Each spritz of your perfume contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As shared in the previous blog, not only are beauty products detrimental to air quality, they can be damaging to one’s health as well. VOCs can have minor side effects such as irritation and headaches, and in the long run, kidney, liver and nerve damage could be potential areas of concern. As consumers have a greater awareness of the ugly side of the beauty industry, less is discussed about perfumery’s environmental impact. However, this niche industry is not faultless.
Coty is one of the world’s largest beauty companies with a portfolio of iconic brands in the beauty industry. They serve consumers around the world, selling luxury and mass-market products in more than 130 countries and territories (Coty, 2017). Becoming the first in its field, Coty is taking practical steps to address its carbon footprint through the use of carbon-captured ethanol. In a bottle of perfume, the primary ingredient is ethanol. Ethanol is usually made from the fermentation and distillation of grains such as corn. Growing the corn crop means using large amounts of land and water, as well as emissions from fertilizer and fuel use. The use of synthetic chemicals in fertilizer and herbicides also become a source of pollution, which can affect natural ecosystems (Lindwall, 2019). Instead of demanding raw resources and polluting our environment, Coty is kickstarting the production of carbon-captured ethanol fragrances. By 2023, this beauty giant—which owns several luxury brands, including Gucci and Marc Jacobs, aims to integrate this sustainable alternative into most of its fragrances portfolio (Keating, 2022). As shared by Coty’s CEO, Sue Nabi, not only is this move the right thing to do, it is commercially sensible too (Toussaint, 2021).
While brands are aligning themselves to share consumers’ commitment to sustainability, sustainability in the beauty scene is not a one-way street. With these globally distributed fragrances available in the market in time to come, consumers can make conscious decisions by choosing products made from recycled carbon.
References
Coty. (2017). Coty Inc. Declares quarterly dividend | coty.com. https://www.coty.com/in-the-news/press-release/coty-inc-declares-quarterly-dividend-8
Keating, C. (2022). Coty starts making perfume with carbon-captured ethanol | Greenbiz. https://www.greenbiz.com/article/coty-starts-making-perfume-carbon-captured-ethanol
Lindwall, C. (2019). Industrial agricultural pollution 101. NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/industrial-agricultural-pollution-101
Toussaint, K. (2021, March 3). These new fragrances will be made from carbon captured from the atmosphere. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90610071/these-new-fragrances-will-be-made-from-carbon-captured-from-the-atmosphere