The contemporary approach to high quality, ethical and environmentally friendly cosmetics
Product innovation, green packaging. We talk to Cecilia Garofalo, founder of the young Italian brand Teaology, about the contemporary approach to high quality, ethical and environmentally friendly cosmetics.
By Achille Perego | On PRINTLovers 89
Beauty is increasingly eco-friendly – not only in the content but also in the container. The path towards green and biodegradable packaging, saying goodbye to plastic – but also aiming for “zero waste” – has become almost obligatory for the cosmetics industry. From the big international brands to start-ups in the sector, both Italian and foreign, but at any rate present in Italy. A path taken with key partners such as printing companies and, in particular, paper converters because sustainability depends, on the one hand, on the development of new materials with renewed and renewable raw materials, and on the other on an innovative use of paper and cardboard. This is the case of Teaology, a new brand which, in addition to product innovation, has also chosen green packaging from the outset. Teaology was founded in 2016 by Cecilia Garofalo, whose love of tea led her to create a skincare line that would enhance all the extraordinary qualities of tea through an exclusive patent. Garofalo has invested her studies in economics and her professionalism, developed over many years in the marketing of major beauty multinationals, to make her dream come true.
“With Teaology,” she says, “we have taken the use of tea to a new level to offer the benefits of effective, clean and sustainable skincare.” This sustainability couldn’t fail to apply to the packaging of this new cosmetics brand, whose product lines are now distributed in over 25 countries worldwide through selective perfumeries, department stores and e-commerce. The patent (Tea Infusion Skincare) that lies at the heart of Teaology’s success, adds the founder of the company, which has its headquarters in Monza, “is a unique technology that makes it possible to use real tea infusion in cosmetic formulas instead of water.”
The focus on skin health and the general wellbeing of the body when using cosmetics translates into the choice of the most suitable organic teas (black, white, matcha, green, blue) to be included in each product on the basis of their active ingredients. It’s a range that now includes numerous lines from body creams to perfumes, from eye care to face care, from face and neck masks to the Yoga Line. And there are products that have already become icons in terms of both content and packaging: the Green Tea Detox Face Scrub, an exfoliating detoxifying cream-butter; the Matcha Tea ultra-firming face cream, toning, redensifying and moisturising; the Bancha Oil, an antioxidant, nourishing and brightening concentrate with 99% natural ingredients; Happy Skin multifunctional beauty balm, and Peach Tea Hydra cream – a face cream with infused Blue Tea, hyaluronic acid and prebiotics for smoothing and brightening. Sustainable products that require equally eco-friendly packaging.
“We believe in the importance of recycling and separate waste collection,” explains Cecilia Garofalo, “so we are committed to using packaging that is as recyclable as possible and made of a single material to simplify disposal. So boxes and packaging are 100% recyclable and made of certified paper from responsibly managed forests, free of acids and heavy metals. The approach for plastic containers is also 100% recyclable, so we prefer containers made from raw materials of vegetable origin such as sugar cane processing waste and with reduced CO2 emissions. If the type of material is not yet recyclable, we highlight this in the how-to-recycle section of our website. In the context of environmental protection, the cosmetics sector is not only aiming to make packaging recyclable but also to reduce its presence as much as possible. “On the overpackaging front,” Garofalo continues, “we have eliminated the leaflets in the packaging, thus saving over 500 kg of paper per year. But we have also eliminated superfluous and non-recyclable accessories such as plastic spatulas and brushes. In general, product packaging material is reduced to a minimum. This allows us to use fewer raw materials and to reduce the energy footprint needed for production, transport and therefore disposal.”
For cosmetics, it has not always been possible, and still isn’t, to combine green packaging with the preservation of the contents over time, starting with the preservation of the active ingredients. “Natural resources are limited and must be preserved; science offers a safe alternative to avoid the uncontrolled exploitation of precious raw materials for the planet and the lives of its inhabitants,” says Cecilia Garofalo. “We are convinced that science is an indispensable resource for effective, sustainable and clean cosmetics. Sustainable packaging must meet several requirements: safe storage of the product, be made from sustainable materials and be able to be recycled when it has completed its task. This is why we continue to research with our partners and suppliers – Italian companies specialising in the cosmetics sector and active, also in terms of printing and converting, in the search for innovative solutions and sustainable materials – first and second level packaging that fully meets these requirements.”
Any successful examples of this combination of sustainable packaging and proper product preservation? “For example,” says Garofalo, “Matcha Pore cleansing stick. Its 3-in-1 formula requires special packaging with bottom filling and sealing. The stick is made of mono-material and is completely recyclable in plastic, facilitating separate collection and disposal. It is made of 100% recyclable polypropylene, an eco-responsible material because it limits the environmental impact and at the same time guarantees perfect safety in terms of hygiene and product preservation.” Another example of sustainable packaging that is good for the skin and the environment? “The Green Tea Mist has a recyclable aluminium canister featuring Bag on Valve aerosol technology. The BoV consists of a valve to which a bag is welded. The product is placed inside the bag, and only compressed air and no flammable gases are used as propellant. In this condition, the product remains intact and pure because it is always separated from the propellant. So we can talk about zero waste technology because it allows the optimal emptying of the product up to 99%. It improves storage and can be used in any position (360°). It does not require propellant gas, it is hygienic, sterilisable and recyclable.”
