Sustainability paradigm in the cosmetics industry: State of the art

The design phase of cosmetic products significantly affects the environment and decisions made at this point affect the remaining phases of the product life cycle.

“The phase of the design of cosmetics products significantly affects the environment, and decisions made at this point will affect the remaining phases of the product life cycle [4,7,9].”

The highest water consumption was observed when using rinse or wash-off cosmetics, such as shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and soaps.

“The highest water consumption was observed when using rinse or wash-off cosmetics, such as shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and soaps.”

The cosmetics industry needs functional and sustainable ingredients from renewable sources.

“It is well-recognized that the cosmetics industry needs functional and sustainable ingredients from renewable sources [7,10].”

Ingredients referred to as natural, naturally derived, organic, and green may result in a less preferable environmental profile if assessed from a life cycle perspective.

“It is worth keeping in mind that the ingredients referred to as natural, naturally derived, organic, and green, which are quite often associated with sustainable cosmetic products, may result in a less preferable environmental profile of the cosmetic if assessed from a life cycle perspective [7,9].”

Evaluation of sustainability in the sourcing phase is very complicated because raw materials are extracted or synthesized worldwide and delivered through several distributors.

“Considering the fact that raw materials are extracted or synthesized in many different parts of the world, and are delivered to the cosmetic manufacturer not only by the producer but also through several distributors, the evaluation of sustainability in this phase of the product life cycle is very complicated [7,9].”

Biodegradability and toxicity to aquatic organisms play an important role in the sustainability of raw materials.

“In addition, an important role in the sustainability of raw materials plays their biodegradability and toxicity to aquatic organisms [6,7,9].”

Fair trade of raw materials is a very important aspect from a social point of view.

“Moreover, from a social point of view, fair trade of raw materials is a very important aspect [7].”

The Cosmetic Product Life Cycle model proposed by Bom et al. includes design and Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, consumer use, and post-consumer use.

“It should be also referred to the Cosmetic Product Life Cycle model proposed by Bom et al., which includes design and Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, consumer use, and post-consumer use (Figure 3) [1,7,9].”

Approximately 90% of the CO2 emission generated during the life cycle of a product comes from consumer use.

“Consumer education in terms of sustainable consumption, such as dosing the correct amount of the product and using less water to rinse off the cosmetics, is necessary because, according to the researchers, approximately 90% of the CO2 emission generated during the life cycle of the product comes from consumer use [7,9].”