The beauty industry is built on the promise of transformation. But as the world faces the urgent challenge of climate change, the industry itself is overdue for a makeover – one that goes beyond skin deep. While often overshadowed by heavier emitters like energy or agriculture, the beauty and cosmetics sector have a surprisingly high carbon footprint and a critical role to play in the global decarbonization movement.
It’s time for beauty to get serious about climate impact. And decarbonization might just be its next big trend.
The Carbon Footprint of Looking Good
From formulation to packaging to distribution, every stage of a beauty product’s life cycle contributes to emissions:
- Raw materials: Many cosmetics rely on petrochemical derivatives, mined minerals, or water-intensive botanicals.
- Manufacturing: Energy use in factories for mixing, heating, and quality control is significant, often powered by fossil fuels.
- Packaging: The iconic plastic lipstick tube or glass perfume bottle carries a hefty footprint – plastics are fossil fuel-based, and glass is energy-intensive to produce.
- Shipping: Globalized supply chains and next-day delivery expectations mean beauty products often rack up serious transportation emissions.
- Consumer use & disposal: Hot showers, high-energy devices (like hairdryers), and non-recyclable packaging contribute to a product’s end-of-life impact.
Estimates vary, but the global beauty industry emits more than 90 million tons of CO₂e annually – and that number is rising.
How the Beauty Industry Can Decarbonize
- Rethinking Ingredients
- Bio-based alternatives to petrochemicals (e.g., plant-derived squalane vs. shark liver) can lower emissions and reduce ecological harm.
- Upcycled ingredients from food waste or byproducts (like coffee grounds or fruit peels) reduce waste and improve sustainability profiles.
- Sourcing regenerative agriculture-based botanicals can also turn raw materials into carbon sinks.
- Sustainable Formulation and Manufacturing
- Investing in renewable energy for production facilities is a fast and effective way to cut Scope 2 emissions.
- Use of cold-process manufacturing techniques can significantly lower energy consumption.
- Packaging Revolution
- Move toward refillable, compostable, or zero-packaging products, like shampoo bars or refill pods.
- Ditch virgin plastic: use PCR (post-consumer recycled) materials or plant-based bioplastics.
- Encourage circularity through return and refill programs, like those offered by Lush, Kjaer Weis, or TerraCycle partnerships.
- Smarter Distribution
- Localize production to cut shipping distances.
- Offset or eliminate emissions from e-commerce logistics, which have skyrocketed with online shopping.
- Bundle shipments and opt out of express delivery to reduce carbon-intensive air freight.
- Carbon-Neutral Certification & Transparency
- Brands can calculate their footprint (including Scope 3 emissions) and pursue carbon neutrality or net-zero commitments.
- Being transparent with climate impact through eco-labelling or sustainability dashboards builds trust and consumer loyalty.
Changing Consumer Habits Without Compromising Glamour
Beauty brands wield immense influence over consumer behaviour—and they can use that power for good. Education campaigns, minimalist beauty routines, and sustainable trendsetting can help reduce the total impact of cosmetic consumption.
For example:
- Encourage multi-use products (like lip-and-cheek tints).
- Promote “slow beauty” – fewer, better-quality products that last longer.
- Develop tech like AI shade-matching or virtual try-ons to reduce waste and returns.
Beauty with a Climate-Conscious Face
As younger, climate-savvy consumers demand more ethical and sustainable products, the pressure is on the beauty industry to evolve. The good news? Innovation, creativity, and reinvention are in the industry’s DNA.
If beauty can define global trends and shift cultural norms, it can also normalize climate action, making sustainability not just a side note, but a signature feature.
‘In the age of climate crisis, real beauty isn’t just skin deep – it’s carbon light.
Want to decarbonize your business? Let’s talk!
