How to make the cosmetics industry more responsible and sustainable

Is cosmetics an eco-responsible industry? By that, understand: do companies that manufacture perfumes, food supplements, transform flowers into natural essences, or create hygiene and beauty products care about the planet in their activities? The answer is yes, with the obvious fact that it is always possible to do better. At the 26th meeting of Cosmed members in Paca, we saw a real desire to improve. Jean-Louis Matout, director of Aromax in Sophia Antipolis, is the leader of these meetings. He was delighted with the turnout: "Around fifty companies in the cosmetics industry are here to brainstorm on the crucial issues relating to corporate social responsibility: water, biodiversity, the circular economy, and energy." These four themes gave rise to as many workshops where best practices were exchanged, those easy to implement, and those more difficult but oh so impactful. Arkopharma, Carbonwave, Exsymol, Inessens Fragonard, Naos, Nordmann, Sofia Cosmetics, The Good Habits, and Virbac have all offered some great ideas. Here's a quick overview.

Water

Optimize shower gel formulations to use less water when rinsing (or turn off the hot water when our teenagers are showering). Properly recycle wash water...

Circular economy

Researching alternative materials to plastic, working in short supply chains, thinking about ecology from the product design stage, grouping purchases with neighboring companies, recycling waste (like Fragonard who recycles his perfume pads into reams of paper, for example)...

Biodiversity

Collaborate with research to understand the impact of certain ingredients on biodiversity, particularly marine biodiversity, right from the manufacturing stage. Raise awareness among consumers and the government, and work on vertical farms for some...

Energy

Installing LEDs, limiting heating in certain areas, using solar energy as much as possible, optimizing staff schedules, thinking about renovating industrial facilities to make them less energy-intensive... Enriching discussions for this very virtuous meeting to be found on cosmed.fr