Why sustainable natural cosmetics are not always sustainable
Natural cosmetics (or sustainable natural cosmetics) sound like a guarantee of environmentally friendly and gentle care to many people. But appearances can be deceiving – the label ‘natural cosmetics’ does not automatically mean sustainable, ethically sound production. In this article, we take a closer look at why natural cosmetics do not always deliver what they promise and what challenges the industry faces.
No legally protected definition
The term natural cosmetics is not regulated by law. While some manufacturers adhere to strict standards, others only require their products to contain predominantly plant-based ingredients. This results in a wide range of products – from very clean to merely green in appearance – all bearing the same natural cosmetics label.
Difference between natural and certified
There are also so-called natural products that do not contain certain synthetic substances but are still not considered genuine, sustainable natural cosmetics. Without credible seals, such products are difficult to distinguish from certified natural cosmetics, which makes it difficult for consumers to understand what they are buying.
Raw material sourcing & biodiversity
Even certified natural cosmetics can endanger biodiversity through unsustainable raw material extraction. If murumuru butter, for example, is not extracted under professional supervision, this can damage rainforest areas. A ‘green label’ alone does not protect against environmental damage.
Packaging & transport
Natural cosmetics are often sold in glass or recyclable plastic – but many brands continue to use conventional packaging, long transport routes or energy-intensive processes. Even regionally produced natural cosmetics are not automatically environmentally friendly.
Problematic ingredients in sustainable natural cosmetics
Typical problems in natural cosmetics are renewable emulsifiers, but also PEG/PPG substitutes or surfactants, which appear more natural but are not yet fully ecologically optimised. Similarly, allergenic plant extracts can be uncontrollable if there is no transparency. Analytical indicators are rarely collected because they tend to be expensive, so manufacturers almost always rely on certified natural products (‘100% argan oil from Morocco’).
Certifications with gaps
Labels such as Cosmos, Natrue and EcoCert promise sustainability, but they often only refer to ingredients and not to social working conditions, fair trade or transparent supply chains. As a result, sustainable natural cosmetics are often sustainable in some areas but not comprehensively. These seal providers do not look at product quality, often delay approval, always ask the same questions – just to be able to charge their fees – and award their seals even to the cheapest cosmetics from retailers. Only documents relating to the raw materials are checked.
At Cosmacon, we see quality differently.
Energy-intensive production
Manufacturing, testing, transport – even natural cosmetics can involve energy-intensive production steps. If raw materials have to travel long distances or production facilities do not use green electricity, many ecological promises are broken.
Greenwashing in the field of sustainable natural cosmetics products
Marketing terms in natural cosmetics are often deliberately used ambiguously: ‘Clean’, ‘green’, “vegan” or ‘natural’ – without binding test seals, the target group can easily develop misconceptions about sustainability and quality.
Harvest-dependent raw materials – the key to sustainable natural cosmetics
For us, this is one of the biggest issues in natural cosmetics, and we need to invest a lot of energy in educating people about it. Many customers ask us about ‘organic’ products, want to support small regional businesses, and sometimes want to use exotic raw materials that are imported themselves.
All of this is possible! But only if the end customers are also informed. Organic oils are untreated, harvest-dependent, cold-pressed oils.
These vary slightly every year in terms of smell, colour and taste! That’s nature!
This is not inferior quality, and the associated variations in quality must be explained transparently to the end customer.
This is the essence of every true natural cosmetics brand! Every production is always slightly different and perceptibly different.
Those who cannot tolerate this and believe that these variations in the quality of natural substances are ‘inferior quality’ should only offer conventional cosmetics.
The major natural cosmetics brands mainly process conventional, refined oils – because the INCI name is always the same. Often, only 1-3 organic raw materials are highlighted in marketing – but this is not 100% natural cosmetics!
Animal ingredients vs. vegan natural cosmetics
Not all natural cosmetics are automatically vegan. Some products still use beeswax, lanolin or keratin. Although the label ‘natural cosmetics’ suggests that everything is plant-based, the opposite may be true. Therefore, always read the label carefully.
We provide our customers with detailed information and as long as no animals have to die specifically for the production of a cosmetic raw material, we consider this to be completely acceptable. Beeswax and honey contain many valuable substances that are beneficial for the skin.
Resource consumption despite organic ingredients
Organic farming saves chemical pesticides, but organic plantations also require water and land – and depending on the growing region, this can lead to ecological problems. Just because a product is considered natural cosmetics does not mean that it was produced in a resource-efficient manner.
Price-performance gap
High-quality, certified natural cosmetics are often more expensive, which deters many consumers. As a result, they turn to cheaper brands that position themselves as green but tend to neglect their ecological footprint – they also carry the natural cosmetics label, but with weaker standards. So take a close look, and if brands promise ‘consistent’ quality, it can’t really be pure natural cosmetics. Nature can only create raw materials under changing climatic conditions, and these are variable.
Natural cosmetics are a cycle. No two sunrises are the same. No leaf stays green forever. And yet, in all this change, there is something reliable: life itself.
Natural cosmetics are like life! Every day (production batch) is slightly different…
Conclusion on sustainable natural cosmetics
Natural cosmetics do not automatically mean sustainability, transparency or fair production.
Consumers should therefore look beyond labels, check backgrounds and specifically seek out strictly certified, holistically sustainable and socially responsible brands. Only then can the genuine green promise behind natural cosmetics really be fulfilled.
👉 Arrange a no-obligation consultation now – together we will examine how your sustainable natural cosmetics can become a reality.
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