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The cosmetics industry has dominated the world for centuries. As of 2023, it was worth $528.6 billion and growing daily.
Its modern-day dominance is led by companies and the influencers they partner with working to create awareness and affinity for their products.
If you own a cosmetics company or want to start one, you're likely already aware of the waste and unsustainable practices that are unfortunate staples of the industry. For example, companies that use excessive packaging that can't be recyclable or ingredients that have the potential to hurt both the consumer and the environment.
To start making sustainability work for your brand, you'll find some tips and tricks below. Creating a goal or benchmark of where you want your company to be can be a great first step. Keep reading to learn about steps to take to help your cosmetics business become more sustainable.
The ingredients used in cosmetics can be the most impactful on the environment. One way to create sustainable cosmetics is to focus on biodegradability. According to Science Learning Hub, biodegradability is "a 'biodegradable' object that will break down quickly and safely into harmless compounds by using the action of microorganisms." Another example is focusing on natural ingredients. Using natural ingredients can benefit both the consumers and the company. Removing ingredients such as BHA, BHT, aluminum, DBP, or coal tar dyes is a step towards sustainability and away from potential pollution as well. Palm oil is another popular ingredient for many products, but should be avoided due to its negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation. Most importantly, sourcing domestic ingredients as much as possible can have the biggest impact, especially on reducing emissions from transportation of overseas sourcing. Switching to sustainable ingredients helps both humans and the planet.
In the cosmetics industry, packaging accounts for 70% of the industry's waste. Packaging plays a key role in the amount of plastic waste that comes from a large proportion of the industry. While most packaging can be recycled, the responsibility is then on consumers who must remember to recycle. The use of various packaging materials has changed over time, however; for example, just a few years ago, extravagant packaging and large attention-grabbing PR packages sent to influencers were once popular, but many brands have chosen to limit this in recent years. This is largely because consumers' views have changed, and they value sustainability more. Note that when it comes to packaging, the key to remember is that less is more. Shipping materials are another consideration, and minimizing this packaging can also make a positive impact. Another way to reduce waste is to use refillable packaging. For example, Rose INC has a blush that users can easily remove and replace when the product runs out.
Water is a resource that few people think of in the cosmetic industry for sustainability. However, water is starting to be in short supply, and creating waterless products could be a potential way for cosmetic companies to be more sustainable. Waterless products use solid ingredients rather than liquids. Some of the benefits of waterless products -- other than being eco-friendly -- are having a longer shelf life, being safer for sensitive skin, and lowering costs due to less packaging needed (see above) and lower weights for shipping. Some companies that already offer waterless products are EarthKind, Soapwalla, and HiBAR.
Working with your contract manufacturer, or improving your in-house manufacturing practices, can help immensely as you plan to have a more sustainable business. This can include using sustainable materials so that the supply chain can go hand in hand to be more eco-friendly. Collaborating with suppliers to work with raw materials can also be beneficial. Using sustainably-sourced raw materials that are domestically sourced where possible can assist with lowering your costs due to manufacturing products that are less complicated in assembly, and creating durability in your products so consumers don't throw them away.
Marketing is a powerful tool for letting potential customers learn why they should spend money on your product. One marketing tip is to be transparent with your customers on how your brand is sustainable. Let your customers learn what steps your company is taking to help the environment. This can create brand loyalty and entice new customers to try your products. However, it is essential to avoid greenwashing, which happens when marketing ploys are used to create a false illusion to the consumer that a product is sustainable. When it comes to marketing your product, there might be better ways than sending influencers wasteful packages or spending millions on television or streaming ads. Instead, try donating to an organization that promotes sustainable practices and share those sustainability efforts on your website or social media accounts.
Our last tip, is to reduce your businesses carbon footprint. Reducing your business's carbon footprint will help to combat climate change and assist your business in reaching its sustainable goals. If you're curious about your business's carbon footprint, use our free emissions calculator here.
Elate Cosmetics was founded by Melodie Reynolds, who created Elate to create a different future for the makeup world. The company is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. They aim to be 100% organic but work with fair trade when they can't be organic, so their workers are paid fairly. They are a B–Corp.
Pyra Beauty is made with plant-based ingredients that have wonderful benefits for your skin, giving it a glow. Angelica Romero founded the company based on her love for the planet and wanted to create mineral-based cosmetics in biodegradable form. Their slogan is, "Magical skin starts from feeding your skin nature."
Start by focusing on one of these factors, as even small steps can help our environment. Don't overwhelm yourself; take it one step at a time to achieve your company's sustainability goals.