The impact of our cosmetics

The Positive Impact of Our Natural and Sustainable Cosmetics: For People, the Planet, and Animals

At Banbu, our mission from day one has been to create natural and ecological cosmetics that not only care for people but are also responsible towards the planet and animals. We consider ourselves a project aware that every action has an impact, which is why we set out to quantify and measure each of these impacts to visualize the REAL IMPACT we have as a brand. We have designed a technical approach that goes beyond words and relies on concrete data to demonstrate that our cosmetics are a sustainable alternative to traditional products.

1. Measuring Our Impact: Transparency and Real Metrics

To measure our impact, we developed a proprietary algorithm that allows us to precisely quantify the number of plastic containers we have avoided, the amount of water we have saved, and the CO2 we have not emitted by manufacturing our products. We want to be able to demonstrate the positive impact of each product we create, not only in terms of quality but also in environmental terms.

The algorithm we designed categorizes each product based on quantity, duration, and composition. This allows us to determine how many containers are saved when comparing our products with conventional alternatives, as well as to calculate the water and energy savings achieved by eliminating unnecessary and toxic ingredients.

Each month, we cross-reference this data with the sales of each product, which provides us with a precise impact metric. It sounds simple when we reduce it to a paragraph, but it has been a complex process that has required the collaboration of our partners (suppliers, manufacturers) and universities, who have helped us verify the data and project our annual impact forecasts.

2. Reducing Water Consumption: Waterless Cosmetics

Water is a limited and essential resource for life, but in the conventional cosmetic industry, its use is excessive. We made a decision from the outset: to create products without water, not only to conserve this resource but also to make our products more concentrated, lighter, and more effective.

• Water Savings: Thanks to our waterless formulas, we save 70% of this resource compared to conventional cosmetics. Additionally, by eliminating water, our products require smaller packaging, which reduces the use of packaging materials and transport weight.
• Transport Impact: With this reduction in weight and size, we have managed to decrease the weight of our shipments by 35%, which in turn implies a significant reduction in carbon emissions generated during transport.
  
  
  
  

3. Less Waste: Sustainable Packaging and Plastic Reduction

At Banbu, we are committed to minimizing waste. Conventional cosmetics generate large quantities of plastic waste, and we have opted to use sustainable packaging, made from recycled glass (PCR) or recyclable materials.

• Plastic Savings: Each of our products avoids, on average, 50 grams of plastic per unit compared to traditional cosmetics.
• Use of Recycled Materials: We use 100% recycled paper for our packaging, printed with vegetable inks. This has allowed us to reduce the carbon footprint associated with packaging manufacturing by 60%.
  
  

4. Reducing CO2 Emissions: Sustainable Production and Transport

Our commitment to the environment extends beyond ingredients and packaging; we also implement measures to reduce our carbon footprint in the production and distribution of our products.

• Renewable Energy: We are integrating photovoltaic energy systems into our facilities to achieve zero energy consumption in our factories.
• Avoided Emissions: By not using water and reducing transport weight, we have achieved a CO2 emission reduction of 25%, and thanks to renewable energy, we have decreased an additional 15%.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: In total, our products generate 40% less CO2 emissions compared to conventional cosmetics.
  

5. Ethical and Local Production: Proximity Ingredients

We ensure that 90% of our ingredients are of national origin, which reduces the carbon footprint associated with raw material transport and supports small local producers.

• Sustainable Ingredients: We use natural raw materials, such as trehalose, which hydrates the skin long-lastingly, or ginseng, which stimulates cell regeneration. Each of these ingredients has proven benefits for both the skin and the environment.
• Vegan and Cruelty-Free Cosmetics: At Banbu, our products are cruelty-free and do not contain animal-derived ingredients. Additionally, we avoid raw materials that can contribute to deforestation, such as palm oil.

6. Preventing River and Sea Contamination

One of the major concerns in conventional cosmetics is the contamination of rivers and seas. Many conventional products contain toxic or non-biodegradable ingredients that end up filtering into aquatic systems, severely affecting marine biodiversity. At Banbu, we use biodegradable raw materials, which means our products decompose naturally and do not leave harmful residues.

• Positive Impact on Aquatic Environment: Our products do not contain microplastics or harmful compounds for marine ecosystems, thus preventing the contamination of rivers and seas.
• Protection of Marine Biodiversity: By opting for 100% biodegradable ingredients, we ensure that our formulas do not contribute to the death of aquatic species or the deterioration of marine habitats, a critical problem affecting millions of tons of marine life each year.

7. Closing the Loop: Towards Regenerative Cosmetics

We want to go beyond sustainability and move towards a regenerative model, meaning not only minimizing environmental impact but also improving the environment. This includes initiatives such as:

• Introducing returnable packaging to further reduce waste.
• Supporting reforestation projects to restore damaged ecosystems.
• Managing the last mile of our deliveries using 100% electric transport, further reducing emissions.

8. The Future of Our Cosmetics

Currently, few brands in the cosmetic industry can make such a precise impact calculation as we have developed at Banbu. This allows us not only to measure our success but also to project a more positive future.

We know what we have achieved so far:

• Saving thousands of liters of water.
• Avoiding the emission of tons of CO2.
• Reducing the use of tons of plastic.
• Protecting the biodiversity of our marine ecosystems.
  
  

But this is only the beginning. Thanks to the metrics we obtain each month, we can adjust and improve our operations to continue generating a positive impact. Now that we have the data, what do we do with it? The answer is clear: we get to work to continue advancing our mission of creating water and toxic-free cosmetics that truly make a difference.