Sustainable Biz Magazine A4 March 2023 - Flipbook - Page 7
reduce these problems.
This creates a risk of ‘greenhouse
gloss’, or greenwashing in the beauty
sector, which could see talk about
sustainability fail to translate into
meaningful action.
Alongside a lack of validated targets
for Net Zero, the Net Zero Intelligence
Unit’s research found only three of
the beauty giants have targets for
eliminating deforestation from their
supply chains.
Deforestation is responsible for
around 15% of greenhouse gas
emissions and also contributes to
habitat and biodiversity loss.
Simon Retallack, Director of the
Carbon Trust’s Net Zero Intelligence
Unit said, “a Net Zero Reality Check is
vital for all sectors as the 2050 global
target moves ever closer. While many
beauty products are now marketed as
'clean' and 'green', our analysis found
that at present, these claims are not
translating into deeper climate action.
“Beauty and personal care companies
need to urgently reduce the
greenhouse gas emissions associated
with sourcing product ingredients.
They also need to help consumers to
reduce the impact they have when
they use beauty products, especially
their use of hot water.
“As consumer demand for sustainable
“The ‘clean’ sector of the
beauty industry alone
is forecast to be worth
US$22 billion globally
by the end of next
year, highlighting the
consumer demand for
such products"
beauty products booms, the sector
has a window of opportunity to
ensure their products and business
models reflect the urgency of action
needed to reach Net Zero.”
The ‘clean’ sector of the beauty
industry alone is forecast to be worth
US$22 billion globally by the end of
next year, highlighting the consumer
demand for such products.
However, this term is subjective
and loosely refers to products with
safe, natural, organic or eco-friendly
credentials, despite there being no
standards on products marketed in
this way.
The full report from the Carbon
Trust’s Net Zero Intelligence Unit is
available here.
Unit. It reviewed the most recent
sustainability reports of the world’s
top ten revenue generating beauty
brands, L’Oréal, Unilever, P&G, Estée
Lauder, Shiseido, Beiersdorf, LVMH,
Kao, Coty and Johnson & Johnson.
They were assessed using the global
climate consultancy’s new Net Zero
Reality Check tool. The Reality Check
tool was developed by the Carbon
Trust to assess the credibility of
climate action in different sectors by
reviewing the most recent annual,
sustainability and emissions reports
of a sample of companies.
The research found overall the sector
is failing to take action on its two main
sources of greenhouse gases. These
emissions come from raw materials
and consumers using their products,
mainly through hot water and energy.
However, there was little action
evidenced publicly by any of these
companies to acknowledge, tackle or
bIZ4BIZ.ORG
7