9/22/2023
Transparency all down the line
In her latest column, Elfriede Dambacher explains why clear criteria and true transparency are so important in the natural and organic cosmetics industry.
More than a quarter of consumers in the German-speaking countries shop with sustainability aspects in mind, and are even ready to spend more for greater sustainability. I ask myself why the natural cosmetics market in Austria, Switzerland, or Germany isn’t benefitting more from this trend. On closer examination, a lack of information isn’t the main reason. And this what I’d like to talk about today.
Since sustainability became an issue in the cosmetics industry, its meaning has been stretched, and each company has defined its own standard. It’s being loudly proclaimed in all the media that the cosmetics industry is taking it seriously and becoming more sustainable. But if we look behind the scenes, it’s a very different story. The criteria on which the claims are based are often extremely industry-friendly, and they serve to hide certain things, all of which has nothing to do with sustainability. In short, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for non-experts to tell the difference between serious efforts and greenwashing. But for me, this is where sustainability begins. I expect transparency all down the line! Things are becoming increasingly confusing for consumers, and they can hardly tell any longer who intends to do what better by when. I believe that the only solution is clear and comparable criteria. And this is where the associations for certified natural cosmetics could be clearer and speak up more than they have in the past. It’s all the more necessary given the current actionism. Otherwise the natural cosmetics industry will allow itself to be defeated by its very own topic – one that has served to set the industry apart right from the start.
Elfriede Dambacher, owner of naturkosmetik konzepte, is an international expert and author. www.naturkosmetik-konzepte.de
Since sustainability became an issue in the cosmetics industry, its meaning has been stretched, and each company has defined its own standard. It’s being loudly proclaimed in all the media that the cosmetics industry is taking it seriously and becoming more sustainable. But if we look behind the scenes, it’s a very different story. The criteria on which the claims are based are often extremely industry-friendly, and they serve to hide certain things, all of which has nothing to do with sustainability. In short, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for non-experts to tell the difference between serious efforts and greenwashing. But for me, this is where sustainability begins. I expect transparency all down the line! Things are becoming increasingly confusing for consumers, and they can hardly tell any longer who intends to do what better by when. I believe that the only solution is clear and comparable criteria. And this is where the associations for certified natural cosmetics could be clearer and speak up more than they have in the past. It’s all the more necessary given the current actionism. Otherwise the natural cosmetics industry will allow itself to be defeated by its very own topic – one that has served to set the industry apart right from the start.
Elfriede Dambacher, owner of naturkosmetik konzepte, is an international expert and author. www.naturkosmetik-konzepte.de
