We spoke to Weleda's CEO Jayn Sterland about the latest environmental developments at the brand and what's coming next for the beauty and personal care industry.
Synthetic biology company Enzymit has found an enzymatic process that "leverages computation protein design algorithms" to create cell-free hyaluronic acid.
To celebrate ‘Plastic-free July’, we spoke to Stephenson – a pioneering manufacturer of solid formats – about its latest innovations and how sustainability continues to drive sales.
Sustainable programs and initiatives have become the cosmetics and personal beauty care product industry standard – but what are some of the most economically viable ways to implement these practices to best meet consumer demand? Our upcoming CosmeticsDesign...
UK cosmetics company Lush has invested £2.3m to upgrade its Dorset-based Green Hub, in a bid to boost its efforts to create a circular economy for its business.
Robertet R&D has established a successful upcycling program to repurpose by-products into usable materials for manufacturers and suppliers of cosmetic and personal care product formulations.
Canadian food products supplier Fruit D’Or utilizes closed loop cultivation and other environmentally sustainable processing practices to upcycle cranberry seed oil co-products for cosmetic and personal beauty care product manufacturing and formulation.
UK indie brand Beauty Kitchen has unveiled a collective of specialist B-Corps established to prove the potential behind collaboration for more circular beauty concepts.
Singapore start-up Mykílio is hopeful its mushroom-based packaging can find a niche in the luxury beauty space, where it believes it can appeal to the sustainable values of younger consumers especially.
Portuguese researchers determined these extracts, which are readily available agro-industrial by-products, have significant potential to become valuable bioactive ingredients for cosmetic and personal beauty care products with added SPF protection.
Ongoing concerns around greenwashing, rising supply chain costs and a growing need for transparency are the top issues facing the green beauty industry this year, according to an expert consultant.
Scientific knowledge on the bioactivity of organic biomass extracts and agri-food waste has fast advanced in recent years, highlighting potential for the development of topicals targeting skin photoageing, say researchers.
Beauty Kitchen founder Jo Chidley will present its circular retail model ‘Re’ at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, spotlighting why reuse should no longer be a ‘fringe science’ but a mainstream way of thinking.
Four beauty giants and one fragrance major have been awarded a triple ‘A’ status for sustainable efforts across climate change, forests and water security this year, securing five of just 12 leadership spots in the annual CDP Rating.
Executive leaders from Rituals, L’Oréal, Colgate-Palmolive, LMVH and Weleda discuss how industry can truly advance sustainably and how critical consumer education will be for driving true change in this space, as well as wider health and wellbeing shifts.
There have been huge waves of innovation, collaboration and change in the beauty category this past year. Here, CosmeticsDesign-Europe takes a look back at our most-read stories in 2022.
Measuring the environmental impact of the entire beauty industry is no easy feat, but one made a lot easier with collaboration, data-led mapping and engagement across the entire supply chain – from farmers to consumers, say industry experts.
Forestwise, a supplier of wild harvest ingredient from the rainforest, is aiming to secure multinational customers from the cosmetics and food industry in order to better support the community.
Big Brand Talks – In Conversation with Today’s Beauty Leaders
Swiss natural and organic beauty brand Weleda has formed a small-scale internal startup to speed up product development and market testing, presenting a very new way of working, its R&D head says.
Whey waste from cheese production holds significant promise as an active ingredient for cosmetic formulations, particularly those targeting skin health and dermal ageing, finds an EU research consortium.
International beauty major L’Oréal has announced a tie-up with French biotech specialist Microphyt, in a move set to accelerate its green sciences push, according to an exec.
If the beauty industry wants to create real change it needs to shift how it defines its moving parts, and thinking of beauty consumers as beauty citizens could be the first step, says the chair of the B Corp Beauty Coalition supervisory board.
To solve the issue of plastic waste the industry talks a lot about a circular recycling economy, but a recent Greenpeace report says under present conditions, that’s not possible.
