Environmental concerns for beauty: consultant suggests where to focus

Jorgen G Hyldgaard, Director, from Hygade, will be speaking at the upcoming Cosmetics Consultants Europe (CCE) Open Academy in Barcelona in October.

Full details of the CCE are available here​, and details so far available for this year’s Open Academy programme are here​.

Why are environmental concerns hitting the industry agenda so forcefully now, what factors are bringing it into the spotlight?​

This is no wonder: REACH has been in force with a planned program for many years, and an important part of this was and is the environmental impact of ingredients.

Further to this, REACH and the update of Markings according to ECHA/ CLP has revealed news regarding CMR and possible endocrine disruptors

Is this shift primarily driven by consumer demand, or regulation?​

Both. This is particularly clear when you consider certain cosmetics ingredients: with new knowledge from REACH and CMR, effects are not allowed, and ingredients like the cyclosiloxanes D4, D5 and D6 have been forbidden in wash-off products because they are very persistent and bioaccumulative.

Regarding consumer demands: sustainability is a still growing trend. Eco-labels and certification options look at the output.

For the eco-labeled products, these environmental D4, D5 and D6 cannot be used.

If you look at ingredients from the input site/natural and organic, such ingredients are not natural and will not be accepted.

What are the latest shifts and innovations that have been seen in this space? ​

Vegan claims seem more and more attractive.