At Banbu, we believe that being a "natural" brand is not enough if it is not accompanied by a technical, rigorous, and transparent analysis of the environmental impact of each ingredient. We deeply appreciate it when our customers raise this question: Is natural always more sustainable?
The answer, from our point of view, is clear: not necessarily. And that's why our commitment goes far beyond natural or organic origin. We adopt a comprehensive approach that considers real sustainability, from production to the final use of the product. Today we want to explain how we do it and what criteria we use to make more conscious decisions.
♻️ 1. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Traceability
The sustainability of an ingredient is not measured only by its "bio" or "eco" label. Therefore, we analyze the complete life cycle (Life Cycle Assessment, LCA) of the raw materials we select: from their cultivation or extraction to their transport and transformation.
We ensure that our suppliers can provide us with information on:
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Water footprint and water use in cultivation.
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CO₂ emissions and total carbon footprint.
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Type of cultivation (intensive vs. extensive, conventional vs. regenerative).
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Impact on local biodiversity.
Although we do not yet have a complete LCA of the final product (it is an ongoing project), we do work with advanced technical sheets, traceability audits, and ethical certifications.
Example of practical application:
Instead of using exotic vegetable oils or those with a high environmental footprint (such as palm oil, even if it is organic), we prioritize:
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European cold-pressed oils (such as sunflower, hemp, or olive).
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Upcycled ingredients, reused from the food industry (such as seeds, husks, or pulps).
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Suppliers who work under principles of regenerative or biodynamic agriculture, which return nutrients to the soil and restore ecosystems.
🌍 2. COSMOS Certification and Green Chemistry
Our COSMOS certification requires us to comply not only with the natural origin of the ingredients but also with how they are obtained, transformed, and biodegraded.
Key criteria include:
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Limitation of high-impact inputs, such as synthetic solvents, aggressive chemical processes, or ingredients with a low ecological profile.
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Biodegradability requirement, especially for surfactants or rinse-off ingredients.
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Requirement for renewable origin (vegetable or mineral).
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Prohibition of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
In addition, we apply green chemistry criteria to minimize waste and polluting processes. We use techniques such as:
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Supercritical CO₂ extraction, which leaves no toxic residues.
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Enzymatic hydrolysis, which requires less energy.
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Natural fermentation, without the use of industrial catalysts.
This approach ensures that, even within natural cosmetics, we avoid formulas that have a high environmental cost.
🌱 3. Holistic Formulation: More Efficiency, Fewer Resources
Evaluating an ingredient separately can be misleading. Therefore, at Banbu, we analyze its behavior in the final product:
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Does it require large doses to be effective?
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Is it easily biodegradable?
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Does it generate waste that could harm the aquatic environment?
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Does it have hidden social impacts, such as labor exploitation or territorial conflicts?
A clear example:
A vegetable oil can be 100% natural and organic, but if it requires large quantities in a rinse-off product (like an exfoliant or gel), its sustainability is questionable. In these cases, we opt for:
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Reducing its percentage to the minimum effective amount.
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Replacing it with reused or local alternatives.
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Reformulating to improve cosmetic efficiency with less impact.
We also avoid "trendy" ingredients with high ethical or environmental burdens, such as uncertified mica (associated with child labor) or uncontrolled mining of clays.
Our commitment: transparency, science, and responsibility
In summary, we do not believe that natural is always synonymous with sustainable. Therefore, we combine technical data, scientific criteria, and ethical values to formulate our products.
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We don't just follow regulations: we go further.
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We don't fall for empty green marketing: we apply real sustainability principles.
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We don't make compromises if there's an environmental or social risk: we opt for cleaner alternatives, even if they are more costly or difficult to formulate.
This is our path: less superficial discourse, more science-based action. Because we believe that sustainability should not just be a claim, but a real, honest, and measurable practice.
. Sustainability is not a promise, it's a way of working.
