green beauty: the big brands
While the eco beauty market may be dominated by local and boutique brands, the big names are also playing their part in making the world a more beautiful place …
Estée Lauder: Estée Lauder (who create environmentally-aware brands Aveda, Origins and Ojon) recently joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership program and has begun purchasing wind-generated electricity for its manufacturing, packaging and distribution facilities around the world, while the New Jersey plant uses solar-powered energy.
L’Oréal: The big-wigs at this brand are working towards a goal of zero landfill waste from its warehouses and factories (44 per cent met that target in 2006), while its manufacturing process has a 91 per cent waste recovery level. L’Oréal also pioneered EpiSkin, an alternative to animal testing that is now available to the entire industry.
Chanel: For its luxurious Sublimage skincare range, Chanel sources the key ingredient, vanilla planifolia orchid, from Madagascar, with an emphasis on fair-trading and sustainability. “It’s a question of respect for the local communities,” says Xavier Ormancey, head of Chanel’s Cosmetic Research Centre. “The plants are first and foremost a part of Madagascan heritage … If we can take that know-how, validate it and give it back to the Madagascans … there is a return of money and investment to their country.”
La Prairie: To formulate its Advanced Marine Biology Cream, La Prairie developed proprietary technology to enable it to cultivate marine plants on land, so as to not endanger the sea’s ecosystem. An impressive stamp of approval: Céline Cousteau, granddaughter of renowned ocean explorer Jacques and program coordinator for the Ocean Futures Society, is a spokesperson for the product. For each jar sold, La Prairie makes a contribution to the Society, which works to create awareness of the issues facing marine life.
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