01.03.2019

2019, AN ECO-AWARE YEAR FOR THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY

Health risks, increased poverty, endangered species and sites... There are many examples of the effects of global warming. Modern consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their consumption, and are looking for ways to reduce their waste and consumption in all areas of their daily lives. Consumers are also becoming increasingly expectant of brands to show the same level of commitment towards eco-responsibility, and the demands are rising all the time.

Zero-waste trend

According to Mintel, the zero-waste philosophy in 2019 is of great relevance in the global markets, especially in the beauty industry. In the study titled "Sub-Zero Waste" (1), Mintel anticipates the zero-waste trend will be the trend that marks 2019. Cosmetics brands must progressively adapt their vision of zero waste and extend it to all aspects of the supply chain. Today’s consumers pay very close attention to the effects of their actions on the environment, and expect brands to take responsibility for their waste.

Young markets often have a leadership role with respect to innovation and waste management: this could be in the form of offering reusable products, concentrating on solid forms, or upcycling ingredients from the wastes of other industries. Indie brands, especially, have the upper hand when it comes to sustainable beauty products as they have geared their business practices to ethics and environmental friendliness.

[Translate to English:] tendence zéro-déchet

The cosmetics giants are also showing initiative. UNILEVER and L'ORÉAL, for example, have both committed to using only 100% recyclable, reusable and compostable plastic by 2025. PROCTER & GAMBLE has pledged to use 25% recycled plastic in 500 million hair care product packages this year, and AVON has already achieved 95% of its goal of not disposing of waste on dumpsites.

Rising trend towards local raw materials

Questions and concerns regarding the safety of ingredients and their possible impact on the environment are leading consumers to ask brands about the composition of their products as well as companies’ overall approaches to environmental awareness. Saying more about a product’s composition, origin of ingredients and manufacturing processes is therefore a profitable brand communication strategy.

Conscious of the CO₂ footprint and the economic impact of their purchasing decisions, European consumers tend to prefer local ingredients and are willing to pay more for them.

Sustainable cosmetic ingredients

Apart from the origin, European consumers also pay attention to the sustainability of the ingredients in their skin care products. They also fear that the ingredients used in natural products may not be sustainable.