Following its Courage to Change report published last year, the British Beauty Council has now announced the formation of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition (SBC) to champion best practice and industry collaboration.
“It was very clear to us from the Courage to Change report that consumers want the beauty industry to do better – and they expect us to do better. We have an array of British talent who are very innovative in the sustainable area, but to make real tangible change, the industry must come together and collaborate. This is key and it’s why we have formed the Sustainable Beauty Coalition,” says Millie Kendall MBE, British Beauty Council CEO.
“The beauty industry needs to be transparent, accountable and make changes now – we will lose the respect of the consumer if we don’t,” she adds. “Surveys show that 95% of consumers believe their own actions make a difference. If our customers believe that, what are we as an industry doing in response? We can and should do better – the beauty industry’s purpose is, after all, to encourage the intrinsic beauty of people and our planet to shine.”
We have an array of British talent who are very innovative in the sustainable area, but to make real tangible change, the industry must come together and collaborate
Headed by chair Jayn Sterland, UK MD of Weleda, the coalition’s ten-strong steering group includes Beauty Kitchen founder Jo-Anne Chidley, NATRUE director general Mark Smith, and A Plastic Planet co-founder Sian Sutherland. “We believe the UK beauty and wellness industry must play its part in bringing about bold, urgent change,” comments Sterland (pictured below).
“We have a strong voice, reputation and reach – and we need to use it. Consumers are keen to see this happen, and they are looking to us to clean up our act by addressing the many climate -related problems we have created, such as non-recyclable plastic packaging, chemicals contaminating the oceans, and unregulated, misleading product claims. Whilst a growing number of brands are taking significant steps to reduce their negative impact on the planet, these efforts are patchy and uncoordinated the coalition seeks to address this.”
The SBC is supported by an advisory panel, made up of industry experts, brand owners and industry body representatives, including MUA Louise Dartford, King of Shaves founder Will King, Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm, Positive Luxury CEO Diana Verde Nieto and NPN editor Rosie Greenaway.
The panel’s remit includes developing a clear strategy and roadmap to accelerate sustainability in the beauty industry; strengthening links across the industry, communities, voices and professional bodies; and working with the government to champion the work of the industry.
The SBC was launched with an open letter to the UK beauty and wellness industry, calling on it to work together to address the climate emergency.
