The Sustainable Cosmetics Summit will take place in Hong Kong this November, focusing on the environmental impact of cosmetic ingredients.

“Rapid economic development and industrialisation have had a heavy toll on Asian ecosystems. Asia has lost 95% of its primary, uncut forests, whilst individual countries have lost 70-90% of their natural habitats. Although the region has become an international source of cosmetic ingredients, the ecological price has been high. Production of palm oil – a ubiquitous ingredient in personal care products – has been directly responsible for the destruction of rainforests in South-East Asia, putting many animal and plant species to near extinction. Many cosmetic ingredients are produced in Asia by expanding agricultural frontiers to virgin terrain.” 

“Although the cosmetics industry has become global, divisions are occurring in terms of regulations and standards. Most fragmentation is occurring in Asia where major country markets have different interpretations of cosmetic products.”

For more info about sustainable sourcing »

Image: iStockphoto