By Lola Connelly
Have you ever found the plethora of certifications on beauty products confusing? With over 60 ecolabels available for cosmetics, it can be hard to keep up. The B-Corp certification however, is the hardest sustainable credential a business can receive. And even tougher to keep. To be a certified B-Corp business, you have to meet the:
“Highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose”
In other words, B-Corp communities are ultimately using business as a force for good. Not just for profit alone. Furthermore, the community aims to reduce inequality and promote a more inclusive society.
You can also check out our guide to other sustainable certifications here.
Here we list some of our favourite B-Corp certified beauty brands:
Have you ever registered the cascade of emotions from a simple aroma? It could be the feeling of complete tranquility to instil calm. Or an uplifting scent, boosting your mood and releasing endorphins.
Do you know why? Compared to sight or sound, scent is 10,000 times stronger. Above all, (without getting too technical) smell is intertwined with the limbic system. Part of the brain responsible for emotions and memory.
In other words, our sense of smell triggers emotions from the deepest parts of our brain and mind.
And essential oils spread even faster! Used by Aromatherapy Associates, their essential oils travel straight to the limbic system. Improving your wellbeing for any mood or discomfort. Whether that is through their shower and bath oils, body oil or a collection of face products.
Aromatherapy Associates recently joined the B-Corp family in 2020. With this certification, the luxurious beauty brand represents the highest ethical standards. From their FSC certified cartons, Diversity and Inclusion Action Board and chemical free items.
Here are a few of their products designed to help you sleep better; reduce stress; lift energy and build confidence:
Captain Blankenship is all about the beauty of nature and salty sea aesthetic. The beauty of nature is exactly what drew Jana Blankenship to create organic beauty products. For the body and spirit. The beautiful brand provides luxurious ‘mermaid mane’ hair products. Which don’t cost the Earth.
Sourced from the best organic ingredients, the affordable brand is healthy for people and the planet.
With nature in mind, Captain Blankenship ingredients aim to conjure the natural world. Formulated with cold pressed organic plant oils, flowers, seaweed and organic oils. They are also free from fragrance, sulfates, parabens and synthetic preservatives. All within recyclable and reusable glass packaging.
In addition, their mission is to be a socially conscious business. Being a member of 1% for the Planet, brings them closer to their mission to protect, preserve and conserve land and resources. Treat your hair to some beautiful waves.
Continuing with hair products, we have sustainable and luxurious brand Davines. Founded in Parma, Italy in 1983 Davines is now present in more than 90 countries.
“We want to encourage people to take care of themselves, of the environment in which they live and work, and the things they love.”
Sustainability is at the root of their mission. After receiving the B-Corp certification in 2016, Davines decided to align their objectives with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). This has allowed them to make continuous improvements. Whether this is through their formulations, environmental impact or representation of people.
Davines find beauty through simplicity, harmony and good taste. This is certainly shown through their artisan spirit and advanced cosmetic technology.
4. Dr. Bronner
Founded in 1948 by Emmanuel Bronner, the German-Jewish soapmaking family became clever with their labels. “We are All-One or None!”. Aimed to provide awareness of unity across religious and ethnic divides. The brand stands up for people and the planet, a sustainable future for all.
Since receiving the B-Corp certification is 2015, Dr.Bronner has held a strong reputation for sustaining and promoting positive change. During 2019 the B-Corp brand became recognised as a “Best for the World” business. Due to their extensive sustainability commitment, this reward is no surprise.
Most importantly, Dr.Bronner has six responsible ways towards making sustainability a success:
- We are responsible for ourselves, but also each other
- First ingredient: Love!
- Treat employees like family
- Be fair to suppliers
- Treat the earth like home
- Fund and fight for what’s right!
Dr Bronner only uses fair trade and the purest organic ingredients, and their Virgin Coconut Oil is certified Kosher. In addition, they are currently aiming to source their raw materials from smallholder farms. All to draw down their atmospheric carbon. Their bottles are currently made from 100% recycled plastic.
“Recycling one tonne of PET containers saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space”
They also really care about people. Supporting psychedelic-assisted therapies for those suffering from PTSD, depression, addiction and end-of-life anxiety. Even devoting $500,000 to Oregon’s Psilocybin Service Initiative. When it comes to women’s health, Dr Bronner wants to stop the stigma towards periods in rural India. Along with their organic mint supplier in India, they have distributed 3,000 washable pads and also provide training on menstrual health.
Have a look at their products. Where “soap, soul, and joy come together”.
5. Dr.Hauschka
Having been a favourite for natural-beauty lovers since 1967, it is no surprise they received the B-Corp certification in 2015. Even more, every single one of their 160 products are NATRUE certified. Which guarantees certified natural ingredients, under fair trade conditions. NATRUE’s goal is to put a stop to greenwashing. So Dr Hauschka is a brand you can trust. Sustainability is part of their philosophy, which is why they always:
- Work under fair trade conditions
- 100% certified green electricity
- Provide company bicycles
- Sustainable partnerships all over the world
- Biodegradable substances
- No animal testing since their founding in 1967
Their skincare products are all for inner and outer beauty. Rather than mineral oils, silicones, PEGs and synthetic preservatives, ‘Skin Care’ relies on the power of nature.
They even harvest most of their raw ingredients by hand in their own herb garden or through sustainable partnerships. All to keep skin healthy and beautiful.
Whether using skincare to cleanse, tone, moisturise or beautify, Dr Hauschka will support the skin’s natural process. For instance, natural day/night rhythm. All towards a balanced, healthy and radiant complexion.
6. Ethique
The story of Ethique is an inspiring one. In 2012, Ethique became the first solid shampoo bar. Founder Brianne West started with little to no money, creating solid batches of shampoo in her kitchen.
She was even told “it was a terrible idea” from a New Zealand chain. Since then, the plastic free brand has raised $1.3 million from two crowdfunding campaigns. It is now valued as “well into the tens of millions”.
Back in 2012, solid beauty bars weren’t a ‘thing’. However, the amount of plastic waste created by bathroom products frustrated Brianne. So aimed to do something different. A super concentrated beauty bar, with sustainability at heart.
The solid beauty bar ingredients have to fit four main criteria:
- No health risks
- Sustainably produced and biodegradable
- Cruelty free and plant based
- Free from palm oil
Ethique has also expanded into skincare and products for your home and pets. All with a goal to prevent plastic going to landfill. Ethique has currently saved over 8 million plastic bottles from entering landfill!
Furthermore, 20% of annual profits go to charity and partner with different companies every year. Which of course share the same beliefs. In the past this has included Wildlife Warriors, HUHA, Offset Earth and Oxfam.
Have a look at their products and join #GiveUpTheBottle
Keep an eye out for the B-Corp certification in the future. Have you used any of these brands before? Let us know what you think.
Lola Connelly
Lola is a Media and Communications graduate from Newcastle University who is highly passionate about sustainable and ethical fashion. She is also an enthusiastic photographer and avid film lover.
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This article may contain some affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, KeiSei Magazine receives a small percentage of the sale price, or some brands may have paid a small fee to be featured. We only recommend brands that match our sustainable and ethical criteria and that we truly believe in.
