New technologies and novel green ingredients are the focal themes of the European edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit (www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com/Europe).
Taking place in Paris on 21-23 November, the summit comprises a two-day conference programme followed by an interactive workshop. For the first time, a summit will look at the impact of new technologies on the sustainable development of the cosmetics industry. Key speakers will discuss the controversy surrounding nanotechnology, biomimicry in cosmetics, novel extraction techniques, the potential of stem cell technology, and advances in biopolymers. The growing influence of mobile devices, social media and e-based distribution models will be featured. The summit begins with a keynote on the growing complexity of the sustainability challenge faced by the beauty industry. Pressure on cosmetic companies is mounting as resources become increasingly scarce, raw material prices rise, yet retailers and consumers are demanding more transparency. In an industry that has historically received much negative media attention, consumers are increasingly questioning the ethical component of cosmetic products. Claudie Ravel, founder of Guayapi, discusses methods of improving the social and ethical dimensions of cosmetics. The French brand has set up sustainable sourcing projects in Sri Lanka and the Amazon, adopting fair trade principles and encouraging biodiversity.
