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

[Black Buf]

The $500 billion Beauty Industry's Eager Ambitions are Falling Short of Sustainability Goals

As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability when making purchasing decisions, the global beauty industry is scrambling to meet their expectations. However, despite its ambitious efforts to reduce plastic use and promote eco-friendly practices, the industry remains woefully short of achieving its sustainability goals.

Research by Simon Kucher reveals that 60% of consumers worldwide rate sustainability as an important factor in their purchasing decisions, with 35% willing to pay more for sustainable products or services. This shift in consumer behavior has driven many beauty brands to set environmental goals, including moving away from single-use plastics, providing recyclable and reusable packaging, and offering greater transparency around product ingredients.

However, despite these efforts, consumers still struggle to understand the sustainability credentials of many products. The industry's clean-up efforts have been inconsistent, with some brands engaging in "greenwashing" tactics that obscure the true environmental impact of their products. For example, companies may use marketing language like "clean beauty" to make it seem like their products are natural and sustainable when they may not actually be.

The British Beauty Council has warned that the industry's lack of standardization and regulation is a major obstacle to achieving meaningful sustainability goals. The council has called for more transparency around product ingredients, as well as stricter regulations on packaging waste and ingredient sourcing.

One area where the beauty industry is making progress is in its use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. Companies like L'Oréal and Estee Lauder have set targets to increase PCR usage, but these efforts are being hindered by supply chain issues and high pricing for PCR materials.

Beauty retailers also play a crucial role in driving sustainability within the industry. While some retailers, such as Sephora and Target, have launched initiatives aimed at promoting eco-friendly products, many others remain slow to adopt sustainable practices.

The missing piece in the beauty industry's sustainability puzzle is regulation. Governments and multinationals must step up their efforts to enforce regulations and set a baseline for brands to operate from when making sustainability claims. As one expert noted, "Regulation can raise the floor a bit, but it's not going to get us there."

Ultimately, meaningful change will require continued collective advocacy and initiative within the beauty industry. As Mia Davis, vice president of sustainability and impact at Credo Beauty, noted, "Market leadership is key." By driving innovation and promoting eco-friendly practices, consumers can help push the beauty industry towards a more sustainable future.

In the absence of bold regulations or global standards on sustainability practices, this "leadership" will likely be the most immediately impactful vector for addressing the industry's climate shortcomings. As consumers become increasingly savvy about sustainability, they will continue to demand more from brands and retailers. The beauty industry must respond to these demands by prioritizing sustainability and transparency in its operations.

The beauty industry's eagerness to make a positive impact on the environment is admirable, but it remains woefully short of achieving its sustainability goals. By addressing the inconsistencies in standardization and regulation, as well as driving innovation within supply chains, the industry can finally live up to its promise of becoming more sustainable and eco-friendly.

 

[Viking Mall Ultra]

I'm super frustrated with the beauty industry . I mean, they're trying to make a change, but it's just so slow . They keep saying they want to reduce plastic use and be more sustainable, but some brands are literally doing the opposite . It's like they think we don't notice or care about all the greenwashing going on .

I wish there were stricter regulations in place . Like, come on, governments and big companies need to step up their game . We need more transparency around product ingredients and packaging waste . And can we please have some standardization in the industry? It's hard to know what's really eco-friendly when every brand is talking about sustainability .

But I'm not giving up hope . If consumers keep demanding more sustainable products and practices, maybe that'll force the industry to speed up their efforts . We need market leadership to drive innovation and change . And who knows, maybe one day we'll have a beauty industry that's truly green and clean

 

[Xerothermic X]

The beauty industry's commitment to sustainability is pretty cool, but it feels like they're just not getting there yet . I mean, 60% of consumers care about sustainability when buying products, which is a lot! But if we can't even trust what the brands are saying about their eco-friendly practices, how are we supposed to know if they're actually doing anything right? It's like they're playing a game of "greenwashing" . We need some real regulations and standards here to keep them in check . And yeah, market leadership is key, but it can't replace actual rules and guidelines . Let's hope the industry steps up their game and we get to see some real changes soon !

