by Nadia Jessica Jonatan
It is a challenge for both beauty and eco enthusiasts to discover new, amazing products that also support sustainability. As one myself, I love discovering new products that are not only great, but also committed to sustainability and local/ethical sourcing. Today, I’d like to show several things I look for when finding new beauty products. I hope this article resonates with you for your next purchase.
Eco-beauty. Photo by Shutterstock
I’d like to start from the source. Imagine the process an ingredient goes through until it reaches you as a product. What is the ingredient? Where is it from? What happens to it? Let’s observe from the source.
1. Local & Ethical sourcing
Are all ingredients locally sourced from indigenous regions and ethical vendors? Or are they shipped from abroad? This is important not only to reduce carbon footprint but also to empower local communities. Does buying this product support the local community ethically? Are they paid enough? Palm oil is very often used in beauty products, so one thing I check is whether their palm oil source is an RSPO-certified vendor. I appreciate brands that are transparent with their sourcing and strive to go 100% made in Indonesia. In conclusion: less carbon footprint, more local communities.
Local Farmer and His Crops. Photo by Bregadium Blora
2. Vegan & toxin-free
Most red makeup coloring uses Carmine, made by crushing an insect. There are various ingredients that are not vegan and toxin-free, so I appreciate brands that list their ingredients on their website so we can cross check the safety. As you are reading this, there is new research about safe/harmful chemicals. Ingredients that are safe today can be labelled harmful tomorrow. Therefore, it is important for brands to update their formulations to the newest research. I also appreciate brands that are vegan. Simply put, vegan & toxin-free.
Now that we have our ingredients, it goes to the production process. What happens to it? Sadly, not much information can be known about this due to company confidential information. What we can check instead is animal testing and packaging process.
3. Cruelty-free
After products are processed to form beauty products, samples are produced and tested. Does this brand test on animals? Some countries require animal testing for their national FDA regulations. In Indonesia, however, animal testing is not a must, therefore, it is up to us to choose cruelty-free options. Look for these logos for vegan, cruelty-free products!
Vegan and Cruelty-free Logos. Photo by thelilfoxes
4. Recyclable materials for packaging & products
After the product is tested and accepted, it is packaged. How does this brand package their products? Do they use a combination of recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable materials for their packaging? Or do they use straight up plastic? Some materials I look for instead of plastic: paper, carton, cardboard, recycled paper, upcycled cloth, paper-derived. What about recycled plastic? To me, it is inherently better than new plastic.
Eco-friendly Logos. Photo by Shutterstock
5. Soy-based inks & dyes
Not many brands consider this option because it is more expensive and time-consuming. But anyways, why soy-ink? Long story short, it is easier to recycle paper with soy ink in comparison to regular ink. Beauty products come with a set of printed papers: thank you card, gift vouchers, user guide, care tips, so switching to soy ink will help a lot.
The product is ready! Now it goes to the shipping process. How far does it travel? Are there single uses in shipping?
6. Eco-friendly shipping
There is a lot of plastic waste during the shipment process. What I look for regarding the shipment process includes alternatives of plastic bubble wraps. Does this brand opt for alternatives like cartons/cloth/cotton? Do they use recyclable cardboard for shipping boxes or just wrap them in plastic? Lastly, one thing we usually overlook is plastic tape. I appreciate brands that shift to paper tapes, or even better, gummed paper tape that is 100% recyclable and biodegradable. Gummed paper tape uses starch-based glue, hence soluble in water. So, three things in shipping: bubble wraps alternatives, cardboard box, paper tape.
Eco-friendly Shipment. Photo by Blocbox
7. Carbon Footprint
Simply put, most of the carbon footprint in the beauty industry revolves around sourcing distance, production plant location, and distribution. Buying in store products instead of online shopping can reduce carbon footprint from shipment. Ingredients sourced from around Indonesia travel less than ingredients sourced internationally.
Now, the product has reached you. Let’s say you used up your product. What happens next with the post-consumer waste? Does it go in the trash can?
Car Exhaust. Photo by Shutterstock
8. Receive used products for recycling
There are several brands that receive used products for company recycling. Some brands even offer discounts/points for every return. I appreciate these efforts as a great way to encourage consumers. I appreciate brands that are responsible with their post-consumer waste such as these brands: https://heybaramoeda.wixsite.com/website/post/how-companies-can-be-more-responsible-with-their-post-consumer-waste
Bring Back Our Bottles Campaign by The Body Shop. Photo by Nurismaya
To be honest, I never found a perfect brand that surpasses all ideal expectations above. I also still buy beauty products that aren’t sustainable, local, or ethical. Writing this article does not make me spotless--I am still learning as well. However, it is worth noting that more small beauty brands are making efforts towards a more eco-friendly beauty and is worth our considerations.Â
So.. next time you make a purchase, remember to think end-to-end, okay?