Supply chain shortages and cost surges related to the COVID-19 and Ukraine crises are making it difficult for beauty companies to maintain sustainable business models, but many continue to push ahead, says the founder of Ecovia Intelligence.
The beauty and personal care industry must today respond to converging global crises and ensure ethical integrity in every part of the value chain to protect the future of the planet, people and business, says British environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt.
A Singapore-based food start-up cultivating mushroom mycelium as an alternative protein source believes it can also serve the cosmetics industry as a natural, sustainable, and completely food-safe ingredient.
The overreliance on recycling is the chief piece of green misinformation in the beauty industry, which has to move faster towards a circular model, says the founder and CEO of Emma Lewisham.
British circular beauty brand UpCircle recently raised close to half a million euros in crowdfunding that it will use for US production expansion, global product development and pushing ahead with its wider mission to make green and natural cosmetics...
Indie brand Solidu wants to deepen its retail presence across Europe and the US, but also innovate further into solid face care – a space its founder says still holds plenty of promise.
Design to reuse should be prioritised as a sustainable beauty strategy because its overall positive impact far outweighs working with reduced or recyclable materials, according to European researchers.
Industry leaders Beiersdorf, Borealis, Siegwerk, and Clariant team up on a Design4Circularity initiative and create “first-of-its-kind” circular packaging concept for the cosmetics industry.
Beauty major The Estée Lauder Companies has outlined a method it has developed to score ingredients, formulations and products on their green value, considering human health, ecosystem health and environmental endpoints throughout the supply chain.
As beauty edges deeper into a post-pandemic world, brands and retailers must understand the heightened awareness of interdependence, yearning for community and mainstream rejection of ‘normal’ set to shape consumer thinking in years to come, says a WGSN...
The beauty industry has been too focused on recycling and needs to shift focus on reuse and refill solutions, says two circular beauty brands, Bhuman and Emma Lewisham.
Most circular design projects tend to fail as companies tend to begin to implement circular elements too late and fail to keep the mainstream consumers’ basic needs and concerns in mind.
The CEO of plastic action platform RePurpose believes an “astonishing” 90% of sustainable packaging commitments will not be met by 2025 due to the lack of good recycling infrastructure.
Plants around the world offer botanical and upcycled ingredient potential, and a research team out of Malaysia found the peel of mangosteen fruits may hold skincare promise.
The beauty industry and consumers alike should place more emphasis on reducing and reusing resources, instead of prioritising recycling, claims an Australian start-up that has pioneered using unwanted sheep’s milk in its products.
Much of the cosmetics industry is discussing the concept of circular economies in beauty, but whether brands, infrastructures and consumers around the world are ready to actually apply the model is yet to be seen.
Special Edition: CIRCULAR BEAUTY – SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION AND FUTURE PROMISE
UK-based indie beauty brand BYBI wants to be carbon negative within three years – no easy feat but one that is critical to the future of skin care and planetary good, its founders say.
Special Edition: CIRCULAR BEAUTY – SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION AND FUTURE PROMISE
Circular beauty start-up Innerbottle has linked-up with LG Chem and CJ Logistics to pilot a new B2C beauty platform that will allow consumers to recycle their cosmetic packaging easily and effectively.
Special Edition: CIRCULAR BEAUTY – SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION AND FUTURE PROMISE
Japanese personal care major Kao Corporation believes achieving a circular society will require a delicate balance of minimising beauty materials and maximising use, with thin-film packaging offering plenty of promise.