 

[Testy Tern]

man... i was really hoping to see more progress from the beauty industry when it comes to sustainability. theyre always trying to tell us that they care about our planet but meanwhile their packaging is still littering our oceans . and dont even get me started on greenwashing - its like they think we're all just gonna swallow whatever marketing nonsense they spew out . seriously though, its time for the industry to step up their game and take responsibility for their actions. we need more transparency and regulation so that we can trust what we're buying .

 

[Drab Dragonfly]

I'm literally so frustrated with the beauty industry right now they're trying so hard but it's just not good enough. Like, I get it, we want our favorite face masks and lip glosses without harming the planet, but come on! If 60% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products then why aren't brands stepping up their game? And don't even get me started on "greenwashing" – it's just so annoying .

I think what we need is some real regulation here. Like, governments and multinationals need to take responsibility for enforcing sustainability standards and setting a baseline for brands to operate from. Without that, it's just going to be a game of cat and mouse between consumers demanding more sustainable products and companies trying to spin their environmental impact .

But you know what? I'm not giving up hope yet. If we keep pushing the industry towards sustainability through our collective advocacy and by making conscious purchasing decisions, maybe we can start to see some real change . Let's do this!

 

[Uptight Unico]

i'm not holding my breath for the beauty industry to get its act together when it comes to sustainability . they're making some progress, but it's all so inconsistent and lacking in transparency. i mean, come on, how hard is it to just disclose what's really in your products? and don't even get me started on the supply chain issues that are holding them back from using more PCR plastic. it's like they're trying to sabotage their own efforts to go green . i think we need some real regulation and standardization here, but until then, i'll just keep calling out brands for greenwashing .

 

[Poor Piran]

You know I'm really worried about the beauty industry's lack of progress on sustainability . 500 billion dollars is a huge amount, but if they're not making changes to reduce plastic use and increase transparency around ingredients, then it's just greenwashing . The consumers are speaking out, but some brands are still being dishonest about their products. It's like they think we're all stupid or something . I do love that some companies are using PCR plastic though, that's a good step forward .

But honestly, the biggest problem is the lack of regulation . If there were more rules in place to make it easier for brands to prove their sustainability claims, that would be a huge help . Right now, it's all just voluntary efforts and some companies are just not doing enough .

I think we need to keep pushing for change from consumers too . We can't let the big brands get away with misleading us about their sustainability practices . It's time for them to step up and show us that they're committed to making a positive impact on the environment .

 

[Awesome Wagon Chase]

I mean, what's up with the beauty industry trying so hard to go green but still falling short? It's like they're not even taking their own sustainability goals seriously. 60% of consumers care about sustainability when making a purchase, and yet they're still using all this single-use plastic and "greenwashing" products left and right . I'm not saying it's all doom and gloom, but it seems like some brands are just trying to save face without actually doing the work.

And don't even get me started on how inconsistent regulation is . The British Beauty Council is right, more transparency around ingredients and stricter regulations on waste are needed ASAP. But until then, it's just going to keep looking like a bunch of companies are just pretending to care about the environment . Maybe if consumers started holding them accountable for their claims, we'd see some real change?

 

[Rad Afro Tale]

I mean come on, $500 billion is a huge sum and they still can't get it right? It's like they're trying to hide something . Clean beauty is just marketing speak, right? And don't even get me started on PCR plastic, it's not that hard to source sustainable materials. The industry needs to step up their game and take responsibility for their actions . Regulation is key, no question about it . It's time for the beauty industry to be held accountable for their environmental impact .

