Fortunately, there are plenty of inspiring initiatives helping us tackle how we clean up cosmetics across the value chain – from sourcing natural, sustainable ingredients that are good for our skin and the planet to turning to modern day technology.
With a little help from palm oil
Did you know that approximately 70% (source) of beauty products contain palm oil? While palm oil carries multiple benefits such as hydrating and softening the skin, it’s an ingredient which is often condemned for exacerbating climate change through deforestation and the rapid loss of natural habitats for endangered species (source).
However, it’s not as simple as saying cosmetics should not use palm oil. It’s one of the highest yielding oil crops, requiring far less land to be converted into farms than other oil-producing crops, like rapeseed, sunflower or soy (source). So, the question is, how do we certify and prove that the palm oil used in our products is sourced through sustainable practices?
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) addresses this by establishing best practices for the procurement and production process to minimise deforestation of primary forests, certifying farms that comply with their high standards.
Many of the largest cosmetics companies have committed to sourcing 100% of their palm oil from RSPO certified farms but only 20% of the palm oil produced each year is RSPO certified.
So, what can we do about this as consumers? And how we can reduce our environmental impact?
There are several actions we can take – but a great first step is simply being inquisitive. For example, what ingredients are in there? Are those ingredients sustainably sourced? And what impact are they having on the planet?
These questions aren’t always easily answered but there are innovative companies providing transparency on what goes into our cosmetics.
One of those companies is Provenance, who have developed pioneering Proof Point technology that enables businesses to provide a statement of impact. This means that instead of just looking at a logo, consumers can scan a QR code on the product to show the digital proof that the company has met the certification they claim to have met. They also provide a directory of trustworthy brands.
Our next big hope grows in the ocean: seaweed
Seaweed has been used in cosmetics for years. Many toothpastes contain seaweed extract which acts as a natural thickener and stabiliser. But it’s not just our pearly whites that are reaping the benefits of this miracle compound.
Seaweed is an ancient algae (not a plant) that is biodegradable with naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, anti-aging and antioxidant properties that make it a prime replacement for synthetic chemicals, artificial thickeners, and plastic microbeads. It can be used in a range of products including exfoliators, moisturises and hair care.
Why is growing seaweed a super solution from a sustainability perspective? Well, it doesn’t use precious freshwater. It also requires no fertiliser as it gets all the nutrients it needs from the sea.