Ecology in cosmetics. What depends on us?

We asked one of the greenest beauty brands, Garnier, about the environmental and ethical commitments we hear and read about more and more. What do our shampoos have to do with the carbon footprint and how is the brand going to inspire 250 million people to go greener?

Healthy-Food is answered by Aurélie Weinling, Global Director of Science Communication and Sustainability at Garnier.

250 million people – why so many?

In July 2020, Garnier launched the Green Beauty Comprehensive Sustainability Initiative, set ambitious goals for the next five years, and made serious commitments. However, we believe that everyone should do something for themselves. Therefore, we want to inspire 250 million people to rebuild their lives a little, to make them more environmentally friendly. And this huge number – 250 million – we calculated based on the coverage of the audience of the Garnier and National Geographic brands, our reliable partner.

What green steps have Garnier already taken and what’s next?

Starting in July 2020, we have expanded our commitment to Green Beauty from sourcing raw materials and optimizing packaging to producing more sustainably and reducing the environmental impact of our products themselves.

In addition to this, in the fight against plastic pollution, Garnier has partnered with two non-governmental organizations:

In our plans:

What does it mean to “make manufacturing carbon neutral”?

It is very important for Garnier to produce the highest quality products at the brand’s 22 factories while reducing the negative impact on the environment. The transformation of production into carbon neutral requires the development of local renewable energy sources in accordance with the energy technologies of the country where the production is located. If local renewable energy sources are not available to us, we try to create our own based on biomass, biomethanization or solar panels whenever possible.

What environmental impact can shampoos, shower gels, skin care products have? Most people don’t even think about it. What do they need to know?

During its entire life cycle, a cosmetic product can affect the environment. Carbon footprint and water pollution are major factors. At Garnier, we are committed to a carbon-neutral business model, and we are committed to developing products that help reduce water consumption, whether dry formulas, quick rinse formulas, or no-rinsing products.

What can people do in their daily lives to become more environmentally responsible?

At Garnier, we believe in packaging recycling. But this recycling is possible only if we can close the circle of consumption and avoid waste. Therefore, we consider it our responsibility to instill a culture of packaging recycling by spreading useful information about how to do it. We place this information on our packaging and on our product pages on the Internet.

What are the results of a product life cycle analysis? How does 80% of carbon emissions come from the use of shampoos?

Indeed, 80% of the carbon footprint of shampoos is due to their home use. This is the result of energy consumption for heating water. And Garnier is working to create innovations in this direction. For example, a solid shampoo (it is not yet available in Russia): the original dry formula plus a light rinse – this reduces the time in the shower when washing your hair compared to using a regular shampoo.

What are the differences between recycled plastic and new plastic in terms of production costs, price, quality, convenience for producers and consumers?

Naturalness, environmental friendliness have become the DNA of the Garnier brand. When did this tradition begin?

Sustainability and ethics have always been at the heart of Garnier. Developing more natural formulas, sustainable ingredient sourcing, we were the first to bring certified organic products to the broader skin care market. Recent crises (environmental, COVID-19 pandemic) are alarm bells. It’s time for the world to stop and not cross the line. Brands can play a role in this. Being responsible and conscious is the main thing for the future of the planet and humanity. The same concerns our consumers. Generation Z (or Gen Green) are activists at heart, fighting to protect their future, and brands need to live up to them.

Garnier intends to develop this direction, Green Beauty is a response to the request of our consumers, an opportunity to jointly apply efforts for sustainable development.

What does Green Beauty mean to you?

What trends in the beauty industry do you predict in connection with the growth of environmental consciousness?

Our recent study found that in 2022, 83% of people want to be more responsible consumers. This means that the beauty industry can play a role in helping consumers make this transition. But we don’t see it as a trend. Consumers are looking for ways to reduce the negative impact on the planet. To do this, Garnier, as already mentioned, offers alternative innovations, in particular to reduce water consumption. In addition to solid shampoo, another example is a leave-in conditioner (it has recently appeared and is not yet available in Russia), produced in a carbon-neutral factory. We hope that our approach to products will help someone change simple habits for the sake of the overall well-being of the planet. Everything matters in this matter.