The Beauty Industry’s ‘Green’ Ambitions: A Disjointed Effort with Limited Success

Our awesome company provides complete software development activities utilizing nearshore and offshore resources. We specialize in mobile app development, technology maintenance, web server development, and other technology development activities. With the escalating climate crisis, sustainability is becoming an important criterion for consumers in the global beauty industry. According to Simon Kucher’s Global Sustainability Study 2021, 60% of consumers consider sustainability when making a purchase, and 35% are willing to pay more for sustainable products or services.

Many beauty brands have set environmental goals to address sustainability challenges across product manufacturing, packaging, and disposal. However, consumers still struggle to understand the sustainability credentials of products due to inconsistent clean-up efforts and a lack of collective goal-setting, global strategy, and standardized regulations in the industry.

To address this, transparency is key. Brands need to provide better marketing and certification information to help customers make informed decisions. The industry also needs to address the sustainability challenges associated with plastic packaging, which accounts for a significant portion of the industry’s waste. Currently, only a small percentage of global plastic waste is recycled.

Brands must phase out harmful plastics and adopt post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. However, the limited supply and growing demand for PCR plastic make it expensive and hard to source. Collaboration among brands and retailers is crucial to driving change, but smaller businesses are often more agile in implementing sustainable practices compared to larger brands.

Certifications like B Corporation can help fill the gaps in standardization and provide guidance to eco-conscious consumers. However, governments and multinationals need to enforce regulations and set a baseline for sustainability claims in the industry.

While government regulations can raise the minimum requirements, market leadership and consumer demand will be the driving force for real change. As an industry, we need to continue advocating for sustainability and taking initiative to address climate-related challenges. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the climate and create a more sustainable future for the beauty industry.