EP244. The forgotten pillar of sustainability

When we talk about sustainability and beauty, we tend to picture, for instance, eco friendly packaging or organically grown ingredients or a low carbon or climate footprint. But how often do we discuss the people behind the ingredients? So the women who harvest the shea nuts or the people who distill the essential oils or grow the plants that go into our formulations? The reality is that sustainability obviously should go beyond environmental impact. It also has to focus on ethical supply chains. Now I covered this recently when talking about human rights abuses in the cosmetics industry. So go and check out episode 230 if you haven't heard it yet. And this thought struck me again while I was talking with Rahama Wright, founder of Share Yeleen, on the latest episode of the podcast which was released last week. Make sure you queue up that episode if you haven't heard it yet. Now, Rahama's work has always been focused on empowering women in Ghana, helping them earn a living wage through the production of shea butter. And her commitment isn't only to create top quality ingredients, but it's also to create long term positive change in communities that are too often overlooked by the beauty industry. And that discussion left me wondering why isn't ethical sourcing more central to the conversation around sustainability in beauty? So that's what I'm going to cover on the podcast today. Hi, it's Lorraine Dallmeyer, chartered environmentalist, biologist and CEO of award winning online organic cosmetic formulation school Formula Botanica. I host the Green Beauty Conversations podcast and these are my green beauty opinions in which I challenge the beauty industry's terrible track record on sustainability and share my thoughts on how we make the beauty sector a better and more sustainable place. If you want to be the first to hear all of my latest episodes, make sure you subscribe to this podcast. So let's take a closer look at why ethical supply chains are such a critical, yet often neglected aspect of sustainable beauty Beauty so sustainable beauty isn't just green in its practices, it's also fair. The core of an ethical supply chain is rooted in fair wages and improved standards of living for workers, particularly in developing countries. Now in the case of shea butter, for instance, many of us don't realise that its production depends on women, often in remote villages where employment opportunities can be scarce and without those fair wages, the growth of the beauty industry can actually widen the gap of economic inequality in some of these region, all whilst promoting products that are then labeled as green or eco friendly or sustainable. And true sustainability requires addressing both environmental impact as well as social equity. And too often, beauty Brands quickly trumpet their environmental efforts while staying really silent on the social dynamics that are at play while making their formulations. So take for example, the rise in natural ingredients in skincare, a trend that's contributing to higher demand for certain plants and oils. I've talked about this many times here on the podcast. But that demand can potentially strain the ecosystems that house those plants and can affect the local people who rely on those ecosystems. So without intentional ethical partnerships that prioritize fair wages and fair labor conditions, the beauty industry risks perpetuating yet another form of exploitation. Now, let's not forget the beauty industry is a half a trillion dollar industry and many brands have the resources to implement fair practices, but they choose not. Perhaps it's because ethical supply ch don't produce the immediate visual impact of, let's say, a refillable lipstick tube. But by supporting fair trade ingredients, brands not only help communities thrive, they're actually investing in the longevity of their own supply chain. Because when workers are treated fairly and given the opportunity to build sustainable livelihoods, ingredient quality is likely to be higher, let's face it. And supply chains are more resilient to disruptions. So Ruhama's journey, which she talked about last week on the podcast all about building her brand, Shea Yeleen, is a testament to this. Her company's commitment to a fair wage model for Ghanaian Shea producers has enabled her to create a really stable, high quality supply chain, all while uplifting communities. And she's not alone. Because businesses worldwide are starting to realize that building better supply chains benefits everyone, from ingredient producers to us as shoppers. Now, building ethical supply chains isn't easy, but it's essential. Let's be clear. Creating a fully ethical supply chain isn't a walk in the park. It's a process that requires trust, long term investment, and often working across countries, across continents, across cultures. But as Ruhama demonstrated, it is possible and it's incredibly rewarding. You heard it in what she was telling us last week. Companies have to move beyond short term profit motives and they have to seek to make meaningful impact about where these ingredients come from. Which means asking tough questions such as who is producing these ingredients? Are they being paid fairly? Are their working conditions safe? Now, the truth is, without ethical considerations in beauty, this entire concept of sustainable beauty falls apart if the people growing and harvesting or processing our ingredients can't earn a living wage. What does that word, sustainable, even really mean? What's sustainable about that? So I think it's time that the beauty industry recognizes that the real power in our formulations doesn't come from glitzy packaging or trendy branding. It comes from the people behind them. That's why this week my challenge to you is to think about the ingredients in your favorite products and to look at where they came from. Start researching beauty brands that prioritize ethical sourcing, and if you're formulating your own products, think carefully about the sourcing choices that you make. Seek out suppliers who are transparent about their labor practices and who are committed to fair wages for their workers. By championing ethical supply chains, we can help create a beauty industry that doesn't just look good on the outside, but is genuinely good at its core. Thank you for listening to my green beauty opinions. Remember to visit the Formula botanica website@formulabotanica.com to try our free online formulation course. And if you haven't subscribed yet to the Green Beauty Conversations podcast, please do so now in your favorite podcast app and leave me a five star review. If you enjoy the discussions and opinions that I host, I'll be back soon with my next episode.