Organic and natural cosmetics are riding on a wave of popularity and, in the next logical step, fair trade may take the beauty industry in a new direction.
Fair trade was once the domain of a select group of food and drinks brands but, with rising awareness of environmental and social issues, consumer goods companies are coming under pressure from customers and non-governmental organisations to be greener, cleaner and fairer.
A growing number of beauty brands are laying claim to organic products untouched by chemicals and, in the latest move towards a more socially responsible world, some are assimilating fair trade into their business, collaborating with small communities across the globe, from the depths of the Ecuadorian jungle to the coasts of Africa.
According to a report published by the Organic Monitor last year, cosmetics companies are increasingly focusing on ethical sourcing and sustainability with brands adopting a natural and organic approach leading the way. The report suggests that growing consumer interest in fair trade goods is stimulating demand for fair trade products, and that some companies are launching certified fair trade products while others are adopting fair trade practices.
The Fairtrade Foundation is the British initiative of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International, the organisation responsible for establishing the Fairtrade Mark and setting standards for products such as food and drinks and now cosmetics. The certification is a consumer guarantee that suppliers receive a fair wage for their produce. The Fairtrade Foundation announced in June that more than 50 beauty products by brands such as Lush, Neal's Yard Remedies and Boots, had been certified with the Fairtrade Mark.
The certification applies to individual beauty products rather than companies. Each ingredient which goes into a product, such as sugar, olive oil or cocoa butter, has its own fair-trade standard as defined by fair-trade labelling organisations and the group producing the raw ingredient must be certified by the organisation.
Products carrying the mark must contain at least one Fairtrade certified ingredient, or a minimum of 2 per cent of Fairtrade ingredients in 'wash off' products and a minimum of 5 per cent in 'leave on' products. Companies must also commit to fair trade by establishing proactive trading relationships with their suppliers.
