How do you make a skincare routine sustainable?

Already a 500 billion (US) dollar industry, the skincare industry is predicted to continue growing year on year. It uses huge amounts of natural resources - yet consumers are increasingly driven by sustainability when making purchases. A 2023 NielsenIQ survey found that 62% of consumers consider sustainability of crucial importance. This alone is a hopeful sign - as consumers are the driving force behind industry trends and, so far, sustainability advocates are making significant waves in the skincare industry. Unfortunately, the “sustainable skincare market” is rife with greenwashing, making it difficult for well-meaning customers to know how to genuinely build sustainability into their skincare routine. If this sounds like you, keep reading. 

At ManukaRx, we believe sustainable skincare shouldn’t be complicated or misleading. We’ve done our research to make it simple for you to understand what the current best practices are within the world of sustainable skincare - and how you can easily go above and beyond this to create your own sustainable and effective skincare routine. 

In this article, we cover sustainable skincare packaging options, ethical ingredient sourcing and how to figure out for yourself whether your favourite sustainable skincare brands are, in fact, sustainable. 

What does sustainability in skincare mean? 

Sustainability within the skincare and beauty industry means different things to different people. Ultimately, it comes down to what the majority of consumers care about. A recent survey conducted by NIQ found that consumers have a wide range of definitions for sustainability: 

• 61% think sustainability means “better for the planet”
  
  
• 57% define it as protecting natural resources 
  
  
• 54% believe it correlates to reducing pollution 
  
  
• 45% say it equals cutting emissions 
  
  
• 43% relate it to protecting wildlife 
  
  
• 33% think it should include better conditions for workers 
  
  
• 26% say it ties in with giving back to society 
  
  
• 15% believe it involves giving back to minorities

Beyond this, sustainable skincare consumers are seeking out products that avoid harmful ingredients, are cruelty-free, use compostable packaging and are plastic-free. 

So, which definition should the skincare industry be paying attention to? Ideally…all of them. Any brand wanting to do well by people and the planet should consider each of these things. And, yes, many claim to - but, in reality, the industry still has a long way to go. Many brands have jumped on the “clean, green beauty” wagon, but too many of them lack the transparency to support these claims. That’s really where the key sustainability issues within the skincare industry stem from - a lack of transparency and independent verification. But new research suggests that, thanks to discerning customers, these are the brands that are missing out. 

Research led by Forbes has found that 9 out of 10 shoppers consider sustainability while shopping for beauty products - meaning that environmentally-driven brands actually have an edge in the beauty market. Studies have shown that companies who embrace sustainability claim to outperform their competitors in terms of “brand reputation, customer satisfaction and savings due to resource efficiency and decrease of waste, and a competitive advantage in the long-term”. This goes to show just how much of an impact consumers, like you, can have on the industry. 

Ultimately, you decide what sustainable skincare looks like to you through every skincare purchase you make. When seeking out sustainable skincare brands, one of the easiest ways to be confident that their products are eco-friendly is to check for independent certifications, such as: 

• B Corp certification (often referred to as the “gold standard of sustainability”, this certification measures the entire environmental and social impact of a company - we’re proud to say our parent company, Manuka Bioscience, has been awarded this certification) 
  
  
• Ecocert (offers a wide variety of certifications to suit different industry needs and priorities) 
  
  
• COSMOS (natural and organic cosmetic certification) 
  
  
• FSC certification (certifications that aim to protect forests through ethical supply chains) 
  
  
• Climate Neutral certification (only companies that pass an independent climate impact test can be awarded this certification) 
  
  
• Look for the Leaping Bunny logo for trustworthy cruelty-free products How can skincare be sustainable?

Skincare absolutely can be sustainable when companies make a conscious effort to have ethical and sustainable systems in place - and when customers choose wisely. It’s not hard to see why so many people don’t know where to start with sustainable skincare when so many brands market themselves as “clean beauty” without any proof, but that’s exactly the place to start on your sustainable skincare journey: look for proof. If a skincare brand claims to be clean and green but doesn’t actually meet organic, sustainable or ethical standards - don’t buy them! Seek out sustainable packaging, investigate the ingredients being used, look for brands that have been independently verified through a trusted certification program and do your research on the sustainability practices and policies of your chosen skincare brand. 

How can I reduce waste in my skincare routine? 

Considering the skincare industry creates an estimated 120 billion units of plastic waste per year, a zero-waste skincare routine is a fantastic aspiration to have. Keeping your skincare routine minimal and opting to only purchase products from brands that use recyclable or biodegradable packaging are good starting points for anyone wanting to reduce their skincare waste. Other steps you can take include: 

• Simplifying your skincare routine and only purchasing products you know you will use - think “quality over quantity” 
  
  
• Look for sustainable packaging, refillable skincare pods OR seek out brands that don’t use packaging at all 
  
  
• Avoid bulky packaging (experts advise that this can be a marketing technique to take up more space on shelves)
  
  
• If you have skincare you know you’re not going to use, try repurposing it in your favourite lotions, donating it to a friend, hosting a skincare swap or, if needed, cleaning and reusing the packaging 
  
  
• Do your research before buying: make sure the ingredients used are backed by science and check the certifications of the brand you’re buying from 

How can we make eco-friendly beauty products? 

At Manuka RX, we consider people and the planet at every step of our East Cape Mānuka Oil’s production process - from sourcing and production through to packaging. Working with and training employees from the local community, we source our oil from

mānuka trees on the East Cape of New Zealand - where the high UV exposure results in our oil having enhanced antimicrobial and antibacterial properties - making it amazing for skin health. In partnership with local iwi, we manage six mānuka plantations where we care for these mānuka trees from seed through to maturity. Once trees reach their full maturity, we distil oil taken from the leaves and small branches of the trees using a steam distillation process. 

Through our genetic development program, we produce new seeds for annual replanting programs - helping to support local biodiversity on an ongoing basis. We’re committed to sustainably sourcing our mānuka oil continuously and, as part of this effort, have planted well over five million mānuka trees. We’re also dedicated to doing our part in the community by supporting local charities - so far, we’ve donated over 4000 of our products to New Zealand charities. 

Of course, as we’ve been saying throughout this article, we don’t want you to simply take our word for it. Our mānuka oil is sustainably sourced in New Zealand by our parent company Manuka Bioscience, which is a certified B Corp company. This means B Lab has recognised that we meet their independent standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. 

Why is it good to support B Corp companies? 

Before a company is awarded a B Corp certification, its entire social and environmental impact is independently measured. Companies must pass a social and environmental review, pass a risk review, meet stakeholder accountability requirements and agree to specific company transparency conditions. To remain certified, companies must undergo B Corp’s rigorous verification process every three years. 

Each company’s sustainability performance is considered holistically: B Corp considers multiple aspects of sustainability including supply chain, materials used, charitable giving, employee benefits and more. It’s a significant independent verification that shows we take the welfare of people and the planet seriously in the work we do - and we’re committed to continuing to learn and grow in these areas.