![The collaboration of beauty, ingredient and waste specialists has already developed four prototype products from upcycled coffee [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/04/11/beauty-kitchen-unveils-coffee-colab-with-kaffe-bueno-bio-bean-revive-and-arcania-apothecary-for-upcycled-coffee-beauty-innovation/16322578-1-eng-GB/Beauty-Kitchen-unveils-Coffee-Colab-with-Kaffe-Bueno-Bio-Bean-Revive-and-Arcania-Apothecary-for-upcycled-coffee-beauty-innovation.jpg)
![Mykílio is hopeful its mushroom-based packaging can find a niche in the luxury beauty space. [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/packaging-design/mushroom-packaging-can-align-with-eco-values-of-gen-z-luxury-goals-start-up/16257832-1-eng-GB/Mushroom-packaging-can-align-with-eco-values-of-Gen-Z-luxury-goals-start-up.jpg)
![As green beauty continues its insatiable rise, there are challenges ahead for consumers and industry alike [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/03/08/green-beauty-in-2023-challenges-are-greenwashing-rising-costs-and-transparency-says-the-green-chemist-consultancy/16234573-1-eng-GB/Green-beauty-in-2023-challenges-are-greenwashing-rising-costs-and-transparency-says-The-Green-Chemist-Consultancy.jpg)
![Research into soil, compost and agri-food waste continues to rise, shedding light on interesting bioactive characteristics of compounds that can be used in skin care [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/formulation-science/agri-food-waste-and-organic-biomass-promising-for-protective-beauty-development-says-review/16221697-1-eng-GB/Agri-food-waste-and-organic-biomass-promising-for-protective-beauty-development-says-review.jpg)
![The World Economic Forum's 53rd annual meeting this month will bring together business leaders, governments and innovators from all over the globe to discuss the most pressing issues of the year [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/01/13/beauty-kitchen-founder-jo-chidley-attending-world-economic-forum-davos-2023-to-talk-about-scaling-reuse/16081769-1-eng-GB/Beauty-Kitchen-founder-Jo-Chidley-attending-World-Economic-Forum-Davos-2023-to-talk-about-scaling-reuse.jpg)
![The five companies have been recognised for their environmental leadership across climate change, forests and water scarcity - a status only 12 global companies achieved in 2022 [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2023/01/11/cdp-a-list-2022-features-beiersdorf-firmenich-kao-l-oreal-and-lvmh-as-triple-a-scores-for-environmental-leadership/16074266-1-eng-GB/CDP-A-List-2022-features-Beiersdorf-Firmenich-Kao-L-Oreal-and-LVMH-as-Triple-A-scores-for-environmental-leadership.jpg)
![Executive leaders at Rituals, L'Oréal, Colgate-Palmolive, LVMH and Weleda weigh in on the climate crisis and wider health crisis [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/12/23/rituals-l-oreal-colgate-palmolive-lvmh-and-weleda-talk-climate-crisis-oral-health-crisis/16045271-1-eng-GB/Rituals-L-Oreal-Colgate-Palmolive-LVMH-and-Weleda-talk-climate-crisis-oral-health-crisis.jpg)
![The beauty industry must go beyond measuring its impact, working to create industry-wide action and communicate this to end consumers concisely [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/12/12/sustainable-beauty-experts-brainstorm-future-for-environmental-impact-assessment-with-collaboration-noted-as-key/16015274-1-eng-GB/Sustainable-beauty-experts-brainstorm-future-for-environmental-impact-assessment-with-collaboration-noted-as-key.jpg)
![Forestwise is aiming to secure multinational customers from the cosmetics and food industry in order to better support the community. [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/business-financial/illipe-butter-imperative-to-find-big-beauty-brands-to-support-communities-in-borneo-forestwise-ceo/15995846-1-eng-GB/Illipe-Butter-Imperative-to-find-big-beauty-brands-to-support-communities-in-Borneo-Forestwise-CEO.jpg)
