Sustainability

The term sustainability is on everyone’s lips these days. However, very few people can explain what it actually means. Hans Carl von Carlowitz, Chief Mining Administrator in Freiberg, who lived from 1645 to 1714, is considered a pioneer of sustainability. He initially applied the principle of sustainability to forestry. He only harvested as much timber from a forest as the forest could regenerate naturally on its own within a foreseeable period of time. Von Carlowitz wanted to ensure that an ecosystem’s natural characteristics were preserved permanently and in the long term. And that is exactly what sustainability is all about. The rate at which renewable resources are depleted must never exceed the rate at which they can be regenerated. At the same time, the level of emissions must never exceed the assimilation capacity.

Sustainable cosmetics: good for people, good for the environment

Sustainable cosmetics are therefore synonymous with resource-efficient production and processing. Renewable raw materials are particularly important here: in the context of sustainability, it is now possible to optimise products to such an extent that they achieve a positive ecological balance and are completely free of harmful substances. In addition, responsible and sustainable cosmetics are also characterised by significantly lower water and energy consumption throughout the entire manufacturing and production process. Sustainable cosmetics generally do not contain any artificial ingredients or additives. True to the motto ‘less is often more’, manufacturers focus on natural or nature-identical raw materials that are not only beneficial to our health but also protect our environment through ecological and organic cultivation. Consumers can naturally recognise sustainable cosmetics by the ingredients that must be declared on the packaging. However, the various nature seals and certificates awarded to products that have been positively assessed in terms of sustainability are also important indicators. We should all strive for greater sustainability and, of course, sustainable cosmetics. We owe this not only to our environment and our health, but also to future generations.

What sustainable approaches are there in cosmetics?

There are a number of approaches in cosmetics that promote sustainability. These include:

· the use of renewable raw materials

· Low-energy production (e.g. cold/cold, cold/warm manufacturing, one-pot batch)

· Enzymatic production of raw materials

· Use of raw materials from by-products or waste products (e.g. barley malt, tomato seeds, terpenes from orange peel)

· ‘Free from’ cosmetics

· Use of seals (NaTrue, BDIH Cosmos, DAAB-Allergiker, www.cosmeticanalyse.com)

· Self-preserving packaging (= formula without preservatives)

· Reusable packaging, refill packaging, compostable packaging

· Reduced concepts (minimalist formulations, dry shampoos)

Every concept embodies the idea of sustainable cosmetics that ultimately conserve resources. The level of sustainability you aim for depends on your own product and brand philosophy.

You can also have your own approach to sustainability developed. For such questions, we work together with the cosmetics developers at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences under the direction of Prof. Dr. Andrea Wanninger. As part of a bachelor’s and/or master’s thesis, we can develop a sustainability approach tailored to your cosmetics brand.

Green cosmetics = sustainable cosmetics

Fortunately, sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in cosmetics. With the help of Mother Nature and resource-saving, responsible manufacturing, it is now easy to develop preparations and sustainable cosmetics that are just as efficient, effective and powerful as pure industrial or synthetic products. Natural care always leads to natural and healthy beauty: we should value this!

At Cosmacon, we develop innovative, sustainable cosmetics. Just give us a call.

And if you want to get started right away with finished products, you can fall back on the white label solutions from our partner Tojo Cosmetics GmbH, which are already developed and ready to use.