Amaya Shenoy
Personally, I’m a huge fan of the usage of cosmetic products, whether it be skincare products or shampoo. While I’m searching for my products, I always tend to lean towards brands that market their products as being “natural” as a way to make myself feel like I’m making a healthy choice by not using so many chemicals. However, despite a company’s claims that their products are eco-friendly, the terms that cosmetic companies use to label their products are relatively unregulated, leading their consumers to be misinformed as to how sustainable the products they’re buying really are.
When beauty companies claim that their products are “natural” in reality, this likely means that they have a few natural ingredients in their products. Some of these products include chemicals for the purpose of preservation or to help the product lather. However, once these chemical-ridden products are washed off, they’re sent into the drain where they have to potential of contaminating lakes and streams, which can damage the flora and fauna of the ecosystem.
In addition, some products have plastic microbeads in them marketed towards “exfoliation.” While the microbeads in beauty products could help with exfoliating the skin, they take a long time to degrade. Once these microbeads end up in bodies of water, organisms are at a risk of consuming them, which could hurt them. Luckily, a few countries have banned the inclusion of plastic microbeads in beauty products, which helps decrease the amount of plastic disposed of in bodies of water and landfills.
The packaging of cosmetic products is also a cause of concern. Cosmetic product bottles must be designed in a way that would prevent the contents of the bottle from degrading the packaging. This means that the materials used in the packaging are not easily degradable or recyclable after use, which contributes to the amount of waste in landfills.
Although the cosmetic industry can be environmentally taxing, there are ways to be more environmentally efficient while picking ou products. For one, you can do more research about the products that we buy and the ingredients that are used in the products. Not only can you avoid products that contain harmful chemicals and microbeads, but you can also make sure that you are buying products that are suited for yourself, which would prevent you from throwing away as many products. You can also use products that use less packaging which would lead to less waste in landfills.
Although the cosmetic industry can be environmentally taxing, there are ways to be more environmentally efficient while picking ou products. For one, you can do more research about the products that we buy and the ingredients that are used in the products. Not only can you avoid products that contain harmful chemicals and microbeads, but you can also make sure that you are buying products that are suited for yourself, which would prevent you from throwing away as many products. You can also use products that use less packaging which would lead to less waste in landfills.
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