Sustainability in the cosmetics industry

We now live in an era where the energy crisis, climate change, and environmental pollution are a given. The majority of the industry has pledged to contribute as much as possible and has committed to changes that will stop this crisis from spiralling further out of control. In this context, the beauty and cosmetics industry needs to find solutions with a substantial impact, and not treat these serious issues as just another marketing gimmick.

The key to this is to change the packaging. The vast majority of packages have plastic as the main material. This results in waste that remains unused and is harmful to flora and fauna. For this reason, many established groups of companies as well as new players have started to replace the packaging with glass or aluminium. The return of empty packaging, which significantly reduces the amount of waste, is also becoming popular. This movement does not only target large companies, but also more exclusive brands. Bar soaps, shampoos, and tubes of toothpaste, are already frequently placed on the market without packaging, and now, there are also several cases of new cosmetic products being launched in the same way. The next milestone for companies, and certainly a challenge, is to reduce the waste generated during the use of cosmetics or the resources required. For example, reducing the large consumption of water to wash away shampoo, or the control of waste generated by cosmetics that ends up in groundwater. (Learn more at: https://www.eyath.gr/a-day-for-groundwater/?lang=en). The case of glitter use is of particular importance, as it is poisonous to fauna and is non-degradable.

Finally, the use of by-products from other industries and their transformation into useful products that can be used in other sectors is an emerging trend that is quickly gaining momentum. The shift to a circular economy has already begun, and is the future of the economy.