THE SCENT OF SUSTAINABILITY

Amid mounting concerns about climate change, the world of perfumery is innovating planet-friendly alternatives. Nafeesa Saini decodes what it means to make a sustainable perfume today.

- Nafeesa Saini

The beauty industry has an ugly side and it’s called pollution. Microplastics from packaging and formulations pollute oceans and harm wildlife; palm oil plantations drive deforestation, decimating habitats and endangering species; sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone bleach coral reefs, risking marine life and food security.

Less is discussed about perfumery’s environmental impact, but this niche industry is not faultless. Similar pollutive packaging and unethical supply chains aside, it contributes to ozone pollution as fragrances contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Now that the industry’s environmental awakening is accelerated by the pandemic’s devastating effects, consumer demand for eco-friendly beauty is surging. Cosmetic brands and large conglomerates are responding by pledging new green frameworks.

The next big thing now is fragrance, but what makes a sustainable scent? Following the key principles of renewable resources, environmental protection, fair trade ethics, and social welfare, we explore the new innovations fuelling the eco-conscious perfume movement.

THE NEXT FRONTIER

“Carbon-neutral” is one of the newest buzzwords loved by beauty brands. To be a carbon-neutral brand, it must offset, by other means, the same amount of carbon dioxide that it emits into the atmosphere during its production and operations.