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 Green Ambitions Are a Patchwork at Best, Falling Short

The escalating climate crisis is reshaping consumer behavior, with the global beauty industry grappling with various sustainability challenges. A study by Simon Kucher & Partners found that 60% of consumers worldwide view sustainability as an essential purchase criterion, and 35% are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products.

In response, many beauty brands have set environmental goals, such as moving away from single-use plastics, offering recyclable, reusable, and refillable packaging, and providing greater transparency around product ingredients. However, consumers still struggle to understand the sustainability credentials of many products due to inconsistent industry efforts and a lack of standardization.

One major challenge is ingredient transparency. There is no international standard for how much product information should be shared with customers, leading to confusion and "greenwashing." Companies often use marketing terms like "clean beauty" to make their products appear more natural, even if they don't meet these standards.

The British Beauty Council has criticized the industry's efforts, stating that many brands are still producing products with toxic ingredients despite marketing them as natural. CEO Millie Kendall emphasized the need for better marketing information and certification transparency.

The cosmetics business is a significant contributor to plastic waste, accounting for 67% of its packaging volume. However, recycling rates are low, with only 9% of global plastic waste being recycled globally. Many brands are trying to phase out harmful plastics from their operations but face challenges in sourcing post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic.

Beauty retailers also play a crucial role in setting standards for sustainability practices. While some smaller businesses excel at this, larger companies struggle to make changes due to the complexity of their supply chains and manufacturing processes.

Certifications like B Corp can provide some guidance, but these are currently voluntary. Experts believe that governments and multinationals need to set regulations and establish a baseline for sustainability claims to drive meaningful change in the industry.

Ultimately, leadership from brands and customers will be crucial in addressing the beauty industry's climate shortcomings. With continued advocacy and initiative, consumers and companies can work together to create more sustainable practices and reduce waste.

ugh dont even get me started on this i mean like, $500 billion is a lot of money but its not doing enough i need to see some serious changes from the big brands, you know? like, transparent ingredient labels that actually mean something and stop with the greenwashing already it makes me so frustrated when i cant even trust what im putting on my skin or in my body also, 9% recycling rate is a joke how can we expect to reduce waste if we dont start making some real progress?

I'm seeing a lot of green promises from these beauty brands lately but it feels like they're all just piecing together a patchwork quilt at best . It's frustrating when I see them tout "clean beauty" or eco-friendly packaging, only to find out that the toxic ingredients are still lurking underneath. And don't even get me started on how hard it is to keep track of what's actually in my products - a standard for ingredient transparency would be super helpful .

It's not like I'm expecting perfection, but some consistency and accountability from these brands would make all the difference . We need more than just a Band-Aid solution here - we need a fundamental shift in how they approach sustainability and waste reduction. The beauty industry's got some serious growing up to do !

I think its kinda harsh on big brands . They're tryin' their best, but yeah, there is room for improvement . I mean, 500 billion dollars in green ambitions sounds like a whole lotta change . Its not all about the money tho, some smaller businesses are doin' it right . But, regulation and standardization would be nice . Just think of all the eco-friendly products out there gettin lost in the noise . Maybe if we give 'em a break and support those that are doin' it right, we can create more sustainable practices .

omg this is so true I mean, 60% of people care about sustainability but it feels like not many brands are taking it seriously lol some companies are trying but it's all over the place like they're using eco-friendly packaging but still got toxic ingredients in there and don't even get me started on greenwashing what needs to change is more transparency and regulation, like we need standards for sustainability claims so people can trust that the products are actually good for the planet

I think its wild how much hype is around eco-friendly products but at the same time we got a lot of empty promises . Companies are doing some good things like moving away from single-use plastics, but then they just slap on some eco-friendly labels and call it a day . We need more transparency, like how much ingredient is actually natural and not just 'clean' . And what's with the lack of standardization? It's so hard to know if we're really making a difference or just paying for marketing .

omg I'm like totally disappointed in the beauty industry right now they're trying to go green but it's all so inconsistent I mean, 60% of people care about sustainability in their purchases is crazy! but like, some brands are still using toxic ingredients and pretending it's natural it's not fair to customers who actually care about what they put on their skin.

and don't even get me started on the packaging most beauty companies are just phasing out single-use plastics but not making enough of an effort to make sustainable packaging that's actually eco-friendly we need better transparency and regulation in this industry ASAP

Imo, beauty brands gotta step up their game , it's not just about using recyclable packaging or calling themselves "clean beauty" - they need to be transparent about ingredients too . Consumers are savvy and want to know what's in their fave products, so companies should provide clear info without exaggerating . It's all about building trust & creating real change . Smaller businesses r doing a great job, but big corps need 2 step up the sustainability game

I'm totally on board with the idea that we need to make a change in the beauty industry but, you know, it's also kinda hard to judge everyone for trying to do better than they were before. Like, I get it that some brands are still using toxic ingredients because of regulatory issues or because they can't afford to switch to eco-friendly materials yet .

I think certifications like B Corp are a good start but, honestly, I'm not sure if they're doing enough to hold companies accountable for their claims. And don't even get me started on how confusing it is to navigate all the different labels and terms – "clean beauty" this, and "natural ingredients" that... it's like, what does that even mean?

