend. Sephora has a “Clean at Sephora” category on their website where brands free from certain ingredients appear with a special seal marking them as such. Credo, launched in 2015, has been dubbed the Sephora of clean beauty, selling a curated range of natural beauty products online and in several US locations.
Reversing the beauty industry’s adverse effects on the environment is going to take a long time. Packaging, formulas, production processes and other factors will need to change alongside consumer habits. However, there’s plenty of opportunity to innovate in order to meet new sustainable standards. As more and more people get on board with sustainable beauty and brands make more efforts to be environmentally conscious, progress will continue to be made.
