Shiny packages, influencers’ posts, and stunning advertisements trigger consumers to buy more beauty products promising eternal youth. Keeping up with the beauty industry hits not only one’s wallet but also damages the environment. The level of harm to nature is on par with carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles. When buying the product, one should consider many factors apart from price or the brand’s reputation.
In recent years, people have opted for purchasing eco-friendly products considering natural components to be more effective and favorable for the skin. At the same time, brands use “eco” in their slogans to boost sales. How to identify green products and not fall into the advertising trap?
Natural ingredients
Eco-friendly products contain 80 to 100% natural ingredients, including plants, flowers, or berries. It leads to a reduction in the shelf life. Most companies use local raw ingredients or produce the goods right in the store. It helps reduce carbon emissions from transportation and supply the goods in the short term.
Recyclable, reusable packaging, or naked products.
Brands claiming green policy use packaging made from recyclable materials. The entire package, including labels, should be made from the same material, e.g., plastic. If a lid is made from another material, it should be easy to remove. Another way to stay green is to implement reusable packaging. Many companies encourage clients to bring empty containers for the products they repeatedly buy by offering discounts. It helps to set a price reflecting the fair cost of the ingredients. “Naked products” is a new trend in the beauty industry introduced by the British company “Lush.” The producers turn from bottled products such as soap, shampoo, and shower gel, to their stable versions. The campaign aims to reduce packaging material’s financial costs for package production and damage caused to the environment.
Carbon-neutral production
CO2 emissions are one of the main problems of any production process. To become a fully carbon-neutral company, brands introduce the use of alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric power plants, create conditions for recycling and reduce resource consumption like water and electricity.
Circular economy
This economy is the opposite of the classical linear economy, operating on the principle “create, use, get rid of waste.” The circular economy is a phenomenon in which consumption and production occur in a closed cycle with three conditions: resources are used to the maximum, waste is not accumulated, and there is no negative impact on nature. In this way, beauty brands reuse products from the food and forestry industry, such as coffee grounds or apricot pits. Resources remain in circulation longer, which reduces the number of raw materials used.
No animal testing
Product testing ensures safety for the consumers as it defines possible allergies they may have. For many years, tests were made on animals, which became victims of the cosmetics industry. These toxicity tests were outdated methods that could not guarantee 100% safety to clients. Nowadays, green companies use alternative methods of testing based on human biology.
Local initiatives
Environmental initiatives are implemented in the production process and offices. Employees sort out the garbage, and the collected materials are sent for recycling. Thus, sustainability becomes the policy of the company on all levels.
Transparency
Speaking about ecological initiatives and their results is a common strategy of eco-friendly companies. It aims to encourage consumers to participate in campaigns and make a step towards sustainable beauty.
The concept of sustainable beauty hits many headlines, but it goes further than a fancy label on the package. One should keep in mind these critical principles while choosing a product.
Image: Unilever
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