While no beauty products can truly be 100% green or have a zero carbon footprint, there are beauty products available on the market that are formulated and packaged to minimize their impact on the environment.
Green beauty products are those that have been made with natural, organic, sustainable or renewable resources. Beauty products can also be considered green if they are vegan, made without animal testing or packaged in green materials like recyclable, biodegradable or compostable products.
A green beauty product is one that has been made while meeting green standards at every stage: from growth, through manufacturing and processing right down to how the products are stored and packaged. Even the energy used can be taken into consideration for a green product. The best green beauty product is one that leaves behind the smallest carbon footprint, which means it has a minimal environmental impact.
If a product is truly green, it should have been produced with the environment and your health in mind. However, the term “green” is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA will certify cosmetic products that are made with organic ingredients.
If a product is made with 95% or more organic ingredients, it will carry a USDA organic symbol. If it includes more than 70% organic ingredients, the label will say that the product was “made with organic ingredients.”
(Note: “organic” and “green” isn’t the same thing. A product that is labeled organic was not created with any manmade products, such as fertilizers. When it comes to being green, you should consider things such as how the beauty product was made and the amount of packaging used.
Is there a lot of packaging? Ask yourself: is there extra or unnecessary packaging? Is the packaging recyclable or biodegradable? Does the package have the recycling logo on the package? (Three arrows that make a triangle.)
A major element of green living is being aware of which ingredients are in a product. If you aren’t familiar with an ingredient, you might not want to buy the item.
On the other hand, just because a product has some natural ingredients doesn’t mean that everything else in the product is organic or has been produced in a way that cuts down on waste. Consider the transportation that went into bringing your product to store shelves. If you buy a product made locally or from a local distributor, you’ll help support the local economy and cut down on fuel consumption, even if it is by a small amount.
Choosing green beauty products may require bargaining with yourself on occasion. Your favorite shampoo may be off limits may have extra packaging or contain some inorganic ingredients.
Choosing green beauty products may also require changing your beauty routine. Some product lines offer recycling programs that let you bring back items for refills or give a free goodie when you make a return.
You can also change your habits. A shorter shower that’s just long enough to let you incorporate all your beauty routine will help conserve water. As will turning off the faucet while you scrub your face or brush your teeth is a little step that makes a difference.
Perhaps the best way to go green with your beauty routine is to use fewer products in general. You might not need several hair gels or hand moisturizers. Less is more, especially when you’re talking about carbon footprints.