And can we talk about the impact of social media on consumer behavior for a sec? Like, I know people are really passionate about sustainability, but some influencers are still promoting products that aren't exactly eco-friendly... it's all so complicated .

I was thinking of getting into that eco-friendly skincare routine but it's hard to keep track of what's actually good for the planet. All these brands are using terms like "natural" and "organic" without really explaining how they make their products, right? It's not just about switching from plastic packaging, it's about making sure the ingredients aren't harming us either. The industry needs to step up its game if we're gonna make a difference.

I'm just confused about this whole eco-friendly thing... like, my fave brand uses recyclable packaging but it's still not that easy to recycle at home . And isn't "clean beauty" just a fancy term for making money off of people who care about the environment? I mean, I want to support brands that are actually doing their part, you know? Like, they need some standardization or something so we can trust what we're buying... ugh, this is all just too much for me . Can someone explain how PCR plastic works, btw?

think it's crazy that some "clean" beauty brands are still using toxic ingredients their marketing is straight up misleading, man... like, if you're selling a product as natural but it's still got harsh chemicals in it, what's the point? need better regulation, for real

I'm so down with the idea of brands being more transparent about their ingredients But honestly, it feels like a lot of companies are just slapping a "clean beauty" label on anything and calling it a day . I mean, how hard is it to just list out what's in your products? It's not rocket science! And can we please get some real standards for certifications like B Corp? Just having a voluntary program isn't gonna cut it, you know? We need some real teeth in this industry if we wanna make a difference.

I'm not sure if the industry is moving fast enough to meet our expectations . On one hand, it's great that 60% of people consider sustainability when shopping for beauty products - that tells me there's a real demand for change . But on the other hand, I find it really frustrating that we can't even get standard info on what's in our products . Companies are just throwing around terms like "clean beauty" without any real backing... it's like they're trying to greenwash us . The fact that 9% of global plastic waste is recycled is just insane - I need to see more progress from the big players .

I mean, it's good that the beauty industry is trying to go green and all, but let's be real, it feels like a lot of these efforts are just a bunch of PR fluff . Like, we get it, sustainability is important, but can't they just give us some actual facts instead of using terms like "clean beauty" that mean nothing? And don't even get me started on the ingredient transparency – it's like they're hiding something from us!

And have you seen the state of recycling in this industry? It's like, a total joke . I mean, we know plastics are bad for the environment, but come on, 9% of global plastic waste being recycled is not exactly inspiring.

But at the same time, I think it's awesome that consumers are demanding more sustainability from brands. We need to keep pushing them to be better and hold them accountable for their actions . And let's hope that eventually, governments and multinationals will step in and set some actual regulations, because right now, it feels like we're just winging it .

I guess what I'm saying is, the beauty industry needs to step up its game (pun intended ) and make some real changes. We can't keep pretending that sustainability is just a marketing gimmick .

I think it's kinda weird that big companies are just trying to make a quick buck off "clean" labels without actually changing their formulas . We need some real transparency and regulation in the industry, like, have they even tested those products on humans or animals? And don't even get me started on packaging - 9% recycling rate is just ridiculous . Smaller brands are doing way more to innovate and make a positive impact . Maybe we need some outside pressure from governments and consumers to get the big players to step up their game .

I mean, come on... a $500 billion industry trying to go green? It's like they're just patching up a few holes in the old boat instead of actually changing the ship's course. They need to do better than just using some marketing terms and claiming they're "natural" when it's not even close.

And don't even get me started on the lack of standardization. I mean, what even is a "clean beauty" product? Is it just a fancy way of saying "we're trying a bit harder to be sustainable"? Give me some real transparency and accountability instead of just greenwashing.

It's like they think we'll just accept whatever they throw at us without demanding more. Newsflash: we're not going to take it lying down anymore. We need real change, not just some token efforts from the big brands. Time for them to step up their game

I'm kinda surprised that even with the huge demand for eco-friendly products, there's still so much room for improvement in the beauty industry. Like, 60% of people care about sustainability, but it feels like some brands are just throwing around buzzwords without actually doing anything meaningful. And don't even get me started on greenwashing - who wants to pay more for a product that might not be as "natural" as they think?

I wish the industry would come up with more standardization and transparency, like having clear labeling or something. It's hard enough to make informed decisions when I don't know what's really in my skincare products. And recycling rates are super low - 9% of global plastic waste is being recycled? That's wild .

I think certifications like B Corp can be helpful, but they need to become more mandatory for bigger companies. We need some real leadership from brands and governments to make sustainable practices a priority. Until then, I'll keep on questioning the products I buy

I'm not sure I buy all these green promises yet lol . Like, 500 billion is a lotta $$$, but are they actually putting their money where their mouth is? I mean, we've seen some brands make big claims about eco-friendliness, only to have them later found out to be fake news . And don't even get me started on the 'clean beauty' term... like, what does that even mean? Need more transparency and regulation in my opinion . Can't we just have a standardized way of labeling products so consumers can make informed choices without all the guesswork?