Ethical animal testing methods, business practices in the chemical industry and natural ingredients sourcing are just a few of the practices that exist within the cosmetics industry with unsustainable tendencies. Microplastics and chemicals from cosmetics products and their packaging have also been found to have negative impact on both life in water and on land. But the cosmetics industry and unsustainable practices does not have to go hand in hand, something both consumers and companies are realising more and more.  

Conscious consumerism, rising consumer awareness and pressure from policy makers to move away from harmful practices has incentivised cosmetic companies to take ownership of their role in creating a sustainable future. Because of this, it comes as no surprise that the global natural and organic cosmetics market has grown immensely, from a 1$ billion market in mid 1990 to a whopping 9.1$ billion in 2011. 

In this episode of Sustainability Unwrapped, we deep dive into the natural cosmetics industry with Marisun Gajitos, Lecturer at the Centre for Languages and Business Communication at Hanken, Emilie Raittinen, marketing manager at cosmetics company Naviter and Edem Agbekey-Taylor, founder and CEO of Inkuto Organics. The discussion touches upon the natural cosmetics market, what to consider in the production of natural cosmetics (raw materials, packaging, and certification) and how sustainable development is considered in practice at Naviter and Inkuto Organics. 

Tune in for more insights on natural cosmetics and how beauty can be sustainable! 

Explore more at podcast website:  https://blogs.hanken.fi/sustainability-unwrapped/