![Weleda has created a small internal startup to build out fresh innovations across packaging and formulation [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/12/05/weleda-r-d-head-says-circular-green-beauty-possible-with-sustainable-definitions-and-beauty-collaboration/15997160-1-eng-GB/Weleda-R-D-head-says-circular-green-beauty-possible-with-sustainable-definitions-and-beauty-collaboration.jpg)
![The European dairy industry produces around 75 million tonnes of whey each year and the cheese sector is considered the 'most polluting' [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/12/02/ingreen-eu-project-identifies-cheese-whey-as-having-cosmetic-active-ingredient-promise-says-ineuvo-ltd/15991835-1-eng-GB/INGREEN-EU-project-identifies-cheese-whey-as-having-cosmetic-active-ingredient-promise-says-Ineuvo-Ltd.jpg)
![Microphyt works with a patented process to create a range of microalgae varieties in a low-carbon, controlled environment [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/business-financial/l-oreal-acquires-minority-stake-in-microphyt-microalgae-biotech-specialist-for-green-sciences/15983927-1-eng-GB/L-Oreal-acquires-minority-stake-in-Microphyt-microalgae-biotech-specialist-for-green-sciences.jpg)
![A beauty citizen could be considered 'an individual who is conscious of their role in society and is keen to protect the beauty of nature as to improve their own sense of beauty' [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/11/29/b-corp-beauty-coalition-wants-to-drive-concept-of-beauty-citizen-for-sustainable-change/15979430-1-eng-GB/B-Corp-Beauty-Coalition-wants-to-drive-concept-of-beauty-citizen-for-sustainable-change.jpg)
![Significant ongoing economic headwinds are creating difficulties for many beauty companies worldwide, though plenty continue to invest and design out circular business models [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/10/31/sustainable-beauty-challenges-tough-amidst-2022-economic-crisis-says-ecovia-intelligence/15900578-4-eng-GB/Sustainable-beauty-challenges-tough-amidst-2022-economic-crisis-says-Ecovia-Intelligence.jpg)
![Business continuity models have to change gears, integrating the very real and 'permanent crisis' facing the world today [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/10/12/beauty-must-respond-to-climate-crisis-with-ethical-integrity-of-supply-chains-says-sir-jonathon-porritt-at-ifscc-2022/15845378-1-eng-GB/Beauty-must-respond-to-climate-crisis-with-ethical-integrity-of-supply-chains-says-Sir-Jonathon-Porritt-at-IFSCC-2022.jpg)
![A Singapore-based food start-up cultivating mushroom mycelium as an alternative protein source believes it can also serve the cosmetics industry as a natural, sustainable, and completely food-safe ingredient. [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/formulation-science/mycrocell-pushing-mushroom-mycelium-as-natural-and-sustainable-ingredient-for-cosmetics/15805308-1-eng-GB/Mycrocell-pushing-mushroom-mycelium-as-natural-and-sustainable-ingredient-for-cosmetics.jpg)
![UpCircle offers a range of skin care products made using a variety of upcycled ingredients, including coffee grounds, olive oil stones and discarded rose petals [Image: UpCircle Facebook]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/09/07/upcircle-480-000-crowdfunding-to-drive-us-expansion-npd-and-brand-awareness-says-co-founder/15746139-1-eng-GB/UpCircle-480-000-crowdfunding-to-drive-US-expansion-NPD-and-brand-awareness-says-co-founder.jpg)
![Solidu offers a range of zero-waste waterless, solid bars across the hair, body and face care categories [Image: SOLIDU Facebook]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/08/19/solid-beauty-brand-solidu-eyes-europe-us-expansion-for-zero-waste-products-in-hair-care-body-care-and-face-care/15698631-1-eng-GB/Solid-beauty-brand-Solidu-eyes-Europe-US-expansion-for-zero-waste-products-in-hair-care-body-care-and-face-care.jpg)
![Researchers from the University of Malta used a case study of cosmetic blush compacts to compare the benefits of design to reuse versus design to recycle [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/packaging-design/reusable-cosmetics-packaging-better-than-lightweight-or-recyclable-variants-finds-case-study/15607172-1-eng-GB/Reusable-cosmetics-packaging-better-than-lightweight-or-recyclable-variants-finds-case-study.jpg)
