The Push For Sustainable Beauty
The Push For Sustainable Beauty
September 26th, 2022
Without fulfilling the need for more sustainable processes and packaging, the beauty industry will face challenges satisfying their customers' growing desire to shop green. In an article published by Zurich Insurance Group Ltd titled "How to reduce carbon in our supply chains - and why it matters", they share that "most companies’ total carbon emissions are created by their supply chains, either upstream or downstream". The same article cites a McKinsey study that estimates "90 percent of consumer packaged goods companies’ impact on the environment and more than 80 percent of their emissions comes from their supply chains".
According to Logmore in April of 2021: "Cosmetic companies that do not pursue innovative solutions in their supply chain to protect their products’ quality, to prevent spoilage, damage or loss, end up facing lower revenues globally and become less profitable than their competitors who ultimately capture more market share in such a dynamic fast growing industry, let alone the satisfaction of end consumers. Whether a cosmetics company large or small sells to the mass market, globally or domestically, specialty retail, or via e-commerce, taking transportation and logistics considerations into account is critical to easing any perpetual supply and demand challenges and supply chain vulnerabilities.“
The message is clear - beauty companies need to commit to more environmentally sustainable supply chain business practices. Below I give an overview on two areas that support this (1) carbon neutrality and (2) packaging. Consider these factors when making your next beauty purchase.
According to Logmore in April of 2021: "Cosmetic companies that do not pursue innovative solutions in their supply chain to protect their products’ quality, to prevent spoilage, damage or loss, end up facing lower revenues globally and become less profitable than their competitors who ultimately capture more market share in such a dynamic fast growing industry, let alone the satisfaction of end consumers. Whether a cosmetics company large or small sells to the mass market, globally or domestically, specialty retail, or via e-commerce, taking transportation and logistics considerations into account is critical to easing any perpetual supply and demand challenges and supply chain vulnerabilities.“
The message is clear - beauty companies need to commit to more environmentally sustainable supply chain business practices. Below I give an overview on two areas that support this (1) carbon neutrality and (2) packaging. Consider these factors when making your next beauty purchase.
Carbon Neutrality
Making waves in a big way in the beauty industry are companies aiming to have a state of net-zero carbon emissions, also known as becoming carbon neutral. You can read more about the harmful effects of carbon emissions on the earth's atmosphere here. Below is an overview of some terms to look out for when assessing a company's attentiveness to lowering carbon emissions.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
According to Clearloop, a for-profit company working to reduce carbon emissions in the US, an LCA tool "is an analytical method used to report the environmental loads and resources used during each step of a supply chain or product creation. The LCA measures the environmental impact for every step of a manufactured product’s creation". Along with companies like Clearloop, there are government organizations that make LCA tools publicly available for measuring carbon emissions, like the US Environmental Protection Agency's Carbon Footprint Calculator. In addition, some entities that do not produce climate tech products but align carbon emission reduction with their values have created LCA tools and make these publicly available online for anyone to use. For example, Allbirds, a shoe company inspired by natural materials, shares their LCA that is designed to calculate carbon footprint, identify hotspots, and drive emission reductions. There are two ways the LCA can be used to when measuring carbon emissions. One looks at emissions from cradle-to-gate and the other from cradle-to-grave.
Cradle-to-Gate
Clearloop's definition of cradle-to-gate is: "the carbon impact of a product from the moment it’s produced to the moment it enters the store". This does not include raw materials and disposal, which gives companies some wiggle room in how broadly they measure their carbon emissions. To include raw materials would be to add the emissions of their suppliers to the overall amount calculated, while including the disposal would also add emissions from landfills and/or recycling. The reason for flexibility in these areas is that (1) it can be challenging to only partner with suppliers that prioritize sustainability and (2) companies can design a product to be easily recycled or to avoid landfill altogether, but it is still up to the consumer to follow recycling best practices. Leaving these factors out allows a company to measure the things it can directly control.
Cradle-to-Grave
Clearloop's definition of cradle-to-grave is "the carbon impact of a product from the moment it’s produced to the moment it enters the store". However, it is still up to the consumer to keep the product packaging from ending up in landfills. Companies can seek to counteract emissions that are not in their direct control across the product lifecycle via tactics like buying carbon offsets.
