CLEAN MEANS SUSTAINABLE?
Sustainability (which can refer to a company’s social or environmental responsibilities) doesn’t necessarily go hand in hand with clean beauty, but for most brands a clean conscience on a bigger scale is the next logical step. It’s starting to happen: from Ren’s commitment to cleaning the oceans of plastic to luxury perfumers Sana Jardin empowering the low-income women who work in their ingredient supply chain to become entrepreneurs.
Applause must also go to global cosmetic giant Unilever, whose first new brand in 20 years, Love Beauty and Planet, has social consciousness as its primary focus. Ingredients are responsibly sourced via programmes that support the ecosystems and livelihoods of the farming communities that produce them, plus bottles are 100% recycled and 100% recyclable. Many other brands offer refills of products or will recycle any packaging you return. Origins, for example, will take back not only its empties but those of any other brand at its counters, giving out a stamp for every one. Collect six stamps and trade them in for a free sample. A virtuous circle.
PS: So what’s your bottom line: health, ethics or beauty? Here at Red, we’re looking forward to the day when everything on our bathroom shelves has sustainability built in as default, though should that come with a side order of glowing skin… well, who are we to refuse?