SPECIALITY INGREDIENTS
Formulating sustainable products More cosmetics manufacturers are formulating natural and eco-friendly products as public interest in sustainability increases. Ramya Sriram, digital content manager of Kolabtree, a freelance platform for scientists, discusses trends and developments in sustainable cosmetics.
C
onsumers aren’t just interested
and refining their
chemist can help you find the perfect
in the product; they’re also
formulations all the
substitute for microbeads.
interested in the process.
time. Lush is pioneering
The cosmetics industry is not
zero packaging by making
Vegan beauty
known for being eco-friendly, with its use of
its products in solid form and
The number of people living plant-based
excessive, non-recyclable packaging to a
in January 2019 the brand
lifestyles is higher than ever. Consumers are
perceived lack of transparency over ethical
opened Britain’s first packaging-free
also investing more in cruelty-free beauty
practices. However, beauty is waking up to
cosmetics shop.
and skin care products, made with plant-
consumer demand and the natural and
Many companies are also participating
derivatives and that don’t include animal
organic beauty market is estimated to reach
in the #waterlessbeauty campaign. Water
products. This is one of the latest trends in
US$54 billion by 2027.
is the cosmetics industry’s most used raw
natural cosmetics and these ingredients are
material. However, concerns of demand for
found in products ranging from moisturisers
reformulating products for cosmetics
water outstripping supply are becoming a
and cleansers to soaps and fragrances.
businesses by including more natural and
harsh reality. L'Oréal has committed to a 60
environmentally friendly emulsifiers and
percent reduction in water consumption
you can also ensue your products are
ingredients. If you do this too, your brand
per product by 2020, while Unilever is
vegan-friendly. This can be done by
will be able to meet the growing salience
committing to halving the water associated
suggesting substitute ingredients not
of sustainability. But, before you jump into
with the use of its products, also by 2020.
derived from animals. If you are planning
Development chemists are now
developing your eco-friendly cosmetics, there are a few trends worth watching.
With the help of a formulation chemist,
on entering the world of natural beauty,
Beyond microbeads
creating vegan-friendly products is a step in
Since the EU and UK ban on
the right direction. •
Sustainable cosmetics
microplastics in cosmetics came into
At the heart of the natural cosmetics
effect, natural beauty has been leading
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
movement is the value of sustainability.
the way in offering natural, sustainable
Ramya Sriram has more than
Beauty brands and manufacturers now
alternatives to microbeads in skin
10 years’ experience spanning
care and scrubs. Companies are now
content marketing, writing
producing products using oats, salt,
and editing. She is currently
dairy and even coffee as substitutes to
digital content manager at
ensure regulatory compliance.
Kolabtree, a start-up based in London,
realise it’s no longer a fad and that consumers expect transparency over their sustainability programmes before choosing whether or not to buy. Companies appear to be
One purpose of microbeads is to exfoliate the skin. However, it’s possible
united on reducing the impact
to get this effect without using plastic.
of plastic pollution, changing
If you are producing cosmetics or skin
their packaging strategies
care products, a freelance formulation
UK, which helps businesses hire freelance scientists.
Kolabtree – www.kolabtree.com
P C Review | JANUARY 2020 |
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