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The refill revolution

Sustainable packaging is becoming more mainstream, but some brands have been pioneering its use for years. Here’s how Kao’s refillable options are changing how consumers interact with products.

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To create quality cosmetics products you need the finest ingredients. For Greenland-based Inuacare, that means working with nature to harvest local plants and herbs by hand - in a tiny window of time every summer. Here’s how they are creating ‘Greenland in a bottle’.
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Made in Greenland. Naturally handpicked
Our whole ecosystem revolves around humble honeybees, which create and sustain life throughpollination and fertilisation of many edible plant species. Natural cosmetics brand Apivitashowcases the best of what bees have to offer, while educating the next generation on the importance of protecting nature’s alchemists.
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Nature’s alchemist
Cosmetic products are an essential part of everyday life, but creating sustainable packaging can be a challenge for cosmetic companies. Henkel is aiming to set an example with its recycled, reusable packaging.
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Plastic with a purpose
Even the most established names in the beauty world have to constantly innovate to stay at the cutting-edge of cosmetics. From virtual reality to voice recognition - new technologies are transforming the way L’Oréal’s customers treat their skin.
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The technology transforming skincare
From mascara and lipstick to toothpaste and sun cream, most of us use several cosmetic products a day, without thinking about the science behind them. Here’s how IKW makes sure what’s on our shelves is fit for human health.
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The people keeping cosmetics safe
Natural ingredients such as Jojoba can be a lifeline for many farmers, allowing them freedom and fair pay. At Weleda, it’s part of a transparent approach to ingredient supply chains.
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The beauty of sustainable sourcing
With many seed species under threat from climate change, conserving plants used in products has never been more important. Procter and Gamble’s Herbal Essence hair products start with the preservation of nature
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Protecting biodiversity from extinction
Ground-breaking technology is at the forefront of the cosmetics industry’s efforts to find effective alternatives to animal testing, which has been fully banned in the EU since 2013. From trialling new deodorants on laboratory mannequins to simulating experiments on computers, Unilever is a long-time pioneer of alternative safety assessment science.
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Animal testing alternatives
For consumers, finding the right skincare can take years of trial and error. NAOS says it has the answer with ecobiology – a science that treats skin like a unique ecosystem.  
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Ecobiology is reinventing beauty
Protecting the biodiversity of a natural habitat is an important part of making sure ingredients are high quality – while respecting nature. Here’s how L’Occitane en Provence is helping to bring the almond tree back to the south of France.
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The comeback of French almonds for biodiversity’s sake
Standing out from the crowd can be challenging when you’re going against a culturally-ingrained social norm. In Japan, Procter and Gamble are aiming to help teenagers respect tradition, without hiding their hair.
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The teenagers taking on traditional ideals of beauty
Perfumery is one of the oldest crafts in the world, but the process of creating fragrance is now as much about the origin of the ingredients, as the smell. For Symrise, the emphasis is on ethically sourced and sustainable scents.
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A fresh approach to fragrance
Water is the world’s most precious resource, but in some countries, it’s running out. Simply washing your hair can use 20 litres in one go, but Procter and Gamble say they have a solution - in the form of products that clean without water.
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Self-care in a waterless world
From rural Nigeria to Manhattan, female entrepreneurs are crucial to the success of the cosmetics industry.  The opportunity to access key training and business loans through Unilever is helping many thrive.
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Giving female entrepreneurs the chance to thrive
Many consumers are attracted to natural ingredients when choosing cosmetics, but does natural necessarily mean greener or effective? At Orkla, the emphasis is on the environment and efficacy.
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Oral care that considers the planet
Finding sustainable beauty products isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to tackling the problem of plastic waste. Refillable alternatives from Procter and Gamble are helping people make greener choices, without losing the brands they love.
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Helping people put the planet first
Problem skin is a major cause of low self-esteem for people of all ages, and sensitive skin can be hard to treat. ‘No-nonsense’, plant-based Laponie is using a minimalist approach to help sufferers find a natural solution.
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The skincare rebuilding self-confidence
Getting quality skincare wasn’t always possible in communist Romania, so Rucsandra Hurezeanu’s mother took matters into her own hands. Ivatherm combines the water of Europe’s ancient thermal springs with cutting-edge active ingredients.
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Skincare secrets of Europe’s oldest springs
When Aunt Ilcsi started making cosmetics on her kitchen table in 1958, she believed that nature had an answer to every skin problem. Three generations on, her grandchildren are still committed to that philosophy, using the best of what Budapest’s local biodiversity has to offer in their products.
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A skincare solution from nature
 Having problem skin can affect self-confidence. At Beauté Pacifique, the solution starts with an examination of the skin’s layers, to identify underlying issues and treat the cause.
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‘I feel liberated now’: Help for sensitive skin sufferers
Sunscreens play an essential role in protecting our skin against dangerous ultra violet rays. As they are often used in coastal settings, it important to understand how the UV filter ingredients in sunscreen interact with marine life. Excessive concentration of some UV filters together with other environmental factors could potentially raise concerns. Pierre Fabre supports the protection of coral reefs using synthetic solutions to restore them.
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Protecting coral reefs