As with other areas of our lives, we are increasingly concerned about the impact of our consumption on the environment and this includes cosmetic products. Because we are increasingly aware that it is in our hands to make the world a better place, and that includes the use of ethical beauty products. But what does an ethical cosmetic mean? It means respect for the environment, responsible consumption of resources, sustainable development, as well as respect for animals and biodiversity.
More and more brands are added to ethical practices in their production processes while making it an added value of their cosmetics such as private label hair product or skin products. Thus, labels such as "cruelty-free" have positioned themselves in the sector as a quality sought and valued by consumers of beauty products.
How to find ethical beauty products
Sustainable cosmetic brands are those that use materials and ingredients in a respectful manner so that these do not enhance the depletion of available natural resources. This means restoring part of the resources consumed during the cosmetic production process. For example, those who consume wood can repair the damage by planting trees to balance the ecosystem. Other resources that the cosmetic industry uses are essential oils, fossil fuels or water.
Sustainability also implies special care regarding the workforce and the location of production. Brands such as Lush and L'Occitane favor the training and development of less prosperous areas of the planet, boosting employment among the most disadvantaged sectors, such as women or indigenous peoples. In this sense, fair trade labels have become popular for promoting voluntary and fair trade relations with producers.
In turn, ethical beauty brands are characterized by an effort aimed at the design of greener packaging and generate less waste. This is the case of the So Eco brush brand, which uses biodegradable packaging, from sustainable materials.
In general, it will be easy for you to identify cosmetic brands that sell ethical beauty products because they are qualities that usually stand out in their labeling and in their advertising campaigns. The Lush brand, for example, periodically publishes articles on its website about its ethical practices, from the fight against animal testing to the sustainable purchase of raw materials, through their popular commitment to commercializing cosmetics without packaging.
The firm Kiehl's also proudly advertises its good practices regarding the use of ingredients from fair trade, recycled labels, and jars, as well as its various solidarity campaigns throughout the planet.
But in addition, there is a good number of official certificates that guarantee the ethical practices of brands in different fields. Some stand out as:
Cruelty-Free: The most popular seal that means that you are facing a product not tested on animals, a practice that, by the way, in Europe is prohibited. You will find different versions, all of them starring a rabbit.
Ecocert: This is a famous French certification that guarantees that raw materials come from renewable sources and are processed in an environmentally friendly way. It also indicates that the products are free of genetically modified organisms and animal products that are not produced naturally by them. It also certifies that the packaging is biodegradable or recyclable.
Cosmebio: These label products with a high content of ingredients of ecological origin and without ingredients or preservatives whose use is considered harmful to nature. In addition, this French seal controls that manufacturing processes do not incorporate contaminants into final products.
ICEA: This Italian institute ensures the sustainable origin of cosmetics, ensuring that they respect the environment, that they are made with biodegradable substances and that they generate the least impact in terms of waste and energy expenditure. It also has a "bio" seal that guarantees the use of ingredients from organic farming or wild collection, in products and packaging that do not contain components that are disrespectful to the environment.
Nature: Of Belgian origin, certifies products that have not been tested on animals, and that are committed to organic farming and respect for biodiversity.
BDIH: German seal that certifies that the products have not been tested on animals, and supports the care of the environment in relation to raw materials, packaging, and production, as well as fair trade practices.