A Parisian Cosmetics Company Emphasizes Sustainability and Obtains B Corp Certification
Revamped Article:
Hailing from the City of Light, Typology - the personal care and cosmetics brand - has been a certified B Corp since its inception. According to Ning Li, the seasoned entrepreneur and founder, this commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in the company's ethos.
"From day one, we've made sustainability part of our by-laws and mission. We know we can't save the planet single-handedly as a consumer-driven business. But our goal is to do better than before and push the industry towards a greener future," Li explains.
This mission has led Typology to reimagine the way beauty products are packaged and sold. Earlier this year, they introduced a refillable lipstick, following in the footsteps of the likes of Kjaer Weis, La Bouche Rouge Paris, Zao, and Chanel. However, this move is consistent with their broader goal of reducing waste from personal care products.
"All our packaging today is made from recycled materials. So, we've stopped using Virgin glass, aluminum, or plastic in our production process. That's why when we launched our lip product, a refillable option seemed like a natural step," Li adds.
This summer, they unveiled a new haircare range, with eco-friendly packaging and no sulfates, silicones, or fragrances, and made up of 90% natural ingredients.
Li isn't new to the business world - he's previously founded MyFab and Made.com. He sold his stake in the first business, which was later acquired by PPR (now Kering), and Made.com went public in London. However, he raised a $10 million seed round for Typology with a different goal in mind.
"When I started Typology, my intention wasn't just to create another business for the sake of an exit. I wanted to build something that we'd all feel good about working for," he says.
Yet, Li admits that there are challenges to being a sustainable business. For instance, recycled plastic and glass cost more than virgin alternatives. "So, there's an added cost for businesses. In the beginning, we couldn't afford it. But after about three years in business, we could transition over to recycled materials," he admit.
Being a B Corp isn't just about sustainable supply chains for Li. He also ensures that the first 10 to 15 employees in the company have equity, keeps salary differences between senior and junior hires limited, and doesn't rush into too many markets to maintain their high standards.
They began in France, expanded to the UK, Germany, and are now focusing on the lucrative yet challenging US market. Yet, the cosmetics industry is notoriously unregulated. As a result, Li has adopted the strictest standards found in Japan as his internal benchmark.
"The bar isn't very high when it comes to testing. So, we've had to make our own judgments many times. It can be a pain, more expensive, and challenging at times. But it's worth it," Li concludes.
Insights:
- Challenges in Being a Sustainable Business: Being a sustainable business, especially in the cosmetics industry, comes with its own set of challenges. These include higher costs for eco-friendly materials, inadequate recycling infrastructure, design constraints, risk of greenwashing, and maintaining a balance between sustainability and consumer experience [Extra Info].
- Balancing Environment and Aesthetics: Sustainable packaging must meet brand standards and ensure recyclability without compromising visual appeal [Extra Info].
- Inadequate Recycling Infrastructure: The existing recycling infrastructure in many regions may be insufficient to handle the volume or types of materials used in cosmetics packaging, leading to low actual recycling rates despite on-package claims [Extra Info].
- Complex Packaging Designs: Cosmetics packaging often consists of multiple materials, making it difficult for recycling programs to process. Additionally, packaging smaller than 2 inches is rarely recycled by standard municipal systems [Extra Info].
- Ning Li, the founder of B Corp-certified cosmetics brand Typology, has admitted that being a sustainable business, particularly in the cosmetics industry, presents unique challenges, such as the higher costs associated with eco-friendly materials like recycled plastic and glass.
- Typology, with its focus on sustainability and low waste, ensures that its packaging meets both brand standards and recyclability criteria, without sacrificing aesthetic appeal.
- One of the challenges faced by sustainable businesses like Typology is the inadequate recycling infrastructure in many regions, leading to low actual recycling rates, despite on-package claims.