B Corporations
Also known as a B Lab or B corp, this is a for-profit entity that is certified in a measurement of "social and environmental performance". According to B Lab, a non-profit which certifies B corporations, over 4,000 companies in over 150 industries in 77 countries are using this entity model, which also involves a commitment to protecting a company's mission regardless of leadership changes and capital raises. On B Lab's overview of the legal requirements of certified B corporations, it states that the entity's legal requirements "[ensure] that B Corps remain legally accountable to all of their stakeholders - workers, communities, customers, suppliers, and the environment - not just shareholders".
Making waves in a big way in the beauty industry are companies aiming to have a state of net-zero carbon emissions, also known as becoming carbon neutral. You can read more about the harmful effects of carbon emissions on the earth's atmosphere here. Below is an overview of some terms to look out for when assessing a company's attentiveness to lowering carbon emissions.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
According to Clearloop, a for-profit company working to reduce carbon emissions in the US, an LCA tool "is an analytical method used to report the environmental loads and resources used during each step of a supply chain or product creation. The LCA measures the environmental impact for every step of a manufactured product’s creation". Along with companies like Clearloop, there are government organizations that make LCA tools publicly available for measuring carbon emissions, like the US Environmental Protection Agency's Carbon Footprint Calculator. In addition, some entities that do not produce climate tech products but align carbon emission reduction with their values have created LCA tools and make these publicly available online for anyone to use. For example, Allbirds, a shoe company inspired by natural materials, shares their LCA that is designed to calculate carbon footprint, identify hotspots, and drive emission reductions. There are two ways the LCA can be used to when measuring carbon emissions. One looks at emissions from cradle-to-gate and the other from cradle-to-grave.
Cradle-to-Gate
Clearloop's definition of cradle-to-gate is: "the carbon impact of a product from the moment it’s produced to the moment it enters the store". This does not include raw materials and disposal, which gives companies some wiggle room in how broadly they measure their carbon emissions. To include raw materials would be to add the emissions of their suppliers to the overall amount calculated, while including the disposal would also add emissions from landfills and/or recycling. The reason for flexibility in these areas is that (1) it can be challenging to only partner with suppliers that prioritize sustainability and (2) companies can design a product to be easily recycled or to avoid landfill altogether, but it is still up to the consumer to follow recycling best practices. Leaving these factors out allows a company to measure the things it can directly control.
Cradle-to-Grave
Clearloop's definition of cradle-to-grave is "the carbon impact of a product from the moment it’s produced to the moment it enters the store". However, it is still up to the consumer to keep the product packaging from ending up in landfills. Companies can seek to counteract emissions that are not in their direct control across the product lifecycle via tactics like buying carbon offsets.
B Corporations
Also known as a B Lab or B corp, this is a for-profit entity that is certified in a measurement of "social and environmental performance". According to B Lab, a non-profit which certifies B corporations, over 4,000 companies in over 150 industries in 77 countries are using this entity model, which also involves a commitment to protecting a company's mission regardless of leadership changes and capital raises. On B Lab's overview of the legal requirements of certified B corporations, it states that the entity's legal requirements "[ensure] that B Corps remain legally accountable to all of their stakeholders - workers, communities, customers, suppliers, and the environment - not just shareholders".
Packaging
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) published an article in April of 2021 to highlight the importance of sustainable packaging to consumers titled "Consumers Demand Sustainable Packaging". Citing the 2021 Global Buying Green Report, it shared that "over half (54%) of respondents consider sustainable packaging when selecting a product, and younger consumers (ages 44 and under) are leading the driving force in this trend. Among that age group, 83% claim they are willing to pay more for sustainably packaged products as compared to 70% of all consumers". Below are some practices to look out for when assessing a company's attentiveness to sustainable packaging.
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) published an article in April of 2021 to highlight the importance of sustainable packaging to consumers titled "Consumers Demand Sustainable Packaging". Citing the 2021 Global Buying Green Report, it shared that "over half (54%) of respondents consider sustainable packaging when selecting a product, and younger consumers (ages 44 and under) are leading the driving force in this trend. Among that age group, 83% claim they are willing to pay more for sustainably packaged products as compared to 70% of all consumers". Below are some practices to look out for when assessing a company's attentiveness to sustainable packaging.
Reduced or Eliminated Packaging
Look for companies that are offering/practicing:
Look for companies that are offering/practicing:
- Biodegradable packaging
- Reusable packaging
- The avoidance of single use plastics
- Removing plastics from their products
- Refundable deposits
- Bring back programs, where consumers receive an incentive to keep empty packing out of landfills by sending packaging back to the company to keep the lifecycle going. For example, the Schwarzkopf Hair Care Recycling Program, which also includes a points program that allows you to donate to a cause of your choice.
