
The Upcycled Beauty Company has just published its latest report. Ingredients, packaging, operations, climate: the document provides an overview of the levers activated by brands in response to environmental pressure.
Today, only 6.9% of the global economy is circular, a figure that has been declining since 2018. By 2050, raw material extraction could double compared to 2015, putting pressure on natural systems.
Focus on ingredients
Sustainability starts with formulation. In the beauty industry, 30 to 50% of CO2 emissions are linked to the sourcing of raw materials.
In this context, co-products from the agri-food industry are attracting increasing attention. Food waste alone accounts for 8 to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and more than $1 trillion in losses each year.
Transforming this waste into cosmetic ingredients reduces the use of virgin resources and lowers the carbon footprint of formulas.
As a result, upcycling is changing its status in the beauty industry. Today, one in two consumers say they actively seek out upcycled ingredients in beauty products.
AI at the service of formulation
In 2026, artificial intelligence will become a key tool for sustainable development.
It will enable the identification, extraction, and valorization of functional compounds from food waste, while reducing the need for heavy R&D phases.
AI is now used:
• In ingredient selection
• In formulation
• In resource optimization
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