Green Beauty Conversations by Formula Botanica

As the beauty industry grapples with its environmental impact, the question on everyone's mind is: can cosmetic packaging be sustainable ? Anyone looking into plastic packaging will be familiar with the sea of acronyms used for plastics: PET, PE, PP, HDPE. What do these acronyms mean? And which materials should beauty brands use when choosing packaging? In this episode of the Green Beauty Conversa...

If a cosmetic product isn't sustainable in the first place, how can it suddenly become 'more' sustainable when a brand makes an improvement? The language used by beauty brands in relation to sustainability can be problematic.  Last week, we interviewed Nishit Dedhia of KAIN Cosmeceuticals about the eco-designed manufacturing plant he runs in Mumbai, India. And in that interview, Nishit rightly sai...

Have you ever wondered where your favourite beauty products are made? We spend a lot of time worrying about the provenance of our ingredients, but we never discuss the manufacturing facilities where cosmetics are produced. What are these buildings like? Are they created with eco-design principles in mind? How do they handle waste or water management? These discussions are happening behind the scen...

Imagine a world where greenwashing doesn't exist. Or let's go one step further, imagine a world where greenwashing doesn't exist in the cosmetics industry . This could potentially be the future, as legislation is emerging all over the world to make companies and organisations liable for greenwashing. In this week's opinion piece, Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO o...

In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, welcomes Priscilla Rolvers, founder of the Green Cosmetics Revolution to discuss the new EU Greenwashing Directive. Pretty soon, any beauty brand making eco-friendly claims in the European Union might want to start looking over their shoulder if they haven't got the evidence to back up their sustainability...

Who knew you could get into trouble over a toothpaste tube?   In this episode, Lorraine Dallmeier, a Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica, dives deep into sustainability claims by exploring the details of the class action lawsuit faced by toothpaste brand Tom's of Maine... all because they said their toothpaste tubes were recyclable. The crux of the lawsuit points out...

Navigating the tricky waters of sustainability regulations isn't easy. So, to ensure your brand stands out for the right reasons, this episode is a must-listen. Green Beauty Conversations host Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica and her guest Maggie Spicer, Formula Botanica graduate and founder of  Source Beauty ESG, explore these tricky waters. Listen now to discover how beauty brands sho...

Research is starting to suggest that skin ageing isn't simply a case of cosmetic wear and tear, but might instead be driving whole-body ageing. Green Beauty Conversations host Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, explores this mind-blowing research in this latest episode. She'll be asking you whether you are prepared to flip everything you've understood about the skin so far on its head. L...

There's a trend that's been growing for several years. Teens, tweens, and children are using anti-ageing skincare, with active ingredients like retinol. Today, colleague, School Education Manager, Ana Green joins Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, as they discuss this new trend. Together, they explore why more children using anti-ageing skincare is such a trend and the implications for y...

Have you ever wondered where the ingredients in your product came from? Most of us have no clue. Following the path of an ingredient from formulation back to its origin is called traceability. It is the detailed supply chain of an ingredient. This knowledge is essential to address environmental and social concerns. If a brand doesn't know its ingredient supply chain, it cannot address how the plan...

In this episode, we dive deep, almost literally, into the oceans with a look at how our seas can be a sustainable source of beauty ingredients. Podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Matthew Perkins, the founder of Macro Oceans to learn how regeneratively-farmed seaweed is turned into eco-friendly cosmetics. Macro Oceans, a technology company based in California, developed a unique zero-waste sy...

Imagine a beauty industry that gives back more to the environment than it takes. That's the crux of this week's Green Beauty Opinion in which podcast host and Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier explores the concept of regenerative beauty. This revolutionary approach isn't just about reducing beauty's environmental impact; it's about actively enriching our planet, starting with the soil beneat...

