From the moment that a winning formula is created for a cosmetics product, its impact on sustainability can be traced.
From the raw materials used to create the ingredients, the processes used in manufacturing to the transportation, packaging and marketing used to attract consumers, sustainability has become an integral part of all cosmetics products entering the beauty industry.
As consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious than ever before, many leading and up and coming new cosmetics brands are seeing the value in sustainability with a strong market trend to formulate more sustainable products.
There have been several factors that have influenced this interest in sustainability, including climate change, waste, pollution and even social issues that can be caused by using overseas manufacturing and research and development labs, so it is imperative that any cosmetics brand pays close attention to the sustainability of their product at every stage.
Consumer demand driving sustainability
Another critical factor affecting the growing desire for greater sustainability is the trend towards green or organic products.
Typically seen as promoting health and wellbeing, cosmetics that include vitamins, plant-based ingredients and fewer chemicals are seen as wholesome and planet-friendly, so it stands to reason that they should also be as sustainable as they possibly can be.
In fact, according to a recent study performed by Unilever revealed that one-third of the consumers are now buying from brands based on their social and environmental impact, so it's not only the environment that stands to benefit from making products more sustainable.
Sustainability rules and regulations
The pressure for the cosmetics industry to move towards sustainability in all areas of manufacturing and production is immense and all brands need to be aware of the regulations that govern their use of certain terms related to sustainability.
From raw materials, fair trade, ethical sourcing and organic formulation labels to be used while staying on the right side of the law, cosmetics brands need to ensure that they work with contract manufacturers who have a complete and working knowledge of the rules and regulations surrounding these topics to guarantee that they meet strict criteria.
Failure to do so can result in thousands of units being pulled from retailer shelves and a blemish left on the reputation of a brand, so be sure that any contract manufacturer you choose to work with not only offers ways for your product to be as sustainable as possible, but also meets the rules and regulations of international markets to avoid costly problems post-production.