Is your brand falling behind on sustainable beauty?
Sustainability in beauty isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a business necessity. Consumers are no longer just interested in what’s in their products; they care about where ingredients come from, how they’re made and what happens to the packaging when they’re done.
44% of 18-36-year-olds say sustainability is a key factor in their beauty buying decisions. If your brand isn’t stepping up, you could be stepping aside for those that are.
Here’s how leading beauty brands are setting the standard for clean beauty. How do you measure up?
Sustainable beauty practices to follow in 2025
Sustainably-sourced ingredients
Consumers are increasingly prioritising natural ingredients, with the market for sustainable beauty components projected to grow from $642 million in 2022 to $1.09 billion (USD) by 2030. To meet evolving expectations, forward-thinking brands are:
Using renewable resources like plant-based oils and botanical extracts
Partnering with ethical farming & Fair Trade suppliers
Incorporating lab-grown alternatives for rare botanicals
Choosing locally sourced, organic and non-GMO ingredients
Energy-efficient manufacturing
Sustainability isn’t just about what’s in the bottle—it’s about how it’s made. Leading brands are minimising their carbon footprint by:
Working with manufacturers that prioritise renewable energy like solar or wind
Offsetting carbon emissions with renewable energy credits
Opting for low-energy formulation processes like cold blending
Ensuring production facilities use energy-efficient equipment
Waste reduction
The staggering amount of waste generated by the beauty industry is unsustainable. To counteract this, industry leaders are:
Recycling or repurposing all waste generated during production
Partnering with suppliers & manufacturers that repurpose by-products
Using upcycled ingredients like fruit peels or coffee grounds in formulations
Selecting multi-functional ingredients to reduce expired chemical waste.
Sustainable water management
Water conservation is an urgent global issue, and the beauty industry must play its part. Sustainable brands are:
Implementing closed-loop water systems to recycle & reuse water in manufacturing
Supporting rainwater harvesting for non-critical operations
Choosing biodegradable cleaning agents to reduce water pollution
Developing waterless beauty formulas like solid bars or concentrates
Green chemistry
Consumers are shifting towards cleaner, safer beauty, with 40% prioritising natural ingredients. Forward-thinking brands are adapting by:
Avoiding harmful chemicals like parabens & sulfates
Using biodegradable, non-bioaccumulative ingredients
Focusing on microbiome-friendly formulations that support skin health
Sustainable packaging
With an estimated 120 billion units of cosmetic packaging being produced annually, about 70% of the industry’s waste comes from packaging alone. Packaging innovation is no longer optional. The best brands are:
Switching to biodegradable materials like plant-based plastics, bamboo, or paper
Designing refillable & reusable packaging systems
Opting for minimalist, waste-reducing packaging designs
Sustainability is the future of beauty
With 9 in 10 consumers factoring sustainability into their beauty purchases, brands must evolve to meet new expectations. Those that lead with transparency, eco-conscious formulations and sustainable manufacturing will earn consumer trust and drive long-term success.
BiomeCentric: Your partner in sustainable beauty
At BiomeCentric, we help brands turn sustainability goals into reality. Our commitment to eco-conscious manufacturing includes:
100% Australian-made raw materials, ethically and sustainably sourced
Microbiome-friendly ingredients free from harmful chemicals
Eco-friendly manufacturing with sustainability embedded throughout the supply chain
Locally based on the Gold Coast, supporting native and novel ingredients
Sustainable packaging options that reduce waste and prioritise biodegradability
The future belongs to brands that take sustainability seriously. Let’s make sure yours is one of them.