Can the beauty industry really impact on the environment?

There’s been a real positive shift in the beauty industry over the last five years. Today, the natural beauty industry is brilliant at showcasing the organic and simple relationship we can have with the natural world and botanical ingredients.

Through innovative ingredient sourcing, sustainable packaging alternatives and green marketing, many companies within the industry have raised crucial awareness of ocean health, environmental sustainability and issues around climate change. Incredibly, now, most consumers aim to have a positive impact on the environment through their easy, everyday actions – for many, this starts with their day-to-day beauty routine.

Unfortunately, it’s not only in a positive way though, either. The beauty industry is responsible for a huge amount of plastic waste and environmental pollution, as well as being less than sustainable in many areas due to irresponsible sourcing and overuse of synthetic materials. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom! Luckily, research shows that consumers and producers are becoming more and more interested in making sustainable choices. Plus, this is something that has massively increased since Covid-19 too. With people spending more time at home and thinking more about the state of the world around them, many people are entering the next phase of the year with intentions to live more sustainably.

In fact, a recent report by the British Beauty Council found that ‘consumer purchasing decisions are increasingly informed by sustainability concerns. Unilever has found that its purpose-driven brands are growing at twice the rate than its other product lines.’

This is brilliant news and insight that, as a natural and sustainability-focused brand, excites us. By every consumer making more ethical choices and considering the environment in their beauty ideals, we have the opportunity to make a huge positive impact on the world around us.

And what leaps of change can we already celebrate? There has been a huge increase in the uptake of organic beauty products and ingredients, from both brands and consumers. Brands and leading companies have started moving towards a circular economy in places too, with emphasis being placed on recycling, refilling and re-using.

Let’s not forget one of the biggest game-changers in the industry, either. In 2015, the Microbead-Free Waters Act was passed, which means that microbeads are banned as an ingredient in new products produced. The tiny plastic particles were/are a huge problem in the issue of ocean pollution, and they were polluting waters and contaminating the food chain with toxins.

So, what smaller steps can we take to lessen our impact on the environment through beauty products? Essentially, if you can think about preserving the planet as you preserve yourself, we’ll be onto a winner! We’ve laid out a simple guide for you below, so that you can take achievable actions and explore approaching your beauty routine more sustainably.

Look closely at where and how your products are being sourced.

2. Examine the ingredients

Take a deeper look at the ingredients list and make sure you understand and are comfortable with what you are putting on your skin.

3. Think about the social impact

Consider whether the brand works with any social enterprises or supports local communities too.

4. Explore the packaging materials

Look to brands using recyclable or reusable materials in their packaging. Think about how you can recycle your old products.

5. Look at the product testing

Make sure the products aren’t tested on animals!