The $500 billion beauty industry’s ‘green’ ambitions are a patchwork at best. And they’re falling short | CNN

The $500 Billion Beauty Industry's Sustainability Ambitions Are a Patchwork at Best - and They're Falling Short.

As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability, many beauty brands have set ambitious goals to move away from single-use plastics, provide recyclable packaging, and offer transparency around product ingredients. However, the industry's efforts are proving to be more of a patchwork than a cohesive strategy.

A recent study by Simon Kucher found that 60% of consumers worldwide consider sustainability an important purchase criterion, with 35% willing to pay more for sustainable products or services. Yet, many brands struggle to provide clear information about their ingredients and manufacturing processes, leading to confusion among customers.

The issue is compounded by the lack of international standards for beauty packaging and labeling. While some companies claim to use "clean" or "natural" ingredients, others may be using misleading marketing language or unsubstantiated claims. The British Beauty Council's CEO, Millie Kendall, warns that such buzzwords are losing traction as customers become more savvy.

The cosmetics industry is a significant contributor to plastic waste, with 95% of packaging being thrown away and only 9% being recycled globally. However, many brands are trying to phase out single-use plastics and adopt post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. While some companies have made progress in increasing PCR usage, others are still far from achieving their targets.

One major issue is the lack of standardization in supply chains and manufacturing processes. Beauty retailers play a crucial role in setting sustainability standards for brands they sell, but many vary in their approach. Smaller businesses, on the other hand, often move more nimbly to adopt climate-friendly practices.

Certifications like B Corp can provide some guidance, but these are currently voluntary for brands to apply for. Governments and multinationals enforcing regulations and setting a baseline for sustainability claims could make a significant difference. However, market leadership is seen as key to driving change in the industry.

Ultimately, the beauty industry's sustainability ambitions will only succeed with continued collective advocacy and initiative from brands, customers, and policymakers. As consumers increasingly prioritize climate-conscious products, it's essential that companies provide clear information about their ingredients and manufacturing processes, and work towards a more standardized approach to sustainability.

u know what really gets me is when ppl say "clean" or "natural" ingredients but we don't actually no what that means lol. like, what even is clean in the beauty world? it's all about marketing and stuff not actual quality control. we need more transparency and standards so we can trust brands when they say their products are sustainable. also, have u seen those fancy PCR materials they're using now? still not making a big dent in plastic waste overall. gotta keep pushing for change!

Ugh, don't even get me started on this ... I mean, 60% of people think sustainability is important but really, are they just paying lip service or actually caring? Most beauty brands are just slapping together some eco-friendly labels and hoping for the best. And don't even get me started on those 'clean' ingredients – most of that stuff sounds like it's straight out of a chemistry textbook ... Meanwhile, 95% of their packaging is just ending up in the trash. It's not exactly inspiring confidence when they're more concerned with marketing buzzwords than actual substance . And what really gets my goat is how some brands are still using misleading claims and lack of transparency to make a quick buck . I mean, if you can't be bothered to provide clear information about your ingredients and manufacturing processes, why should customers trust you? It's just another example of the beauty industry putting profits over people .

the $500 billion beauty industry is still using way too much plastic and not doing enough to educate customers on what's really going on behind the scenes. certifications like B Corp can be helpful but are mostly just a marketing tool . we need more transparency and accountability from brands. it's also wild that some companies are making big claims about being "natural" or "clean" without actually backing it up with science .

I'm literally so done with the beauty industry's half-baked attempts at going green! It's like they're just slapping on some labels (literally) and calling it a day . The lack of standardization is insane, and I mean, who needs to pay more for products if you can't even trust what you're putting in your body?

And don't even get me started on the certifications - B Corp or not, it's all just a marketing gimmick . What we really need is some real leadership from brands and governments to make sustainable beauty practices a priority .

I swear, if I have to see one more "natural" ingredient claim without a clear explanation, I'm going to lose my mind . Can't they just tell us the truth for once? The industry's efforts are like patchwork quilts - pretty but ultimately incomplete . We need better than that!

I mean, can you believe how far we've come since the early 2000s when eco-friendly was just a buzzword? Now, people are actually willing to pay more for sustainable products ! But, I gotta say, it's kinda sad that some brands are still being super vague about their ingredients and manufacturing processes. Like, back in the day, we used to get actual information from our favorite brands, you know?

And don't even get me started on packaging. I remember when compact mirrors were a thing, and they didn't come with 10 pounds of plastic waste ! Now, it's like everyone's just throwing around terms like "clean" or "natural" without actually meaning anything by it. It's all about setting standards, you know?

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that we've gotta keep pushing for more accountability from the brands and governments. We need some real leadership in this space, not just a bunch of buzzwords !

I'm so frustrated with the lack of progress in the beauty industry when it comes to sustainability . It feels like everyone's just throwing some eco-friendly words on their packaging and calling it a day without actually putting in the effort. I mean, 60% of consumers care about sustainability, but how many brands are really doing the work? I'm tired of seeing companies claim they're using "natural" ingredients when we all know that's just marketing speak . We need more transparency and accountability, like actual regulations and standards for supply chains and manufacturing processes . And can we please get some standardization in PCR materials? 95% of packaging is just getting tossed in the trash...it's crazy!

