The Beauty Industry Scorecard: A Look at Transparency, Ingredients, and Sustainability

PLEB takes a look at the Beauty Industry Scorecard, to see what you’re buying, wearing, and, more crucially, putting on your skin.
Beauty Industry scorecard image of beuty bottles with various herbs surrounding them

"Manufacturers do not have to list these individual ingredients as fragrance is considered to be a trade secret."

Dr Oliver Jones & Professor Ben Selinger, AM
Source: Chemistry of Cosmetics article, written by the  Australian Academy of Science (in relation to fragrances and parfums).

Regulation for the Beauty Industry Scorecard

A Need for Regulation: What Can Be Done?

While some brands genuinely commit to transparency, they are outliers in an industry that thrives on opacity. The beauty industry’s resistance to full disclosure stems from both fear of losing competitive advantage and lack of regulatory pressure. But as more consumers push for transparency, regulatory bodies may be forced to take action. The EU has been more proactive in this area, with recent efforts to expand ingredient listing requirements. However, the U.S. and other major markets remain largely unregulated.
 
Experts advocate for a universal standard on ingredient transparency, which would require all brands to list every ingredient and its source, particularly when claiming to be eco-friendly or sustainable. This could also include a standardised rating system, allowing consumers to make informed choices without needing to dissect ingredient lists themselves. Such regulations would not only foster a more honest industry but also empower consumers, allowing them to trust in the products they purchase.
 

Moving Toward Genuine Transparency

The transparency movement is growing, with consumers increasingly willing to pay more for ethical, safe products. Brands that are transparent about their ingredients, sourcing, and environmental impact are often rewarded with customer loyalty. Some industry players, such as the nonprofit Made Safe, are taking the lead, offering comprehensive certifications for nontoxic products. These certifications serve as third-party endorsements, helping consumers identify genuinely safe options without sifting through misleading claims.
 
Meanwhile, Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are emerging as another solution. By offering QR codes that link to detailed product information, including ingredients and sourcing, brands can provide consumers with transparency at the point of purchase. These digital passports could also include manufacturing details and social impact information, enabling a full understanding of the product’s lifecycle. For brands that are truly committed to sustainability, DPPs offer a way to differentiate themselves from competitors that rely on greenwashing.
 

The Power of Informed Consumers

As awareness grows, so does consumer demand for genuine transparency. Informed consumers are the best tool in the fight for a safer, more ethical beauty industry. With organisations like Good On You, EcoVadis, and the Environmental Working Group providing insight into beauty brands’ practices, consumers have more power than ever to make choices that align with their values.
 
However, there is still much work to be done. While scorecards and certification systems are helpful, they remain voluntary, and many major brands still evade transparency. To create lasting change, regulatory bodies, brands, and consumers alike must work together. The beauty industry’s future depends on this collective action—and an end to the secrecy that has long shrouded ingredient lists and a commitment to honest, sustainable practices that prioritise people and the planet over profit.
tea and flowers while reading the Beauty Industry Scorecard

The Road to Reform

The beauty industry’s ingredient transparency problem highlights a fundamental issue of accountability. Consumers have the right to know what they’re putting on their skin, and brands have a responsibility to disclose it. Until stronger regulations are in place, tools like the Good On You Beauty Scorecard and Digital Product Passports offer vital transparency, but they’re only the beginning. True change will require a comprehensive, regulatory overhaul that holds brands accountable and puts consumers first.
 
For readers of PLEB Magazine, this is a call to action. As consumers, we can demand more, pushing for transparency, honesty, and a beauty industry that prioritises safety and sustainability over corporate secrets. The journey to a truly transparent beauty industry may be a long one, but every informed choice is a step toward a healthier, more ethical future.
 

A New Wave of Change: Brands Leading the Way in Transparency

Despite the challenges, there is a bright side to the story—many beauty brands are stepping up to lead a new wave of transparency. A growing number of companies, from independent startups to established beauty giants, are recognizing the value of clear, honest communication with their customers. Brands like The Body Shop and Youth to the People, have committed to full ingredient disclosure, listing every component of their formulations with detailed explanations on sourcing and environmental impact. This level of openness fosters trust, attracting consumers who value ethical practices and are willing to support brands that align with their values.
 
As previously mentioned, technology is creating new possibilities for transparency in the beauty industry. Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which use QR codes to link to a product’s full ingredient list, origin, and environmental footprint, are revolutionising how brands share information. Imagine purchasing a face cream and scanning a code that instantly provides details on where each ingredient was sourced, how it was processed, and its social and environmental impact. These digital tools not only empower consumers but also inspire brands to maintain higher standards of accountability.
 
The rise of third-party certifications is another positive trend. Programs like EcoCert are raising the bar, providing consumers with clear, trustworthy markers for truly eco-friendly, non-toxic products. By partnering with certifiers, brands can ensure their practices are verified by experts, building consumer confidence.
 

The Role of Innovation in a Transparent Future

The beauty industry is also seeing more innovative, sustainable alternatives to traditional ingredients. Precision fermentation—a technology that creates high-performance dyes, fragrances, and preservatives through natural biological processes—has allowed some brands to develop non-toxic, eco-friendly alternatives without synthetic additives. This shift toward safer, science-backed ingredients signals a future where consumers no longer have to choose between beauty and safety.
 
Many brands are also taking a proactive approach to eco-friendly packaging, sourcing materials that are fully recyclable or biodegradable. Some, like Lush, have even introduced ‘naked’ products that come without any packaging at all. With beauty giants and startups alike innovating sustainable solutions, the industry is evolving rapidly toward a model that’s not only more transparent but also kinder to the planet.
 

Building a Better Beauty Industry Together

Consumers have a powerful role in this transformation. Every time we choose to support transparent, ethical brands, we’re sending a message to the industry: we value honesty and sustainability over opacity and empty promises. As brands begin to understand the impact of transparency on their reputation and bottom line, they’re more likely to adopt these practices, accelerating positive change across the entire industry.
 
The path toward a fully transparent beauty industry may be long, but the momentum is here. With committed consumers, forward-thinking brands, and powerful tools for transparency, a future where we can trust our products inside and out is within reach. Each informed choice brings us closer to an industry where beauty and integrity walk hand-in-hand—a vision we can all look forward to.

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