This week the APPG on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing convened a panel of beauty experts to learn more about the industry’s efforts to protect the environment. Cross-party MPs heard from household brands including L’Oréal and Neal’s Yard Remedies, leading cosmetic trade associations and research experts, on what they are doing to improve their sustainability practices and what barriers they face.
The panellists discussed how the industry is doing all it can to tackle packaging waste and called for clear and consistent recycling policies across the country to help brands and consumers. They also called for greater recognition of existing industry standards on what products are labelled as “organic” or “natural” and produced to the highest sustainability practices.
Co-Chairs of the APPG Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP said:
“Consumers are increasingly interested in what ingredients are being used in their beauty products and whether they can be recycled, and its great to see the industry responding to positively to this. To help the industry reduce its environmental impact further we need common recycling policies across the country that are easy to understand.
We look forward to hearing more about how the beauty industry is continuing to adapt to improve its sustainability practices and look after our planet, and we will be asking the Government to take steps to support this”.
The Group has published a summary of the ‘Top ten things we’ve learnt’ following the meeting, which is available to read here.
APPG Members in attendance:
- Carolyn Harris MP, Co-Chair
- Judith Cummins MP, Co-Chair
- Jessica Morden MP, Vice-Chair
- Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Vice-Chair
- Peter Dowd MP, Treasurer
- Nick Smith MP, Secretary
Panellists:
- Nathalie Bleach, Operations, Director UK & Ireland, L’Oréal
- Jenny Collins, Beauty Standards, Soil Association (SA)
- Dominic Winter, Campaign and Sustainability Manager, Neal’s Yard Remedies (NYR)
- Dr Denise Baden, Associate Professor, Southampton University & Founder, Eco Hair & Beauty
- Emma Meredith, Director, Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA)