The global beauty industry's environmental ambitions are far from green, with many companies struggling to make a tangible impact on sustainability.
A recent study by strategy firm Simon Kucher found that 60% of consumers consider sustainability an important factor when making purchasing decisions, while 35% are willing to pay more for sustainable products. This shift in consumer preferences has prompted many beauty brands to set environmental goals, such as reducing single-use plastics and using recyclable packaging.
However, consumers still struggle to understand the sustainability credentials of many products due to inconsistent industry-wide efforts and a lack of standardized regulations. The British Beauty Council notes that even natural ingredients can be problematic if not sourced or formulated properly.
The beauty industry's plastic packaging is another significant challenge, with 95% of its waste thrown away and only 9% recycled globally. While some brands are making progress in reducing their use of single-use plastics and adopting post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, the industry still has a long way to go to address this issue.
Governments and multinationals have a crucial role to play in setting regulations and standards for sustainability practices, but so far, many experts believe that market leadership will be key in driving change. Companies like Credo Beauty are taking a proactive approach by advocating for better sustainability policies and supporting regulatory initiatives.
Meanwhile, certifications such as B Corp provide some guidance on sustainable business practices, but their voluntary nature means that not all companies take advantage of them. The industry's reliance on marketing buzzwords, such as "clean beauty," also perpetuates confusion among consumers.
Ultimately, meaningful change will require continued collective advocacy and initiative from both brands and customers in the beauty market. As Susanne Kaufmann, founder of her eponymous beauty brand, notes, even small actions can make a significant difference when combined with industry-wide efforts to address sustainability challenges.
A recent study by strategy firm Simon Kucher found that 60% of consumers consider sustainability an important factor when making purchasing decisions, while 35% are willing to pay more for sustainable products. This shift in consumer preferences has prompted many beauty brands to set environmental goals, such as reducing single-use plastics and using recyclable packaging.
However, consumers still struggle to understand the sustainability credentials of many products due to inconsistent industry-wide efforts and a lack of standardized regulations. The British Beauty Council notes that even natural ingredients can be problematic if not sourced or formulated properly.
The beauty industry's plastic packaging is another significant challenge, with 95% of its waste thrown away and only 9% recycled globally. While some brands are making progress in reducing their use of single-use plastics and adopting post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, the industry still has a long way to go to address this issue.
Governments and multinationals have a crucial role to play in setting regulations and standards for sustainability practices, but so far, many experts believe that market leadership will be key in driving change. Companies like Credo Beauty are taking a proactive approach by advocating for better sustainability policies and supporting regulatory initiatives.
Meanwhile, certifications such as B Corp provide some guidance on sustainable business practices, but their voluntary nature means that not all companies take advantage of them. The industry's reliance on marketing buzzwords, such as "clean beauty," also perpetuates confusion among consumers.
Ultimately, meaningful change will require continued collective advocacy and initiative from both brands and customers in the beauty market. As Susanne Kaufmann, founder of her eponymous beauty brand, notes, even small actions can make a significant difference when combined with industry-wide efforts to address sustainability challenges.
! Like, I get it, 60% of consumers care about sustainability, but that's not enough for me. We need real change, not just greenwashing 
. And don't even get me started on the lack of standard regulations - it's like companies are just winging it and hoping no one notices 
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. We need more of that kind of leadership in this industry! And honestly, I think certifications like B Corp can be helpful, but they're not foolproof - we still need to hold companies accountable 
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. Maybe if more companies prioritize sustainability, we'll see some real change happen 
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. On one hand, it's awesome that 60% of consumers care about sustainability and are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products 
. And don't even get me started on certifications like B Corp - just because something is voluntary doesn't mean it's going to make a difference 
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. I want to see real change, not just marketing fluff. Companies need to step up and take responsibility for their sustainability practices, rather than just paying lip service to it 
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! I mean, 60% of consumers being willing to pay more for eco-friendly products is amazing news! And it's not just companies making a difference - individuals can too by choosing sustainable brands and advocating for change. The problem is, we need more standardization and regulation so everyone's on the same page 
. I love that Credo Beauty is taking initiative by supporting policies and initiatives 
It's quite intriguing that despite the growing demand for eco-friendly products, many beauty companies are still struggling to deliver on their sustainability promises. The lack of standardized regulations and consistent industry-wide efforts is indeed a major obstacle. I think it's high time for governments and multinationals to step up and provide clear guidelines and standards for sustainable practices in the beauty industry. 
Companies like Credo Beauty are taking a proactive approach, but more needs to be done to drive meaningful change. 
. Like, 60% of people care about the environment and want sustainable products, that's pretty cool, but brands are not doing enough. They just slap a label on it and call it "sustainable" without actually making changes 
. some brands r tryin' to do right tho, like Credo Beauty and Susanne Kaufmann 
, but still got a looong way 2 go. single-use plastics r killin' our planet and we need more standardization in regulations 
. It's all just a bunch of marketing fluff until there are actual regulations in place to back it up. I'm not naive, though... I know companies need to make money, but some of these big players can definitely do more to prioritize sustainability over profits 
but now im worried about the packaging lol theyre really doing something right tho 
. 60% of consumers care about sustainability, which is awesome, but we need more concrete steps from brands 
. Some brands are doing great things, like Credo Beauty, but we need more companies to step up and take action 
. The problem is, consumers often get misled by marketing buzzwords like "clean beauty" 
Companies need to do better, like Credo Beauty is doing by advocating for policy changes and supporting regulatory initiatives.
... which, let's be real, can be super confusing for consumers.
I feel like we're all just trying to do the right thing but it's hard to know where to start 
but ends up being a major contributor to harm to our planet 
gotta keep pushing for more accountability from brands and governments 
and supporting those who are taking bold steps towards change 
like come on dont get me started on natural ingredients if theyre not sourced right they can be just as toxic as the regular stuff. and dont even get me started on those PCR plastics its like the beauty industry is just pretending to care about the planet 
, but we need more of these! And yeah, certifications like B Corp can be helpful, but only if everyone plays along 
. We need bigger players in the market to step up and set some real standards, but smaller brands like Susanne's can still make a big impact just by doing their part 
. Companies like Credo Beauty are leading the way 
.