in-conversation with ...

We started this year by asking one crucial question: Is 'circularity' achievable in the cosmetics industry?

Throughout the year, with the help of industry experts, we've explored how companies integrate this concept into their operations.

This month, with the help of my panel

Richard Cope, Senior Trend Consultant at Mintel

Jessi Baker, Founder & CEO at Provenance

Jo Chidley, Founder at Reposit & Beauty Kitchen

We discuss the practical steps the industry can take to implement change.

The skin is home to a diverse ecosystem of bacteria, essential for maintaining skin health.

In recent years, the beauty industry has recognised the importance of the skin microbiome, leading to innovative product developments and new marketing strategies.

Yet, as this area grows, the question remains: how will the industry ensure it respects and supports the natural plant ecosystems?

This month

Harold Van der Hoeven, Director of Product Design and Development at CLR Berlin

Elsa Jugman, Founder & CEO at HelloBiome

Mallory Huron, Beauty & Wellness Strategist at Fashion Snoops

Discuss the complexities of product development for the skin microbiome.

In an era of sustainability, the fragrance industry is making waves by turning to eco-friendly, circular solutions that captivate our senses and respect our planet.

This month, with the help of my panel: 

Frances Shoemack, Founder & CEO at Abel, A New Zealand-based 100% natural fragrance house.

Nick Vaus, Partner and Creative Director at Free The Birds, a UK-based independent brand and communications agency.

We explore the innovations and inspirations behind this transformative movement.

Hemp plants flourish with astounding speed, requiring only a modest plot of land and minimal pesticides. Their roots delve deep, sourcing water and nutrients well below the topsoil, and they possess the remarkable ability to purify the air by absorbing heavy metals.

Hemp products seamlessly align with the contemporary consumer’s preference for sustainable, health-centric, and wellness-based beauty products, which gained traction in the post-COVID era.

However, it is peculiar that despite the vast potential and burgeoning growth in regions like North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa, the beauty sector in Europe and Asia appears to be in retreat.

This month with the help of my panel,

Mallory Huron, Senior Strategist of Beauty & Wellness at Fashion Snoops

Nicole Brennan, Co-founder of Biogenic CBD

Angela Mustone, Founder of High on Love

We delve into the regulatory hurdles that are hindering expansion in this category.

In previous episodes, we have discussed the concept of the Circular Cosmetics industry, mainly regarding the impact on ‘People & Planet’.

This month with the help of my panel,

Dr Julia Baines Science Policy Manager at PETA

Dr Carol Treasure, the Founder & CEO at XCellr8

Vic Wood, the Founder of  greanerbeauty.com

we discuss the impact a circular industry could or should have on the animal kingdom.

Could solid personal care products be the future of circular cosmetics?

Solid formulas cut down on packaging, reduce water consumption, and are perfect for travel.

But how can the industry convince the consumer to swap bottles for bars?

This month,

Prof Dr Jeroen Hugenholtz CTO at NoPalm Ingredients.  

Ben Grace Founder at SBTRACT skincare

Samir Lakhani Chief EcoSoap Officer at Eco-Soap Bank  

Discuss what is possible now and what the future might look like. 

It is estimated that somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 tons of sunscreen enter the world's seas each year.

This devastates coral reefs and affects the fertility of marine life, ultimately negatively impacting human health.

How can the cosmetics industry reformulate sunscreen to do better for people and the planet?

This month

Sara Dudley, CEO of The Sunscreen Company 

Allard Marx, Founder, and CEO at Aethic 

Arnita Wofford, Global Marketing & Technical Director Beauty & Personal Care at Univar Solutions  

Mallory Huron, Senior Strategist Beauty & Wellness at Fashion Snoops 

Discuss formulating future SPFs.

Are we getting ‘Sustainable Skin Care’ all wrong?

Are the only raw materials choices for cosmetic formulators & chemists between earth-harvested ingredients and lab-engineered ingredients?

Or is there a third way?

How can beauty manufacturers reformulate, reposition, and renew exciting product portfolios into a circular model?

This month

Natalie Deacon, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Avon International

Laura Rudoe, Director at Good Ventures & Evolve Beauty

Dr. Richard Blackburn, Professor of Sustainable Materials at the University of Leeds | Co-Founder Keracol Limited & Dr. Craft Cosmetics

Discuss how to transform the global cosmetics industry.

The road to a circular cosmetics industry is fraught with challenges on both the manufacturing and consumption sides of the equation.

One only has to look at the ‘hair care’ category to understand that 80% of ‘waste’ is produced from consumption, not production.

But as gatekeepers to the industry, how can R&D, production, marketing, and retail teams work together to mitigate the ‘hair care’ category’s environmental footprint?

This month

Audrey Wesson Corporate Sustainability  Manager at INOLEX 

Mallory Huron  Beauty & Wellness Strategist at Fashion Snoops 

Dr Terence Chung Founder of FRUU 

Anna Brightman  Co-Founder at UpCircle Beauty 

Discuss the possibilities for circularity within hair care.

The 1980s, a decade that began with a recession, which triggered an oil crisis and was at the height of the Cold War tension between Russia & the West, was also the decade in which the consolidation of modern environmental awareness, sustainability policies, and a new perception of the relationship between industry, society, and land become rooted in corporate strategy.

In 2023 the evolutionary understanding of this relationship is the concept of the circular economy, which sees consumer products as having a lifecycle in a loop.

But is ‘circularity’ possible for the cosmetics industry?

An industry currently responsible for 100 billion tonnes of waste a year

This month

Amarjit Sahota, Founder at Ecovia Intelligence 

Jo Chidley, Founder of Re & Beauty Kitchen UK

Andrew Almack, CEO at Plastics For Change

Discuss how the retail sector could /should pivot towards a circular, waste-free carbon positive future.