World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

By Sarah Parsons | Published: 5-Jun-2017

Monday 5 June marks World Environment Day and it has been a busy year for the cosmetics industry. The biggest beauty brands are striving for sustainability, consumers are calling out for cruelty-free products and household names are embroiled in a greenwashing controversy. But here are other eco-beauty stories you have might missed.

Here's a round-up of Cosmetics Businesses' top stories and others you might have missed:

1. Exclusive: The 9 cosmetics companies facing animal testing allegations

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

Benefit, Bliss, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Dior, Caudalie, Gucci fragrances, Clarins and Revlon could be investigated by Trading Standards concerning a potential EU breach of the cosmetics animal testing marketing ban.

Cosmetics Business talks to those in question about their position on the claims.

2. Boots, Rituals, Dr Organic and more respond to new greenwashing accusations

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

Soil Association, a UK organic product certifier, has named and shamed eight cosmetics brands that it believes are culprits of greenwashing.

The companies accused of misleading consumers through labelling on specific products include: Boots, Rituals, Dr Organic, The Organic Pharmacy, Korres, Aloe Pura, Faith In Nature and COOLA.

3. Are these the 5 most 'toxic' ingredients in beauty?

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

Consumers are often aware that certain cosmetics ingredients could be harmful to their health, but they might struggle to name them.

Here the Soil Association reveals the Top 5 cosmetics ingredients it believes pose the biggest risk to human health today.

4. L’Oréal launches new premium natural hair care brand

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

L’Oréal Paris has announced its expansion into the natural hair care category with its new Botanicals Fresh Care range.

Available in four versions - coriander, safflower, geranium and camelina - the brand said products will be silicone, paraben and dye-free.

“To replace the silicones, our designers came up with a coconut and soy-based botanical complex to protect the hair without greasiness or heaviness, offering a gentle, natural and light touch”, said Anne Machet, Deputy CEO International of L’Oréal.

5. Exclusive: An insider's view of eco-office life at L’Oréal

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

L’Oréal, one of the world’s most powerful beauty giants, formally acknowledged its environmental responsibility in 2013 with the launch of its Sharing Beauty With All programme.

The initiative aims to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 60% and ensure 100% of its products will have an environmental or social benefit by 2020.

But just halfway through the programme, CEO Jean-Paul Agon announced that L’Oréal exceeded its target of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions, four years ahead of schedule.

An employee at L’Oréal USA reveals to Cosmetics Business how the green cosmetics giant is pushing ahead with its sustainability efforts from the front line.

6. Green is the new black for cosmetic ingredients suppliers

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

Cosmetic ingredients suppliers are increasingly avoiding the use of harsh solvents, using low energy processes and supporting fair trade.

John Woodruff provides his pick of new materials produced using green principles.

7. The zero waste beauty movement making a global impact

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

Cosmetic brands are under pressure to conform to environmentally friendly demands, but how do they win over the eco-consumers that are shunning plastic altogether?

Looking at social media, it's clear to see that 'eco-consumers' have a healthy appetite for beauty. Instagram is flooded with green beauty recommendations and home-made, chemical-free recipe ideas, while environmentally-friendly brand numbers continue to grow.

8. P&G sustainability expert talks eco-friendly packaging

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

Head & Shoulders’ new shampoo bottle is made entirely from recycled beach plastic. But what will it take to move towards a more sustainable future?

Cosmetics Business talks to Lisa Jennings, Vice President, Head & Shoulders and Global Hair Care Sustainability Leader, Procter & Gamble.

9. Best-practice makes perfect at the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

The 2017 North American Sustainable Cosmetics Summit took place in New York from 3-5 May. What follows are highlights from the first day of the event.

10. CPL Aromas sign sustainable farming agreement

World Environment Day: Cosmetics Business’ top sustainable stories

CPL Aromas announces a formal agreement with plant lipids to source sustainably sourced essential oils from farmers in Sri Lanka.

The agreement is initially for the supply of Black Pepper oil from Sri Lanka but may well extend to other natural products in future.

Pepper is popularly known as the “King of Spices “as it is the most widely traded spice on the international market.

The product supplied by Plant Lipids originates from the Matale, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurungala and Nuwara Eliya regions of Sri Lanka.

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