The cosmetics industry has a significant and often underestimated climate footprint.
The sector emits an estimated 50 million tonnes of CO2 annually – comparable to the emissions of Belgium alone – largely driven by its reliance on fossil carbon-based ingredients, which are used in around 87% of formulations.
When climate change is discussed, attention typically focuses on energy, transport and heavy industry.
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Beauty products rarely enter the conversation.
Yet every moisturiser, shampoo, lipstick and serum forms part of a vast global manufacturing system that relies heavily on fossil-derived feedstocks, resource-intensive supply chains and single-use packaging.
As consumer expectations evolve and sustainability becomes a commercial imperative rather than a marketing differentiator, the beauty industry faces a critical question: how can it continue to deliver performance, innovation and growth while dramatically reducing its environmental impact?
Increasingly, the answer lies in biology.
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