- Refillable packaging. For example, Cult + King's TONIK refill.
- In-store refills
Waterless Products
In hair care products, without water the concentrate, or main active ingredients, will not pour, spray or pump out of a bottle. Changing the way companies deal with shipping water in bottles may be the key to sustainability and cost savings. Ways this is being tested today include:
In hair care products, without water the concentrate, or main active ingredients, will not pour, spray or pump out of a bottle. Changing the way companies deal with shipping water in bottles may be the key to sustainability and cost savings. Ways this is being tested today include:
- Product Bars, examples: Ethique, Eco Roots, The Earthling Co.
- Product Powders, examples: OWA Haircare, One Love Organics Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo Powder, Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo
What Companies Are Doing Today
L'Oreal
Recently on December 1st, 2021, L'Oreal shared a press release announcing “a new multi-year research and tech partnership with one of the world’s most innovative and accurate climate tech companies, BreezoMeter. Based in Israel, BreezoMeter is a leader in the space of environmental information about air quality, pollen and fires. Its main goal is to improve the health and safety of billions of people worldwide by providing accurate and actionable environmental data and insights.” To me this partnership is a big sign that huge companies want to make change. One of the first ways to do that is collect data to find pain points in the production process.
Last
Global Bioenergies was founded during October 2008 in Evry, France, initially focused on helping the aviation industry get rid of fossil fuels. However, makeup became an additional industry focus that supported adjacent research. According to Bloomberg, the founder Marc Delcourt says “Cosmetics will lead the environmental transition because it’s the first oil-based sector that will completely get rid of oil". In June of 2021, Global Bioenergies announced the release of Last cosmetics, sharing in their press release that "18 products will comprise the world’s first range of longwear, transfer-resistant and waterproof eye make-up to use natural ingredients". The makeup line's differentiator is the use of renewable isododecane, formulated by the company's research team, plus the packaging the products come in.
Coty
In 2017, Coty declared their support for the Paris Climate Agreement. By 2021, they reduced their total energy consumption by over 10% compared to 2019, and all of their factories and distribution centers now operate via 100% renewable electricity. Their 2030 target is to send zero waste to landfill and to recycle 80% of waste generated by their factories and distribution centers. In Coty's sustainability statement they shared that “Through a new partnership with LanzaTech, industrial emissions, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases (like CO2), can now be transformed into ethanol and used in fragrance products.” Changing the way a company sources their product ingredients/raw materials is a big step towards committing to the reduction of that company's impact on the environment.
L'Oreal
Recently on December 1st, 2021, L'Oreal shared a press release announcing “a new multi-year research and tech partnership with one of the world’s most innovative and accurate climate tech companies, BreezoMeter. Based in Israel, BreezoMeter is a leader in the space of environmental information about air quality, pollen and fires. Its main goal is to improve the health and safety of billions of people worldwide by providing accurate and actionable environmental data and insights.” To me this partnership is a big sign that huge companies want to make change. One of the first ways to do that is collect data to find pain points in the production process.
Last
Global Bioenergies was founded during October 2008 in Evry, France, initially focused on helping the aviation industry get rid of fossil fuels. However, makeup became an additional industry focus that supported adjacent research. According to Bloomberg, the founder Marc Delcourt says “Cosmetics will lead the environmental transition because it’s the first oil-based sector that will completely get rid of oil". In June of 2021, Global Bioenergies announced the release of Last cosmetics, sharing in their press release that "18 products will comprise the world’s first range of longwear, transfer-resistant and waterproof eye make-up to use natural ingredients". The makeup line's differentiator is the use of renewable isododecane, formulated by the company's research team, plus the packaging the products come in.
Coty
In 2017, Coty declared their support for the Paris Climate Agreement. By 2021, they reduced their total energy consumption by over 10% compared to 2019, and all of their factories and distribution centers now operate via 100% renewable electricity. Their 2030 target is to send zero waste to landfill and to recycle 80% of waste generated by their factories and distribution centers. In Coty's sustainability statement they shared that “Through a new partnership with LanzaTech, industrial emissions, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases (like CO2), can now be transformed into ethanol and used in fragrance products.” Changing the way a company sources their product ingredients/raw materials is a big step towards committing to the reduction of that company's impact on the environment.