Jan. 17, 2025, 1:07 p.m.
Why wait for rules to be honest?
Let’s prioritize honesty in sustainability over waiting for greenwashing regulations!
Formulating the future
Dear reader,
The EU Greenwashing Ban was announced with much fanfare, promising to transform sustainability communication in cosmetics. Yet now, in early 2025, our industry is quiet, waiting for detailed guidelines, specific rules, and exact requirements.
But here's my question: why wait for regulations to be honest?
We've seen this before with microplastics regulation. When discussions about banning them began, most of the industry waited for REACH to define what constituted a microplastic. Only the obvious issue—microbeads in scrubs—saw immediate action. Everything else remained in limbo while we waited for specifics.
A better world needs trust, which requires honesty—about costs, ingredient origins, and environmental impact. While the industry waits for regulatory details, we can show consumers the true story behind their products.
Some brands are choosing a different path. They're examining their environmental claims, documenting their evidence, and being transparent about their achievements and challenges. They are doing this not because regulations demand it, but because it's the right thing to do.
The cosmetics industry can either wait for detailed greenwashing regulations or lead in transparent communication now. We can show the real costs—financial and environmental—of our products and be honest about our ingredients’ origins and their impact.
Yes, this means admitting our processes aren't perfect and acknowledging that sustainable alternatives are sometimes more expensive. But isn't that honesty what consumers deserve?
What's your take? Are you waiting for detailed regulations, or are you moving towards greater transparency? Reply—I'd love to hear your thoughts on building trust through honesty in our industry.
In hope for a more transparent future,
Priscilla
P.S. If you're interested in the EU Greenwashing Ban, listen to my discussion on the Green Beauty Conversations podcast from July 2024.