Did you know that the beauty industry makes over 120 billion pieces of packing in a year, most of which can’t be recycled? Can you imagine what this amount of waste is doing to our planet and how it is affecting the different species, especially marine life? As all the plastic waste is dumped into the ocean, devastating sea life, and increasing pollution and contaminants.
The negative impact of the beauty industry doesn’t just end here. The chemicals in our skincare products get washed down and enter the ocean through the drainage system. These chemicals intoxicate life in the ocean, which causes the death of marine life and harm to ecosystems.
The beauty industry has become more like the fast fashion industry, with new product ranges, new beauty regimens, and new upgrades being launched. The beauty industry also drives further unnecessary consumption through launching new products that customers feel they need to get their hands on immediately.
Change can start on the consumer level to create a collective impact through simple lifestyle changes. You can start by making sustainable beauty choices to reduce the carbon footprint these companies cause, promote ethical sourcing, and protect marine life on the planet.
Practice Minimalism
The first step you should take is to self-inspect. Do you really need all the skincare, haircare, and makeup products you have? Always keep in mind that less is more. Only buy the products you truly love, if you aren’t using them often, why do you want to waste money and add to unnecessary pollution
Packaging
Once you’ve decided what you want to incorporate into your beauty regime, pay special attention to the packaging. Try to look for zero waste products or choose products that require the least amount of packaging. Most brands now offer refillable options, which is a great initiative as you can reuse the packaging so it won’t end up in landfills
Don’t Throw Away Unused Product
Wasting products is never a good idea. If it doesn’t suit you or you don’t like it, consider donating it or passing it on to friends or family.
Ingredients
A very important aspect of sustainable choices is ensuring the ingredients in any product are sustainably sourced. This means that even if a product is advertised as green, biodegradable, or organic, and the ingredients aren’t ethically obtained, the product is not sustainable. For example, the increased use of essential oils like rose or sandalwood, although organic and natural requires a lot of energy and resources to produce. Palm oil, a very common ingredient, is another example as it has contributed to extensive deforestation.
Do Your Research
It isn’t so difficult anymore to know about a company’s ethics and what steps they take for more sustainable products. With the internet, you can find out all there is to know and make conscious decisions accordingly
In Conclusion
Now that you have decided to invest carefully and buy environmentally friendly products. You can incorporate daily habits like wasting less water, reducing waste, recycling, and not using single-use products.The best part about sustainable beauty is that it’s not just good for the environment but also for your hair, skin, and well-being. Plus, these small actions you do today will make for a better planet for future generations.