Does your skincare affect the planet?
We all agree that beauty care is evolving into general health care. You may now be wondering if your physical appearance and your health are the reason why thousands of animals are dying, we are neck-deep in trash, or temperatures are rising in an unnatural way. It is essential to ask yourself: "I take care of myself, but what about my environment?"
The impact of global warming
Human and animal communities at risk due to rising sea levels
Global warming is not just a distant reality; it is affecting our environment right now. The melting of glaciers is causing a rise in sea levels, threatening entire communities (both human and animal) due to a lack of space.
This is the case of the islands of Panama and their indigenous communities throughout the San Blas archipelago. Cartí Sugdupu is one of them, where more than a thousand people live in an area equivalent to 5 football fields. It is already predicted that by 2050 it will be overtaken by sea levels and will disappear, and like this case, there are many others throughout the planet.
A closer case would be in our own country (Spain), where Mario Picazo, a meteorologist for El Tiempo, has stated that the Cantabrian Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Alboran Sea will be more vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Forest fires and the El Niño phenomenon
Forest fires are ravaging vast areas, destroying habitats and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the El Niño phenomenon is leaving serious consequences throughout the area it affects. Colombia has already issued an alert in more than 883 municipalities due to the risk of forest fires, 582 of which have already been placed on red alert. Other South American countries like Chile and Argentina are also joining this warning, and more and more are joining in this fear.
It is predicted that in February, fires will reach the Amazon and their damage will have consequences worldwide: more disease, more alteration of natural phenomena, and a great loss of fauna and flora.
Water scarcity and inequality: a crisis that also affects beauty
Water scarcity is also leading to the death of elephants and other species that depend on water sources now depleted for many reasons, but the most important ones are: poaching, drought, bacteria appearing for this same reason, and areas fenced off for construction along the Savanna.
All this is happening while the wealthiest classes are allowed to spend millions of dollars on polar water. Does the headline "Dubai bars use Greenland ice in their cocktails" ring a bell? Well, as unbelievable as it may seem, yes, it is true. A Greenlandic company, founded by Malik V Rasmussen, is collecting ice from the oldest glaciers (more than one hundred thousand years old) to sell in the United Arab Emirates while thousands of polar bears and other animals in the area are losing their lives due to ice scarcity.
Not to mention the number of people across the planet who do not have access to drinking water, which is mostly allocated to the livestock, textile, and transport industries.
The connection between beauty, cosmetics, and the environment
How the cosmetic industry contributes to the environmental problem
In our search for perfect skin, we often immerse ourselves in the world of cosmetics. However, we rarely consider the impact that these products have on our environment. The cosmetic industry has evolved, and with it, the need to rethink our practices has arisen.
Responsible brands and sustainable alternatives
How can we balance our desire for beauty with environmental responsibility? Unfortunately, not all companies are in favor of the environment or the health of the people and animals that take care of this ecosystem. But we must focus on those of us who are, and we are increasingly less afraid to express ourselves thanks to the support we find in our community. There are no more excuses; now there are alternatives for absolutely everything!
Banbu and the revolution from within
At Banbu, we believe in sustainable beauty. We have joined the revolution from within, committing ourselves to reducing our environmental impact. Why? Because the environment is not only our home but also the source of inspiration and natural ingredients that give life to our natural cosmetic products. Planet Earth has existed without us, not the other way around. Taking care of it is essential to living and finding our place; in other words, taking care of the planet is taking care of ourselves.
The formula for healthy skin and a happy planet
Our products not only nourish your skin but also respect the earth that provides it. We do not use water; the water we do not invest goes toward the maintenance of the ecosystem on which we all depend—all people and all living beings that inhabit it. We also do not use toxins that impregnate our seas, forests, cities, or bodies with harmful gases that put our lives at risk, nor those of the planet.
We also prefer to do without plastic packaging and equally harmful alternatives that are not easy or possible to recycle. Use and throw away? There is already enough trash that we create day by day that ends up polluting this beautiful world in which we have the pleasure of living. Having a conscious commitment allows us not to destroy it and to be able to continue creating a healthy synergy.
By supporting natural cosmetics, you are making a conscious, fair, and empathetic decision that translates into beauty, both for you and for your (our) environment. We assure you it will be rewarded; the revolution continues!
Author: Nathalia Carrillo Jácome
