Maintaining sustainability in the beauty industry is tricky.
Many of the products people use such as makeup, mascara, shampoos and skin care products are harmful to the environment to produce and dispose of.
Many companies are exploring natural ingredients, recyclable packaging, and making sure that the places they source materials from are also using sustainable manufacturing methods.
Take a look at some starting tips from business owners in the beauty industry on how to start thinking about and maintaining that sustainability.
It’s important that all companies in the beauty industry embrace the sustainable and eco-friendly movement. One of the ways to start making an impact is by using recyclable packing and shipping materials.
This is one of the biggest industrial influences businesses have so make sure you are using sustainable packaging!
Sheila Chaiban, CEO One Ocean Beauty
Stick to natural ingredients and make sure you are transparent with what you put in your products.
These are products people will be using on their bodies and we are accountable for how they will affect our customers.
Tirzah Shirai, CEO BlinkBar
The more chemicals your company uses to manufacture its products, the more likely it is that you are creating products that do more harm than good.
Both for the consumer and the environment. It’s a more difficult path to stick to natural ingredients, but it will ultimately benefit your company and our planet to commit to the more difficult option.
David Lortscher, CEO Curology
Do ample research into the ingredients you use. Organic and clean ingredients may have attractive labels, but there is a risk for lack of transparency as these materials are often unregulated.
These labels are even more confusing for customers so make sure you do as much research on your end as possible before including an ingredient in your products.
Jason Wong, CEO Doe Lashes
Becoming sustainable in the beauty industry is a process. With so little regulation and such strict guidelines, many brands are trying but struggling to become as sustainable as they would like.
Brands can look at things like cruelty-free, organic and fair trade labels as a place to start finding ingredients that suit an eco-friendly brand awareness.
Nancy Belcher, CEO Winona
One sustainable trend in the beauty industry is using organic ingredients to make your products. It isn’t healthy to use toxic ingredients to clean your face and it isn’t good for the environment either.
That is why we have seen such a dramatic change in the way companies are formulating their products. The organic market has grown 20% in the last few years and is on pace to continue to grow.
Jeremy Gardner, CEO MadeMan
The challenge with sustainable beauty products is that most cosmetic products don’t require FDA approval before entering the marketplace. This is why we’ve seen so many toxic ingredients circulating over the years.
Consumers have gotten around this by relying on their own networks, so consider having a blog on your website that explores more sustainable options and new discoveries in the industry.
Courtney Buhler, CEO & Founder LashPRO Academy
The hair care industry is full of products that are not only bad for the environment, but also bad for your hair. Parabens, sulfates (which are also found in car wash soaps and engine degreasers), and chemical fragrances all contribute to pollution in the discarding process, but also hair loss.
These ingredients can cause hormone imbalances that lead to disruptions in the hair growth cycle, which ultimately lead to hair loss. It pays to invest in sustainable beauty products that are good for the environment and your hair.
How companies deal with manufacturing waste is a huge issue in the beauty industry. Not only are many products harmful to the environment, companies that dump waste in questionable ways are doubling their impact.
Andrew Dudum, CEO Hims
In some cases, the ingredients you use may have been synthesized using toxic ingredients. Make sure you know where you are buying all of your materials from, and what their process is in creating it.
It limits our options overall, but it’s our responsibility in the beauty industry to research our partnerships to support companies with an eco-forward attitude.
Maegan Griffin, Founder + CEO and Nurse Practitioner Skin Pharm
Start by reading and understanding the list of ingredients banned by the FDA. Without knowing the laws, you could easily end up providing something to your customers that is harmful. Understanding the regulations that do exist will help you become a more sustainable business.
David A. DiLorenzo, President Valentino Beauty
Recyclable packaging is a must for shipping, but it’s also important to make sure the product itself comes in a recyclable container.
Microplastics are extremely harmful to the environment so make sure you avoid small plastic packaging whenever possible. This is a major way that beauty companies can help decrease their impact on the environment.
Aidan Cole, CEO TatBrow
Over the course of the past decade, sustainability in the beauty industry has become a hot topic. Using recycled packaging and banning toxic ingredients are two ways that the beauty industry is combating waste and protecting customers. More still needs to be done, however.
By embracing eco-friendly manufacturing, beauty companies can minimize their impact on the environment.Andrew Bernstein, CEO + Co-Founder Kinder Beauty