How Is Consumer Buying Behavior Impacting Sustainability In The Beauty Industry?

Did you know that the most significant development in the industry is consumer preference for natural, herbal, and organic products? Consumers are becoming more and more informed about sustainability and ethical buying is becoming part of their purchase decision making. Studies have found that consumers are pushing change in this area, with their focus being on embracing sustainable products and greener packaging. About 80% of consumers say sustainability is important to them, while 60% say they are willing to change their shopping habits to reduce the environmental impact.

Consequently, the beauty and cosmetics industry players are working to satisfy consumer demand for sustainability by employing the following strategies.

Eliminating toxic ingredients

The FDA’s cosmetic labeling guide requires companies to provide ingredient lists, including those on the list of restricted and prohibited ingredients in cosmetics. Despite this requirement, many cosmetics may still contain toxic contaminants and ingredients, such as formaldehyde variants, hormone-disrupting chemicals, and substances that can harm the reproductive system.

However, this is changing due to the demands for sustainability. Companies have adapted and changed the composition of their cosmetic products to only include safer ingredients and remove or swap out artificial preservatives, thickeners, emulsifiers, or color pigments.

Some jurisdictions are establishing laws to outlaw toxic ingredients.

While many businesses are working to meet consumer demand for safe and eco-friendly products, and some laws are improving public and environmental safeguards from toxic ingredients, the onus of choosing safe products ultimately rests with the consumer. By sharing expert knowledge, refuting pseudoscience, and highlighting safety precautions, the rise of beauty science influencer marketing is changing the industry. Students can learn more about toxic ingredients, their negative effects, ways of mitigating them, and methods of supporting the development of safe products. They can do this by applying for admission to a makeup course as well as through coursework and diploma programs.

Recycled packaging

Plastic packaging and product containers used in the beauty industry produce a large amount of waste. Plastic waste can be found in the form of product packaging, including color and shadow palettes, containers and bottles for lotions, shampoos, serums, and conditioners, as well as tubes for cosmetics like lip gloss, mascara, and liquid eyeliners. For beauticians, estheticians, cosmetologists, and those in the makeup profession, waste may also be due to single-use application products, including those distributed as samples or promotions from companies.

Companies in the beauty industry are using biodegradable products and plastic-free packaging as some of their strategies to curb their environmental impact. Alternatively, businesses can provide return-and-refill options or guarantee that any plastics used in packaging are recyclable. Glass or metal cases that can be shipped back to the manufacturer and refilled with the same product or, in some cases, a new color scheme are examples of return-and-refill options.

Policy updates

Many businesses, from large corporations to small businesses in the beauty industry are updating and enhancing their business models to include sustainability. Incorporating sustainability initiatives into the leadership model and mission statement of the business as well as holding both external and internal stakeholders accountable for change are all components of adopting an environmentally friendly and sustainable orientation in business. These changes could be brought about by observing the evolving consumer protection adaptive responses being made in relation to toxic ingredients and taking into account the effects of other ingredients like microbeads for exfoliation.

Such regulations encourage businesses to look for environmentally friendly solutions, but it is up to the businesses to find fair solutions that achieve the same goal with less impact.

Using eco-friendly manufacturing techniques

In the beauty industry, sustainable ingredients and eco-friendly packaging are more popular than ever, but it’s also critical to take into account sustainable manufacturing and product development practices. Reducing synthetic ingredients, sourcing medicinal plants ethically, buying natural products, utilizing renewable energy for manufacturing, and redesigning products to contain less water in their formulations are all examples of practices relating to the sustainable development of cosmetic products.

Increasing supply chain management efficiency

Supply chain innovation and sustainability in the cosmetics industry take into account the management of a product’s lifecycle from conception to disposal. This entails taking a closer look at the direct and indirect supply chain participants in a cooperative manner to look for solutions to any issues that may be discovered, which may include:

• Developing and designing a product with sustainable and holistic ingredients while taking into account the product’s shelf life
• Producing a cosmetic product using sustainable methods and materials, such as clean, renewable energy
• Packaging and distribution procedures that use RFID technology and recyclable or biodegradable packaging.
• Reusing and recycling waste produced by the product, such as refilling bottles or creating containers from recyclable or biodegradable materials

Additional effort

To help reduce waste and balance manufacturing processes, cosmetic brands and retailers have created environmentally conscious programs.

As an example, the Detox Market started its “Sustainability Starts Now” initiative. The program was inspired by the rising global temperature due to human activity. Offering eco-friendly products, increasing tree planting, and recycling old beauty products are all part of its “Earth CPR” strategy. To become carbon negative, the target is to plant at least 2.5 million trees by 2025. In contrast, the recycling program, which is run in cooperation with TerraCycle, enables any consumer to drop off used or expired products with the assurance that they will be properly recycled.

Final Words

As you have seen, consumers are affecting sustainability due to their demand for sustainable products, processes, and packaging. Cosmetic companies are responding to these demands to ensure they remain competitive.

Packaging is one of the areas of focus for any successful beauty business. At GPA Global, we help businesses access and utilize sustainable packaging options in their bid to keep up with the stiff competition in the industry. Talk to us today to learn how we can help you become more sustainable in your packaging.