I gotta say, the beauty industry's approach to sustainability is kinda weak sauce . Like, 60% of people care about this stuff, but how many brands are actually doing the hard work? It's all just PR speak until they're forced to put their money where their mouth is. And don't even get me started on the lack of international standards - it's like they think consumers are stupid . The whole "clean" and "natural" thing is just a marketing gimmick at this point. We need some real leadership in this industry, not just a bunch of companies talking about how green they are . Governments and multinationals need to step up their game too - it's time for some real regulations. Until then, I'll just be over here, calling out the brands that are actually doing something right .

I think the beauty industry is being kinda wishy-washy on its sustainability goals . They're trying to sound good, but not really doing enough to back it up . It's like they're putting out this "eco-friendly" facade and hoping customers won't ask too many questions . Newsflash: we get it, you want to be sustainable too, but it's time to put your money where your mouth is !

The $500 Billion Beauty Industry's Sustainability Ambitions Are a Patchwork at Best - and They're Falling Short

I think the beauty industry is trying to do the right thing, but they need to step up their game . I mean, 60% of consumers care about sustainability, which is awesome! But if brands can't provide clear info on ingredients and manufacturing processes, how are we supposed to trust them? It's like they're using buzzwords like "clean" or "natural" without actually backing it up. And don't even get me started on the lack of international standards for packaging and labeling .

It's time for brands to take responsibility and work together to set sustainability standards . Smaller businesses are already doing a great job, but we need more big players to join in . Governments and multinationals can help too, by setting regulations and enforcing baseline standards .

Ultimately, it's all about transparency and accountability . If brands want to make sustainability claims, they need to back them up with facts and figures . Let's keep pushing for change until we see real progress in the beauty industry

I mean, come on... $500 billion beauty industry? That's like, a whole lotta waste . It's all well and good for brands to say they're going green, but when you scratch beneath the surface (literally), it's like patchwork city - some parts are made of recycled stuff, while others are still single-use plastics . I'm not saying companies aren't trying, but with 95% of packaging ending up in the trash and only 9% being recycled... yikes . And don't even get me started on "clean" or "natural" ingredients - it's like playing marketing roulette . Until we see some real standardization and regulations, I'm just gonna keep choosing brands that are transparent about their processes and ingredients .

I'm low-key disappointed in the state of the beauty industry's sustainability efforts . On one hand, I get that it's hard to standardize supply chains and manufacturing processes - but on the other hand, isn't it our job as consumers to demand better? Like, we know we're buying into a $500 billion industry that contributes 95% of plastic waste globally... shouldn't there be some accountability from brands?

I'm also tired of seeing "clean" or "natural" ingredients being thrown around like magic words . Where's the transparency? How can customers trust that these products are actually sustainable if we don't know what's in them? And let's not forget about the smaller businesses that are already doing more to adopt climate-friendly practices - why can't they be the ones leading the way?

Ultimately, I think it comes down to market leadership and consumer pressure . If we keep demanding better from brands, if we keep supporting companies that prioritize sustainability, maybe we'll start to see some real change in the industry

I mean... come on the beauty industry is just throwing some green paint on its face and calling it a day? A patchwork of sustainability efforts? That's not what I want to see when I'm shopping for skincare or makeup . 60% of consumers care about sustainability, so let's hold brands accountable for their claims, right? It's not just about phasing out single-use plastics and using PCR materials... it's about transparency and standardization. Smaller businesses are already doing this better than the big guys, so what's taking the industry so long to catch up?

i feel like we're just scratching the surface here . 500 billion dollar industry can do so much better than this patchwork approach. what's the point of all these new eco-friendly packaging options if they're not even consistent across brands? and don't even get me started on the certification thing... b corp is not a magic solution, it's just another marketing gimmick . we need more regulation, not less. and what about small businesses that can't compete with big corporations when it comes to sustainability? shouldn't they be prioritized? .

I'm like so frustrated when I see beauty brands trying to greenwash their products without really delivering on their promises. Like, just because they say they're using recyclable packaging doesn't mean it's actually making a difference in reducing plastic waste.

And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency around ingredients and manufacturing processes . It's like, how can we trust that what's being sold to us is actually sustainable if we don't know what's really going into those products?

The industry needs to step up its game and set some real standards for sustainability. I mean, 60% of consumers considering sustainability a top priority is huge , but it's time for brands to put their money where their mouth is.

I think governments and multinationals can play a big role in driving change by setting regulations and enforcing baseline standards . And let's be real, market leadership matters - companies need to lead the way on sustainability or risk getting left behind.

But what really gets me excited is when smaller businesses start innovating and moving quickly towards climate-friendly practices . That's the kind of change I want to see more of in this industry!

I'm tellin' ya, this whole beauty industry sustainability thing is like a patchwork quilt - all different pieces stitched together but don't quite fit together seamlessly . It's like they're just tryin' to slap some eco-friendly labels on their products and call it a day, without really puttin' in the effort to make real changes.

I mean, we know consumers are expectin' more from brands when it comes to sustainability - 60% of people worldwide consider it a big deal when shoppin' for beauty products . And yet, there's still so much confusion out there about what's really goin' into those products and how they're made.

And don't even get me started on the lack of international standards for packaging and labeling - it's like they're just makin' stuff up as they go along . I think what we need is some real leadership in this industry, from brands and governments alike. We need more transparency and accountability, not just a bunch of buzzwords and vague promises.

I'm not sure why we can't just have a simple, standardized approach to sustainability in the beauty industry - it's like they're tryin' to make it as complicated as possible . But hey, I guess that's just politics as usual .