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The cosmetic industry is responsible for 5000 to 11,500 tons of landfills yearly in Australia. Globally, more than 8 million cosmetic containers are found in the ocean yearly. The devastating consequence of plastic is known to all. Besides, plastic waste, there are other harmful impacts brought by cosmetic residues. However, more than 70% of the waste from the cosmetic industry comes from packaging.

Fortunately, the beauty industry is constantly evolving. A serious approach to recycling and eco-friendly approaches are being promoted. A good number of brands nowadays claim that their procedures are environment-friendly. In reality, that is quite the opposite. In most cases, recycling is not possible in the packaging system because the process includes the usage of mixed materials. The composition of the materials is often too complex for recycling.

That is why the industry needs a firm environment-friendly protocol to run the business. ISO environmental certifications are the best mechanisms for the cosmetic industry for optimising eco-friendly policies. Especially, ISO 14001 is the ultimate environmental management standard designed especially for industries like cosmetics one which reportedly produce lethal chemical residues.

The following blog has discussed the role of environmental certification in this particular industry –

What is an environmental certification?

An environmental certification is a kind of assurance a company can publicly produce to inform that it adheres to the laws and regulations for environmental sustainability. It means a company voluntarily complies with the predefined procedure for reducing its carbon footprint. To get the certification, a company must ensure that its operations, practices, and procedures are eco-friendly.

What is the ISO standard for environmental certification?

The ISO standard for environmentally sustainable programs is known to be ISO 14001. It comes with a comprehensive protocol that helps a company to achieve the following –

• The protocol of ISO 14001 encourages a company to recognise the weakness of its existing management system. An authority gets the opportunity to inspect and evaluate the possible shortcoming of its current system which is incapable of minimising the harmful impact of resource wastage.

• ISO 14001 helps a company to save time and money. By identifying problems in the system, a company gets to reduce its yearly expenditure. The number of unnecessary resources used for manufacturing decreases. Consequently, the amount of residue lessens. A company gets more time to work on other aspects of production, design, and delivery of the products.

• ISO 14001 helps a company to promote the necessity of environmental sustainability. The policies of ISO 14001 generate awareness among the stakeholders. It allows them to become more proactive and contribute to the decision-making. Healthy workplace culture is therefore encouraged by the certification as well.

• ISO 14001 certification acts as a marketing weapon increasing competitive advantages. Today’s customers are environmentally conscious. Most of them go through the ingredient list and process. An ISO 14001-certified company has the added advantage. Customers are easily drawn towards those companies that exhibit eco-friendly gestures through their operations and activities.

What does the beauty industry need to minimise their carbon footprint?

The beauty industry should focus more on the recycling process. The companies need to adopt the 3R policy, which is –

Reduce – Reducing a great amount of harmful residues coming from bad packaging is required. Companies need to source eco-friendly materials, which will meet the purpose and efficiently reduce landfill.

Reuse – The cost of manufacturing and delivering quality products to satisfy customers is continuously increasing. On the other hand, government penalties charge exorbitant amounts for non-compliance. By reusing materials, a company not only saves money but also efficiently reduces harmful impacts on the nature and community.

Recycle – Recycling is the most necessary procedure in the beauty industry. Market research says that more than 90% of customers are ready to pay for premium recyclable packages.

By getting the environmental certification (ISO 14001), cosmetic companies find a firm and recognised methodology for adhering to government laws. For the welfare of the community and nature overall, the cosmetic industry is responsible to adopt a robust management system. ISO 14001 is the right option as it provides the most effective protocol.

To achieve the certification without any failure, contact us at ComplianceHelp. We are Australia’s premium site for achieving any ISO certification. Our bespoke environmental certification solutions are ready to guide you through the seemingly exhausting process of ISO accreditation without any difficulties. Get help choosing the right assessment.