Sustainable Cosmetics Summit Series Continues in May

UNITED KINGDOM: Some of the pressing sustainability issues facing the cosmetics industry were debated at the Asia-Pacific and European editions of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, according to London-based show manager Organic Monitor. These international events were held Paris in October and Hong Kong in November last year. 


At the Paris venue, Organic Monitor presented the winners of the 2016 Sustainable Beauty Awards  in Green Formulations  category, Weleda was the winner with its Evening Primrose Body and Face Care range. The Natrue-certified range is designed for mature skin, having anti-aging qualities. The Australian company Synthesis Organics is runner-up with its premium range of organic skin care products. The products are made from locally grown certified organic ingredients. Other finalists were Esse Probiotic Skincare and Urtekram with its coconut range. 


In Sustainable Packaging, Brazilian cosmetics company Boticario Group took home top the prize for shifting over 70% of its Cuide-Se Bem range to green polyethylene packaging. The move is saving more than 90 tons of plastics, avoiding more than 3,000 tons of carbon emissions per year, according to Organic Monitor. 


Speick Naturkosmetik is the runner-up. The German brand has started using bio-plastic packaging for its Speick 3.0 Organic shower gels. Finalists in this category were Humble Products and Pierre Cattier. 


In the Sustainable Ingredient category, the L’Oréal Group won with Quinoa Husk. The cosmetics multinational has partnered with Bolivian growers for the sustainable sourcing of quinoa husk, which is used as an exfoliating ingredient in skin care products.  Tri-K Industries with Baobab Tein NPNF is runner-up. Derived from African trees, the multifunctional active material is used in skin care and hair care applications. Other finalists in this category were Croda International with Majestem and IBR Ltd with IBR-CalmDeAge 1201, 


In the Sustainability Pioneer category, the Philippine company Human Nature (Gandang Kalikasan) is the winner for social entrepreneurship. The firm creates natural cosmetics from locally sourced ingredients, creating employment for impoverished communities.  Weleda was runner-up; Éminence Organic Skin Care and Givaudan were finalists. 


In Sustainability Leadership, Weleda won for its range of sustainability initiatives, ranging from ethical sourcing of ingredients, green formulations, packaging initiatives to social responsibility. Croda International was the runner-up for its sustainability actions. The speciality chemicals company has invested considerably in the sustainability and renewability of its raw materials. Other finalists were Boticario Group and Esse Skincare. 


The discussions about sustainable cosmetics will continue in the next editions of this series, the first of which will be held in New York City on May 4 and 5.

More info: sustainablecosmeticssummit.com