The beauty brands putting their money where their ideals are

Greenwashing is part of the beauty industry but many companies are committed to sustainable products. Geraldine Walsh talks to some Irish practitioners on their efforts

Donagh Quigley, founder of Ireland’s kindest brand The Handmade Soap Company pictured hosting his new workshop at Wicklow Street,

There are currently no standards that the beauty industry must meet in order to market their products as sustainable. The industry itself has implemented a broad range of strategies to actively contribute to the sector’s sustainability and there are calls to regulate the use of terms such as clean and sustainable. However, “greenwashing”, the exaggeration of a company’s environmental credentials, continues to occur.

The Net Zero Reality check report recently unveiled by climate consultancy the Carbon Trust’s Net Zero Intelligence Unit states that “the beauty and personal care sector has not yet demonstrated the urgency and credibility needed to effectively tackle its contribution to climate change”.