![[Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/packaging-design/beiersdorf-borealis-siegwerk-and-clariant-collaborate-to-deliver-first-in-circular-cosmetics-packaging/15538541-2-eng-GB/Beiersdorf-Borealis-Siegwerk-and-Clariant-collaborate-to-deliver-first-in-circular-cosmetics-packaging.jpg)
![[Lush Cosmetics]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2022/06/20/beauty-broadcast-lush-cosmetics-says-waterless-beauty-trend-bound-to-become-mainstream/15458395-1-eng-GB/Beauty-Broadcast-Lush-Cosmetics-says-waterless-beauty-trend-bound-to-become-mainstream.jpg)
![The beauty major's tool considers eight metrics across human health, ecosystem health and environmental endpoints to provide a 'green score' on ingredients, formulas and end products [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/headlines/formulation-science/estee-lauder-companies-green-score-tool-for-beauty-outlined-in-study/15430447-1-eng-GB/Estee-Lauder-Companies-green-score-tool-for-beauty-outlined-in-study.jpg)
![Care-taking; fluid states; provoking protopias; people-power shifts; democra-sized; and code-breaking are WGSN's six 'big ideas' set to shape beauty in 2024 [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/05/18/wgsn-2024-big-ideas-set-to-shape-beauty-with-self-care-inclusivity-and-phygital-key-trends/15426562-1-eng-GB/WGSN-2024-big-ideas-set-to-shape-beauty-with-self-care-inclusivity-and-phygital-key-trends.jpg)
![The beauty industry has been too focused on recycling and needs to shift focus on reuse and refill solutions. [Emma Lewisham]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/packaging-design/emma-lewisham-and-bhuman-urge-beauty-industry-needs-to-focus-on-reuse-and-refill-packaging/15390562-1-eng-GB/Emma-Lewisham-and-Bhuman-urge-beauty-industry-needs-to-focus-on-reuse-and-refill-packaging.jpg)
![Expert explains why most circular design projects tend to fail. [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/packaging-design/circular-design-expert-explains-why-most-eco-friendly-propositions-fail/15371439-1-eng-GB/Circular-design-expert-explains-why-most-eco-friendly-propositions-fail.jpg)
![[Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/packaging-design/why-90-of-sustainable-beauty-packaging-commitments-will-not-be-met-by-2025/15371493-1-eng-GB/Why-90-of-sustainable-beauty-packaging-commitments-will-not-be-met-by-2025.jpg)
![A raft of industry players are joining the circular beauty movement, but how can the sector encourage consumers to adopt circularity en masse? [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/headlines/market-trends/circular-beauty-webinar-with-bhuman-emma-lewisham-repurpose-global-and-pa-consulting/15346419-1-eng-GB/Circular-Beauty-Webinar-with-Bhuman-Emma-Lewisham-rePurpose-Global-and-PA-Consulting.jpg)
![This year, BYBI launched a carbon negative facial oil and plans to achieve carbon negativity across its entire business by 2025 [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/04/07/bybi-carbon-negative-glowcurrant-booster-part-of-2025-brand-goals-say-founders/15310345-1-eng-GB/BYBI-carbon-negative-glowcurrant-booster-part-of-2025-brand-goals-say-founders.jpg)
![Innerbottle has linked-up with LG Chem and CJ Logistics to pilot a new circular beauty platform. [Innerbottle]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/article/2022/04/07/innerbottle-pilots-closed-loop-beauty-e-commerce-platform-in-south-korea/15310849-1-eng-GB/Innerbottle-pilots-closed-loop-beauty-e-commerce-platform-in-South-Korea.jpg)
![Kao Corporation has already invested significantly in circular beauty packaging innovations in Japan but now wants to stretch efforts beyond its domestic market [Getty Images]](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/publications/cosmetics/cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/article/2022/04/07/kao-corporation-circular-beauty-packaging-innovation-key-to-carbon-negative-goals/15310453-1-eng-GB/Kao-Corporation-circular-beauty-packaging-innovation-key-to-carbon-negative-goals.jpg)
