Sustainable Cosmetics Summit Is a Success

It’s not even to be green…you have to prove it! Speakers at the fourth edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, which took place in New York City on May 12-14, urged the industry to provide more authenticity and efficacy. The summit brought together over 180 executives from various sections of the beauty industry to discuss critical issues relating to natural and organic cosmetics and sustainability.

Organized by Organic Monitor, the summit covered a diverse range of sustainability topics including environmental impacts, social footprints, sustainable supply chains, ethical marketing and distribution, natural and organic cosmetic standards and green formulations.

Various speakers and delegates called for greater authenticity from brand owners, in response to the high level of consumer confusion about natural claims and green marketing. Although many brand owners have taken the certification route to authenticate their products, the major agreement was that certification should be no substitute for product efficacy. A number of summit participants stated the challenges of adopting natural and organic standards, with product performance sometimes sacrificed for certification logos and symbols.