Introduction
- Did you know that the $500 Billion-Dollar Personal Care and Beauty Industry relies on Plastic for all its packaging needs?
- Are you aware that every single day you are putting 200 different types of chemicals on your body, knowingly or unknowingly?
- Have you tried to look at greener, cleaner beauty, skincare, and makeup alternatives that are eco-friendly?
It is no secret that beauty contributes to being one of the biggest polluters in the world. According to a report, the industry produces more than 120 billion packaging units every year. This number is steadily and dangerously rising as we speak.
According to experts, eight out of ten beauty products produced worldwide comes in plastic. Meaning that even when you will use the product in a month, the same container will be on earth for a thousand years!
However, with stricter regulations, aware consumers, and the rising number of greener brands, the centuries-old beauty industry is trying hard to become cleaner and greener.
In this article, we speak to leading beauty expert, Amanda Jo of Organic Bunny and ask her to share five ways, the industry is changing for the better.
List of 5 Ways the Beauty Industry is becoming more Eco-friendly
- Recycled Packaging is on the Rise-
Aware consumers as well as brands looking to make a small difference are using recycling to help the environment. Many consumers are using old bottles and containers in creative and innovative ways by making plants, storing things, or using them as artwork.
Brands, on the other hand, are also looking to use recycled packaging to help save the environment. Many brands are also offering incentives to people who are willing to recycle. However, there is still a long way to go to overcome flashy packaging.
- Banning Microbead Plastics-
One of the healthiest developments, which have taken place in the past few years, have been banning microbeads. These small plastic globules were uses in a variety of products ranging from bath salts and scrubs to face washes. Microplastics are dangerous for the environment.
Scientists have pointed out that the plastics do not dissolve and are released into the water. When any marine animal ingests it, it creates a sort of an air bubble and impairs their breathing, leading to their death. However, the same has not been banned in third world countries.
- The emergenceof Cleaner and Greener Brands-
While all the environmental polluting usual suspects continue to enjoy sales and support, there are several smaller entries promoting a greener world. Amanda Jo states that the last three years have seen a proliferation of eco-friendly brands creating sustainable products.
The attempt at helping the environment does not stop with zero chemical use in products. It also means that the packaging is done by using recycled material. This is definitely a step, which has been taken in the right direction.
- Focussing on Alternative Sourcesof Power-
The beauty and cosmetic industry employ more than one million people globally. You can imagine the factory area, which would be required to run massive operations. This means that coal-powered electricity is being used to the detriment of our environment.
Some brands are falling on alternative sources of clean energy like wind and water to power their factories and operations. While the number of brands using clean energy sources is less, they are steadily gaining more acceptance.
- Abandoning Palm Oil as an ingredient-
Palm oil is one of the base ingredients in cosmetics. It is used to also create other chemical ingredients like sulfates by reacting with sulphuric acid. There are thousands of products and brands, which use palm oil.
However, the increase in demand for palm oil means rapid deforestation. Palm trees are cut irresponsibly, and palm oil is extracted by the exploitation of the locals in Asian and African countries. All this has a major environmental impact on the planet.
The Final Word
Amanda Jo states that if we start to use chemical-free products on our body, it is not only good for us, but also for the environment. With government authorities stepping up pressure on beauty brands to become ethical, only time will tell whether they are going to become truly eco-friendly in their approach.
