Uniquely Organic EcoSpa - Environment - Brighton and Hove beauty and massage treatments

Animal testing out, but animal killing in - by Kirsty Taylor

The disastrous effects mankind has had on the environment through the overuse of natural resources are well documented and we are becoming increasingly familiar with the possible side effects of chemical-riddled cosmetics, but are we missing a crucial link? As a specialist in organic skincare and a lover of animals, I wanted to understand how this multi-million pound cosmetic industry affects the welfare of precious and endangered animals and, if the two worlds are not, in fact, so far apart. We all want to look good but does this have to threaten the most beautiful part of our planet, nature, without which we could not exist?

Uniquely Organic EcoSpa Brighton and Hove - Brighton and Hove Massage and Beauty treatments Deforestation and cosmetic ingredients

My research began at the most obvious and topical place...palm oil and the orangutans. Palm oil can be found in Malaysia and Indonesia, including Borneo and Sumatra, and is used in many beauty products such as soaps and lipstick. To supply the demand for palm oil and make room for plantations, it has been estimated by Friends of the Earth that two million acres of rainforest a year are being cut down. As well as completely destroying the natural habitat of the orangs and making them easy prey for hunters, sadly the bulldozing process often exterminates the orangs themselves.

A well known soap manufacturer recently admitted to using 400-500 tonnes of palm oil a year. After visiting orangutan re-homing centres in Borneo, this company was shocked into developing a blend of coconut, rapeseed and sunflower oils as a more sustainable alternative, demonstrating that palm oil is not essential to soap-making. Yet other leading beauty retailers have failed to follow in these footsteps even though within five years the orangutan could become the first great ape to be extinct in the wild. We can only hope that, as a result of ‘green’ palm oil sources being developed in Colombia and Malaysia, these companies will run out of excuses for contributing to rapid deforestation.

The destructive impact of palm oil farming also threatens the lives of rhinos and tigers and adds to global warming. A pretty impressive trail of destruction for a bar of soap, don’t you think?

Global warming and production

This trail worsens as we look into the effect of everyday beauty products on global warming, the phenomenon that occurs when the concentration of greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide intensifies, trapping too much heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere. It is estimated that 20-25 per cent of all global warming is caused by deforestation due to the large amount of carbon dioxide stored by trees (an average 50 per cent) that is then released into the atmosphere when they are felled or burned. This makes deforestation the second greatest cause of global warming after human intervention and demonstrates just how important the sustainable use of ingredients such as palm oil in cosmetics is.

Carbon dioxide levels are also dramatically increased by emissions from factories, aeroplanes and cars, whilst nitrous oxide levels are raised artificially by the amount of man-made fertilisers used in farming. We can all see how the stages of cosmetic production, from growing chemically-enhanced ingredients through energy consumption in the manufacturing process to delivering products to supermarkets, contribute to this catastrophic cycle. The causes of our warming planet seemed clear but I wanted to find out how animals other than the orangutan, rhino and tiger were at risk.

The picture that immediately springs to mind is that of the lone polar bear standing on top of a melting ice cap surrounded by nothing but water. Is this really an image the “beauty” industry want to uphold, and is convenience, price and brand loyalty really more important than one of the most impressive and iconic animals on earth? If you knew you could contribute to saving the lives of many wild animals and even the planet itself by spending your money on organic products, wouldn’t you do it? After all, living an organic lifestyle is not about following a trend but about protecting our future.

The melting of polar ice caps, caused by global warming, is hastening the extinction of the polar bear. As it loses its hunting ground and is forced to swim up to 60 miles to find food, this beautiful creature is experiencing exhaustion, hypothermia and drowning.

In addition, melting ice will make sea levels rise and the ocean less salty, interfering with the ocean currents which, in turn, influence air temperature. Due to these rising temperatures, many areas will encounter further extremes of weather leading to heat waves and droughts.

One of the worst-affected land masses will be Africa, home to an abundance of wildlife including the famous ‘big five’ – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo, all of which already struggle to survive in the hotter months with the lack of water and prey.

A study conducted in 2003 showed that a staggering 80 per cent of wildlife tested already showed signs of detrimental effects caused by global warming and surely this figure will only increase unless we consciously decide to change and make a difference through the products we buy. Other animals affected by climate change include salmon, penguins, Arctic foxes and grey wolves. Of course, nature has always evolved to accommodate new environments but now it may just be happening too fast.

Pollution and disposal

Moving on from the resourcing of ingredients and production of our well-known cosmetics to the disposal of waste products from factories and finished products from our homes, I wanted to know how much this adds to pollution levels. Again the excessive use of fertilisers emerges, as their high levels of nitrates and phosphates enter our seas and lakes and prompt dense algae growth, which smothers natural habitats and causes huge problems for marine life. There is also a potential for these problems to move further along the food chain as some algae produces toxins that can be harmful to larger animals.

This problem continues when product packaging is dumped and not recycled causing harm and often death to animals and sealife curious about unnatural items in their environment.

Below is an example of how long some familiar substances and materials take to biodegrade:

* Cardboard – 2 weeks
* Newspaper – 6 weeks
* Foam – 50 years
* Aluminium – 200 years
* Plastic packaging – 400 years
* Glass – so long that we don’t know the exact time

(Figures taken from Water pollution guide http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/marine.html)

Water pollution is just the beginning, as many product factories not implementing carbon neutral strategies also contribute highly to the increased air pollution generated by the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity. It has been estimated that up to 60 per cent of our household contribution to air pollution is created by the services and products we use. This is liberating news when you realise how much control you have over your own carbon footprint, especially when going organic has so many other benefits to your health. It really goes to show that buying organic is not just about feeding your skin but protecting our planet.

Why going organic makes a massive difference

Organic certification of products such as food, clothing and beauty does more than guarantee the authenticity and purity of the ingredients. It protects our animals, environment and humane working practices. It enforces company training and public education on the importance of all of these health and environmental issues and makes sure everyone and everything involved in the manufacturing process is treated fairly to allow sustainability and growth for the future. If the only consumer demand were for organic and ethical living, then imagine the awareness and power we would have and the quality of life we could lead... all businesses would have the environment and fair trading at heart, we could reduce global warming, protect endangered animals and extend the sustainability of all life on earth.

What can you do today?

All this can sound overwhelming and pretty scary when you begin to understand what is at risk but it is also compelling to know you have so much control over your buying power and can in turn affect the lives and future of all the endangered animals mentioned in this article.

So here are a few things you can start doing today to make a difference:

* Look out for organic certification stamps on everyday products to see what is available to you.
* Find out more about where and how you can buy your organic products.
* Talk to people who are interested or who specialise in organic living and see what they recommend.
* Ask the businesses/services you regularly use what their environmental policies are and really understand who you are supporting.

If you are still not sure how you feel about going organic, answer this: If you had the choice to save the life of ONE orang-utan or buy your favourite non-organic high street cosmetic, which would you choose? It really is that simple. Consumer demand controls the lives of the majestic creatures on our planet and every single one of us has the power to make a difference. So what are you waiting for?