In recent years, green beauty has completely revolutionised the cosmetics industry.
You may have noticed that more companies are marketing their products with terms like "clean" and "vegan." This is a result of customers changing their purchasing behaviours to favour ecologically friendly products.
Green beauty is a movement in the cosmetics industry towards sustainability, from ingredient sourcing to packaging. Protecting our planet's resources and inhabitants while being conscious of our decisions' effects on them is part of our commitment to it.
While more businesses are implementing eco-friendly options and attempting to strengthen their green credentials, it has been discovered that some are exaggerating how environmentally friendly their practices really are.
When purchasing cosmetic goods, many consumers now look for the ecologically friendly alternative, making it profitable for businesses to advertise that they are green even when they may not actually be. A term for this is "greenwashing."
Continue reading to find out more about what "greenwashing" is, how to avoid it, and what our organisation is doing to be sustainable.
What Is Greenwashing?
Greenwashing is a marketing technique used by businesses to make their brand appear greener than it actually is. Companies frequently make claims using buzzwords like "clean" and "eco-friendly" without providing any supporting data.
This tactic is designed to entice environmentally conscious individuals to buy products by giving them false information. The problem with this is that it can lead consumers to make unsustainable purchases that ultimately benefit the business rather than the environment.
Consumers believe they have a shared social obligation to preserve the environment and are increasingly becoming more environmentally sensitive.
Companies can exploit this by utilising greenwashing techniques, which does more harm than good.
Because there are frequently more environmentally friendly options available, businesses who are not open and honest about their level of sustainability run the danger of losing the trust of their customers. This can hurt their reputation, brand image, and ultimately the environment.
How Can I Avoid Greenwashing?
Since many businesses are now opting for more environmentally friendly solutions, greenwashing is on the rise, which can make it challenging to identify deceptive marketing.
Here are three warning signs that will help you spot greenwashing:
Tip 1: Don't let the colour green fool you
When beauty product packaging is green and displays imagery of plants and animals, it may be easy to assume that a product or brand is eco-friendly.
This might not always be the case, though.
They might be using excessively green imagery to make up for their lack of claims, leading buyers to believe that their goods are more environmentally friendly than they actually are.
Try not to base your opinion of a brand solely on its packaging to avoid falling victim to "greenwashing." Examine the brand's history to determine its sustainability.
Tip 2: Look for third party certifications
Buzzwords like "clean," "vegan," and "eco-friendly" are unregulated in the beauty industry. This means that businesses can use these words without having to provide evidence that they meet these standards.
Instead, pay attention to reputable outside auditors third party certifications to confirm whether these claims are accurate.
If a brand takes pleasure in being natural, they won't hesitate to provide the proof to support their claims in complete transparency.
Merindah Botanicals, we pride ourselves on being certified Made Safe, Toxic-free and Allergy Certified by Safe Cosmetics Australia and also certified Cruelty-free and vegan by PETA.
Tip 3: Take a closer look at the label
Here are a some terms to look out for on labels:
Dermatologically tested is a positive indicator, but it's not the only one.
When someone talks about "single" components, they're trying to entice you with that ingredient's advantages. The presence of "vegan" ingredients does not imply that the entire product is vegan.
Look for companies that make "whole" claims, such as "100% natural," rather than merely vague, generalised "organic" claims.
Manufacturers love using the phrase "naturally derived" to describe skincare products that have absolutely no resemblance to natural extracts.
Unfortunately, because this phrase is UNREGULATED, manufacturers are free to use it anyway they like without any repercussions.
Nothing makes a product more enticing than the absence of potentially cancer-causing substances like parabens and sulphates.
However, the widely used "greenwashing" strategy neglects to identify the product's actual contents.
Products with a long list of "free from" claims generally have something to hide, so be sure to take a closer look at the actual list of ingredients on the back of the packaging and don't go by face value.
The Merindah Botanicals Promise
I can say with absolute certainty that Merindah Botanicals has never engaged in greenwashing and never will. We never make claims about who we are not.
Our ingredients are carefully and ethically sourced.
Transparency, honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of our ethos.
Through our green chemistry process, every one of our products has been holistically designed so that:
- Our ingredients work synergistically, which means they don’t counteract each other or make the other ineffective
- The appropriate proportion of oil and water is present to deliver a smooth texture and long-lasting hydration.
- We use the right blend of botanicals to treat skin conditions and perform important functions at a cellular level.
- The product is put through rigors efficacy testing by people, not animals, with no harm done to anyone!
- No known skin irritants exist.
- Merindah Botanicals products do not and never will contain any artificial, man-made, chemical, or toxic chemicals.
Have you ever purchased something you initially believed to be healthy but afterwards found out that it wasn't? Tell me some of your experiences with greenwashing.