​​​Discover the naturally derived and vegan ingredients that make up the products of our EWG VERIFIED™ skincare line​​.

​​​According to a World Economic Forum report, our planet’s health over the next decade remains the top concern around the world¹. While our governments are moving (some faster than others) towards carbon-neutral models, we, as individuals, can do several things daily to help reduce our ecological footprint. For instance, we can more wisely choose what products we consume. As the expression goes, “Put your money where your mouth is!”​​

​In this article, we’ll take a look at the impact that can be made by using sustainable vegan skincare.

Beauty’s dark side

​​​You likely already knew that single-use plastic is the main culprit of ocean pollution: Every year, more than 14 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans, creating massive debris vortexes like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch². But did you know that among these 14 million tons there is 120 billion cosmetic packages³? Just think of all those cream jars, lipstick tubes and bronzer boxes that line store shelves to better comprehend the dark side of the products that are intended to make us shine.​​

​​​In addition to packaging, there are certain ingredients in cosmetics that can contribute to our waters’ pollution. Chemical sunscreens, parabens and triclosan are among the harmful substances found in wastewater⁴. Obviously this is not ideal for marine species, or any other living species for that matter!​​

​​​Blue Beauty: Moving Beyond Green​​

​​​Fortunately, there are companies in the beauty industry that have come to understand that change is necessary and have begun transitioning towards a more eco-innovative model. Brands wanting to be part of the Blue Beauty movement must not only offer formulas that are based on clean ingredients from plants and minerals as much as possible, but also be transparent about their production methods.​​

​​​Goodbye plastic. Packaging of blue beauty products must be either easily recyclable or, better still, biodegradable. A company's carbon footprint also comes under the microscope. The end goal? Pollute as little as possible. Protect the oceans and the planet, all the while being aware of the impact made by the production – and use – of products on the environment.​​

​​​Thanks to this approach, it is now possible to take care of your skin while simultaneously reducing your ecological footprint. Here's how:​​

• First: Opt for sustainable vegan skincare to combat global deforestation (14% of which is linked to livestock farming). There are a plethora of plant- and mineral-based ingredients that provide benefits to the skin while limiting environmental risks. For instance, according to clinical studies, phytoglycogen can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and vitamin C revives and evens dull skin.​
• Second: Choose products that are packaged with materials that are easily recyclable or biodegradable. Only 9% of all plastic consumed globally is recycled⁵, so it is better to opt for aluminum packaging (a material that can be recycled many times over) or, better still, biodegradable cardboard. If you must buy plastic, get bulk or refillable formats.

​​​Identifying products that are certified by renowned organizations​​

​​​With the rise in popularity of eco-friendly and clean beauty products, we’ve seen the birth of another phenomenon: greenwashing. This marketing approach uses eco-consciousness in a misleading way to improve a company’s image. To discern the real from the fake, make sure to look for logos of the following organizations on the labels of your sustainable vegan skincare products:​​

• PETA: A product that is certified cruelty-free and vegan by PETA will not include any ingredients of animal origin and will never be tested on animals. If in doubt, you can search PETA's Beauty without bunnies database.​​
• FSC: A product that bears the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo is packaged in either recycled paper or recycled cardboard (or comes from responsibly managed forests).​
• EWG: The Environmental Working Group's EWG VERIFIED™ logo is the highest health and environmental distinction that can be awarded. An EWG VERIFIED™ product does not contain any ingredients of concern for human health or the planet according to the non-profit organization's scientists. Whenever in doubt, consult the EWG’s Skin Deep® research database which evaluates the content of more than 97,000 cosmetic products.

We encourage you to find ways to recycle, reuse or compost the packaging of your daily products. By delving a bit deeper into a product’s “end of life,” you could garner the necessary motivation to switch to sustainable vegan skincare and various other more eco-conscious options.

Adopting sustainable vegan skincare is a concrete and simple gesture that can have a positive impact on our planet’s health. If you want to learn more about the subject and discover additional ways to make a difference, please consult the following articles:

• ​​​Plastic pollution crisis: the origin of plastic waste​​
• ​​​Plastic waste: an environmental and social crisis​​
• ​​​Blue beauty: the new eco-friendly beauty​​
• ​​​How to create a plastic-free skincare ritual​​

Sources:

1. https://www.ledevoir.com/economie/659691/rapport-l-environnement-reste-la-plus-grande-preoccupation-a-long-terme?#
2. https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/marine-plastic-pollution
3. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2022/1/25/the-ugly-side-of-beauty-the-cosmetics-industrys-plastic-packaging-problem
4. https://savethewater.org/how-your-beauty-routine-may-be-polluting-our-water-supply/
5. https://www.oecd.org/environment/plastic-pollution-is-growing-relentlessly-as-waste-management-and-recycling-fall-short.htm
6. https://www.nationalgeographic.fr/environnement/les-cremes-solaires-sont-nocives-pour-les-oceans-mais-des-alternatives-existent​