Ever wondered what regenerative beauty is and if it's even achievable for the beauty industry? In this latest episode, we dive into the transformative world of regenerative beauty with Ruth Andrade, the visionary Earth Care Strategy Lead at LUSH . This eye-opening discussion unveils how regenerative practices are not just the future, but a necessity for a sustainable beauty industry. Are you ready...

Circularity and recyclability are often-misunderstood concepts in the beauty industry. Last week, we explored the potential of upcycled beauty ingredients with Harry McIlwraith of the  Upcycled Beauty Company . Building on that enlightening discussion in this week's opinion episode, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier tackles a crucial question: What really defines a circular beauty product, a...

In this episode, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Harry McIlwraith, the visionary mind behind  The Upcycled Beauty Company , a trailblazing venture revolutionising the beauty industry by repurposing overlooked food waste resources into potent skincare ingredients. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, Harry's insights shed light on the incredible potential...

In the latest episode of Green Beauty Conversations, we delve into the "science washing" that is rife in the beauty industry. This term, akin to its near neighbour "greenwashing", refers to the use of scientific jargon to mask pseudoscientific ideas. Last week, podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, explored the nuances of so-called " medical-grade skincare " with Ana Green, Edu...

Today, we are seeing a rise in so-called medical-grade skincare and liberal use of the word "clinical" to describe brands and formulations. In this episode, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by colleague School Education Manager Ana Green to delve into the controversial world of medical-grade skincare, and explore the intricacies of this term and its implications....

Have you ever felt isolated due to a beauty concern, thinking you're the only one struggling? This episode of the Green Beauty Conversations podcast, hosted by Lorraine Dallmeier, delves into the myths and realities surrounding beauty standards. It highlights the silence and stigma around female hair loss , challenges the negative perceptions of hyperpigmentation and cellulite, and advocates for a...

In this episode, we give voice to the often unspoken world of hair loss, particularly in women. Podcast host and Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier talks to guest Helena Gibson, a seasoned expert in haircare solutions, who shares her insights into the stigma and solutions to hair loss in women. The issue prompted Helena's journey into business with her company Strut Hair Solutions, and the cr...

Is the beauty industry truly saturated? In a world where being the first is often confused with being the best, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier uses this episode of Green Beauty Conversations to discuss the opportunities and risks facing beauty brands. Featuring insights from industry pioneers and a special homage to Dame Anita Roddick's legacy of The Body Shop , this episode is a wake-up...

In this episode, we dive deep into the rise and fall of an iconic beauty brand, The Body Shop. Podcast host and Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Wizz Selvey , a seasoned beauty retail expert and analyst, for an insightful exploration of the brand's evolution over the years. Wizz explains the challenges the familiar, and much-loved beauty retailer faced, from its changing owners...

In our  last episode , host Lorraine Dallmeier had a fascinating discussion with Joel Tasche, Founder of CleanHub, on the beauty industry's sustainability challenges, in particular its commitment to reducing its reliance on plastic, which as we know, has a huge carbon footprint. Building on that conversation, today's episode takes a close look into a groundbreaking report in late 2023 by the Carbo...

In this episode, we have an enlightening conversation with Joel Tasche, the visionary founder and CEO of CleanHub , a company dedicated to liberating the planet from plastic pollution. Growing up with a profound connection to the ocean through sailing and surfing, Joel's passion for marine conservation led him to establish CleanHub with a mission to create, foster and shape waste management soluti...

In this opinion episode, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier dives deep into a topic that's been buzzing in the beauty industry for a while – upcycled ingredients. In a world where environmental consciousness is on the rise, and the use of waste materials to create beauty products is gaining traction, you would think that upcycling food industry waste and byproducts as cosmeti...

Our guest in this episode is Dr Terence Chung, visionary co-founder of  FRUU Cosmetics , which is a company dedicated to turning sustainable ingredients, particularly "wonky fruits" or byproducts from the juicing and agricultural industries, into natural cosmetics. In conversation with Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier, Terence not only shares the remarkable journey of FRUU,...