Natural cosmetic ingredients: myths versus science

 Many raw material manufacturers are opting for green chemistry to not only preserve the natural goodness of, say, olive oil but also to have less of an impact on the environment while still offering benefits such as moisturisation. While the label ‘Natural’ is very familiar in our industry, it is a greyer area than many consumers think. 

We have all watched Sir David Attenborough on the subject of global warming, showing us the effect of environmental changes and the impact humans have had on the planet. As a species, we are now desperately trying to save and preserve our beautiful planet for our children (and their children) by lowering our emissions of greenhouse gases, but the cosmetic industry has a part to play. Global warming is just one factor to take into consideration when we talk about saving our planet. We also have to be mindful of the effects of the products we use and ultimately flush down our drainage systems before going out to sea. 

The use of food crops in cosmetics and other industries, especially palm oil, is also a significant environmental issue. The harvesting and trade of palm oil has had a catastrophic effect on endangered species and fragile ecosystems due to deforestation. The term RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil) is well-known within our industry, but what does it really involve? The RSPO was established in 2004 with the objective of promoting sustainable palm oil. You would be forgiven for thinking that it might be simpler to just move away from palm oil all together, but it is not that simple, as its yield is 4-10 times more oil than other crops per unit of cultivated land. Unfortunately, replacing palm oil would just compound the issue as the cultivation demands would be so much higher. The most important RSPO criteria states that no primary forests or areas that contain significant concentrations of biodiversity (e.g. endangered species) or fragile ecosystems can be cleared. Other principles include a significant reduction in the use of pesticides and fires as well as the fair treatment of workers. This is a subject close to the heart of many producers within the cosmetics industry including our partner, Dr Straetmans.