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The SDGs in vegan cosmetics

By: Genetic

The SDGs are interrelated with each other and each and every one of the industries has an impact on them, either directly or indirectly. The cosmetic industry does not escape this rule.

Today we are talking about vegan cosmetics, one of the branches of veganism. Indeed, the latter is a lifestyle that is reflected in various areas such as clothing, food, entertainment or cosmetics. To talk about it, we have the pleasure of having Marta Canga, vegan fashion and cosmetics blogger.

SDG 3 – Health – What impact does betting on a vegan and ecofriendly product have on health?

The impact of choosing a vegan product is that you choose a product without any type of animal derivative and, therefore, its ethical impact is very important. From a health point of view, I don't think there is a big difference as it has been shown that ingredients derived from animals have been regularly tested to make sure they are accepted by the human body. However, those natural products that contain plants and derivatives can be just as effective and good for your health as products made with more synthetic ingredients. It is a question of dosage and formulas made by experts.

To all this, I must still say that natural products are not always better for health in the sense that high concentrations of essential oils, for example, can cause dermatitis. Therefore, there are times when products that are made in laboratories with specific formulas can be even better for your health. It is a question of balance.

SDG 13 and 15 – And for the environment?

Choosing a vegan product has to do more than anything with the ethics behind the exploitation of animals, but it does not have a direct correlation with our health. The environmental impact of an eco-friendly product is much more positive since you will choose products that are largely made with recycled plastic, completely biodegradable products,... whose production will have a much lower impact in terms of CO2 and energy, etc. Therefore, I think that a vegan and eco-friendly product is, in general, better for the environment from the point of view of reducing or eliminating the use of animals, as well as energy, water, pesticides and pollution. land. Likewise, its containers are made with much more respectful materials towards the environment.

SDG 12 and 13 – Does the fact that a person or product is vegan always imply that it is eco-friendly?

In general yes. By consuming a vegan diet and lifestyle, you can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 you emit because you use fewer animals to live your day to day life. Therefore, you need less water, energy, land and many more elements that have a negative impact on the environment.

You may also be interested in: Forum will review the status of implementation of the SDGs in Latin American companies

However, it must be said that many vegan products today come in plastic that is not recyclable. Also the consumption of avocados from Mexico and quinoa from Peru, for example, when transported by plane, have a considerable impact on the environment. In an ideal world, everyone would eat a vegan, organic, and locally sourced diet. But it is very difficult in the world we live in and therefore it is almost impossible to say what kind of diet or lifestyle is better for the environment.

SDG 12 – How to find and ensure that we choose a truly sustainable and vegan product? (Stamps, brands in particular, influencers, …)

Making sure that a product is vegan is relatively easy since you can read the ingredients and immediately find something that is not vegan, whether for food, cosmetics or clothing. On the other hand, making sure that a product is really cruelty-free, for example, is very difficult since companies in general do not want the audience to know that a product has been tested on animals. Therefore, there is a lot of confusion and it is created on purpose making it very difficult.

The same I say about a truly sustainable product. Today sustainability is something very important and the big brands, above all, realize the profitability of being sustainable because there is demand! Because of this, we have seen a new phenomenon called “greenwashing”. Basically, they are the big brands that want to start small sustainable initiatives that they have, knowing that the company's model itself is not. That is why it is important to find transparency, certifications and to make sure that a brand answers you if you have questions about the production of a certain product.

SDG 5 – Are all skin types and colors taken into account in terms of cosmetics and makeup? Or is there still that mentality of thinking primarily of the white consumer?

Not at all. This is something that has to change in the cosmetics industry right now. As we have seen in this year of 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement has been very important in the world of cosmetics, since many brands have been questioned about the lack of colors for darker skin. This is mainly due to the fact that we live in the northern hemisphere and it is understood that there are more white people than black people. Also, it is true that it is more expensive for smaller brands to produce colored lines that have fewer consumers. That doesn't take away from the fact that this has now become an absolute necessity and that brands should invest in launching more dark colors and stop putting out so much unnecessary product. Inclusivity has become very relevant in this very saturated market.

SDG 5 – Is there a stigma in cosmetics for men?

I would say that men in general do not consume as much cosmetics as women and therefore feel that the market is predominantly led by women. Indeed, there is still a stigma associated with male skin care. She is often associated with men who are effeminate and lack virility. On the other hand, I who am present in the world of cosmetics and influencers, see more and more men who get into dermatology or become influencers on cosmetics and skincare. Although it is true that most of them are homosexual (from what I have noticed), thanks to the information they give on social networks, women in general are going to take that information and pass it on to their respective husbands, boyfriends, brothers, fathers, etc. In this way a domino effect is achieved on men and I think that's great!

This article was published by GenÉthico, read the original here.

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