The European edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit is currently under development. Please contact us to get the summit agenda.
The 2022 edition comprised the following sessions...
Session One: Industry Developments
Session Two: Green Ingredients
Session Three: Marketing Update
Session Three: Sustainability in Packaging
Workshop: Green Packaging Materials
Monday 7th November
Session One: Industry Developments
Sustainability has now become an integral part of the cosmetics
industry, with operators investing in a range of green
initiatives. The opening session gave an update on
sustainability issues, highlighting industry best-practices.
To begin, the keynote highlighted the power of collaboration when
tackling environmental and societal issues. An update was given
on sustainability schemes & ethical labels for cosmetic &
personal care products. Details were given of a new initiative
that aims to standardise measurement and communication of the
environmental impact of cosmetics. Case studies were given of
brands that have created climate-neutral cosmetics and
nature-positive products. Following on from preceding
discussions, the panel discussed the challenges of impact
assessment.
Session Two: Green Ingredients
A growing array of green ingredients is now
available for cosmetic and personal care products. This session
gave details of new and emerging green raw materials, placing
emphasis on those that can help companies move to circular
systems.
The use of blockchain technology in providing transparency and
traceability in ingredient supply chains was covered. The
sustainability merits of upcycling was discussed; case studies
were given of new upcycled ingredients, as well as brands using
such ingredients in their formulations. Details were given of new
bio-based ingredients and green chemicals for personal care
products. To conclude, featured speakers debated approaches
to raise adoption rates of green materials.
Tuesday 8th November
Session Three: Marketing Update
Marketing is a major challenge for brands with
sustainable products. Consumers have to be educated and informed of
the green credentials of a new product. With new developments, such
as shampoo bars, waterless cosmetics and refillables, they also have
to modify their behaviour when using and disposing of such products.
This session covered such marketing issues and showcased success
stories.
Industry experts also discussed the thorny issue of marketing
communications. What are some of the best ways to get the green
message across to consumers? How can marketing communications
strengthen customer relationships? What is the way forward in the
digital age?
Session Four: Sustainability in Packaging
Packaging is one of the biggest sustainability
issues facing cosmetic & personal care brands. Although many studies
show that plastic pollution is high on consumers list of
environmental issues, brands struggle to replace plastic packaging.
This session discussed the various ways cosmetic & personal care
firms can reduce their packaging footprint, especially in terms of
moving away from single-use plastics.
Seminars covered packaging design, new sustainable materials, and
packaging-free products. Details were given of a new
certification scheme that helps brands measure, reduce and offset
their plastic footprints. Speakers also discussed the role of
packaging in a circular economy.
Wednesday 9th November
Workshop: Green Packaging Materials
This workshop focused on materials that can replace single-use plastic packaging in cosmetic & personal care products. The major issues associated with packaging materials were discussed, as well as recycling rates and disposal issues. Details were given on the life-cycle of product packaging, highlighting the differences between packaging materials. Guidance and practical advice was given on how operators can reduce their packaging impacts.
View the 2022 summit pictures here
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