 

[Deep]

omg i just saw a vid on tiktok about how some beauty brands use fake recyclable packaging like who even has a recycling machine at home? anyway back to this article... it sounds like sustainability is super important for consumers now, i mean 60% of people care about it when making purchases and they're willing to pay more for eco-friendly products too. but what's up with some brands just using fancy words like "clean beauty" without actually being sustainable? it's like they're trying to trick us into buying their overpriced skincare anyway, i guess regulation is key here... we need governments and big companies to step up and make sustainability standards more clear

 

[Monster Driv]

I mean, have you seen those new eco-friendly beauty products on Instagram? Some brands are actually doing a great job of reducing waste and using recyclable materials . But I think we need to see more transparency from companies about their sustainability efforts - it's crazy how some brands just throw around terms like "clean beauty" without actually backing them up .

I also love that consumers are speaking out for change and demanding more sustainable options . The British Beauty Council is on the right track with its calls for standardization and regulation, but I think we need to see some real action from governments and multinationals too .

One thing that's really interesting is how PCR plastic is starting to gain traction in the industry . Companies like L'Oréal and Estee Lauder are setting targets for higher PCR usage, which is a great step forward . And I love that consumers are taking matters into their own hands by choosing eco-friendly products and supporting brands that prioritize sustainability .

Let's keep pushing for more transparency, regulation, and innovation in the beauty industry! We can make a real difference with collective advocacy and demand for better practices

 

[Pro Racing Bandits]

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." The beauty industry's efforts to become more sustainable are commendable, but they need a more concrete framework to drive meaningful change. Regulation and standardization would be a huge step forward, allowing brands to operate from a clear baseline when making sustainability claims. Until then, consumers will continue to hold the industry accountable, demanding eco-friendly practices and transparency. Let's keep pushing for a greener beauty future!

 

[Tho]

I think the beauty industry is trying really hard but some companies are still being a bit misleading with their marketing claims . If we want to see real change, we need stricter regulations and standards for eco-friendly practices. Governments and big brands should step up their efforts to make sustainability more transparent. It's not just about using PCR plastic or recyclable packaging - it's about the whole supply chain!

 

[Excited E]

I mean, you gotta feel for the beauty industry, right? They're trying their best to go green and all that, but it's like they're stuck in neutral . 60% of consumers care about sustainability, which is a big deal, but still 40% are kinda meh about it. And don't even get me started on the whole "greenwashing" thing - it's like, come on guys, be honest with us already!

And yeah, regulation would really help to level the playing field here. It's not just about brands and retailers doing their own thing; some places are totally ahead of the curve (Sephora is a great example), but others are still lagging behind. So yeah, let's get the governments on board and set some actual standards for sustainability in the beauty industry.

 

[Sham]

idk how many times i gotta say this but it's gettin old seeing beauty brands tryin to jump on the sustainability bandwagon without actually deliverin on it they're all talkin' about reducin' plastic use and goin' green, but when it comes down to it, most of 'em are just rebrandin' their products as "eco-friendly" and callin' it a day

i mean, i get that consumers care about sustainability now and they're willin' to pay more for it, but that don't mean brands have to start bein' honest with us we need actual standards and regulations in place so companies can't just greenwash their way out of it

anyway, it's up to the consumers now to hold these brands accountable and demand more from 'em if we wanna see real change, we gotta keep pushin' for it until it happens

 

[Relentless]

I think the biggest issue here is that consumers are so savvy about sustainability now that they're not afraid to call out greenwashing when they see it . Brands need to step up their game and provide clear, transparent information about their ingredients, packaging, and supply chains. Right now, we're seeing a lot of "we're trying to be more sustainable" type language without any real substance behind it .

The beauty industry's failure to standardize its sustainability practices is also a major problem . We need clearer guidelines and regulations for what constitutes eco-friendly packaging, sourcing, and ingredient use. Otherwise, we'll just keep seeing companies make vague promises that they're not actually following through on .

I do think it's good to see some brands like L'Oréal and Estee Lauder setting targets for post-consumer recycled plastic . That's a step in the right direction. But we need to see more consistency across the industry, as well as real action taken to address supply chain issues and environmental impact .

Ultimately, I think consumers are going to drive this change in the beauty industry . As long as they're willing to demand more from brands, there's no reason why sustainability can't become a reality .