Natural ingredients are trending, but unfortunately so is greenwashing – in shower gel, toothpaste, deodorant, and, of course, face and body care. More and more often, natural ingredients are advertised, and many certifications promise a green, clear conscience. However, it’s worth taking a close look at the certification, ingredient list, and packaging – because not everything that is green is good for you and nature. In this blog post, I want to introduce you to various aspects of organic cosmetics and explain why my organic grape cosmetics are an honest alternative to large-scale industrial products that you can rely on.
Concentration
Many cosmetic brands, even conventional ones, are adding natural ingredients to their new products. Thus, a face cream quickly becomes a "face cream with organic oil," and every effort is made in communication to build as natural an image as possible. However, the concentration often amounts to only a minimum, and the long ingredient lists are full of excipients and preservatives. Since real organic ingredients are expensive, even certified organic cosmetic products often contain only a small proportion of natural ingredients.
My approach: Most of the ingredients for my organic grape cosmetics come from our own biodynamic vineyards. This allows me to offer products with a high concentration of up to 96% biodynamic ingredients, without unnecessary fillers. Only selected Demeter- or organic-certified raw materials that do not grow in sufficient quantities for processing at our Nikolaihof are purchased. I always prioritize regional raw materials – because true efficacy often grows right on our doorstep.
Non-ingredients
Often, demonstrably critical substances are used in cosmetic products to produce them more cheaply or to make them foam or smell better. The criticism ranges from health aspects, such as damage to the skin barrier from mineral oil derivatives or irritation from fragrances, to ecological points such as rainforest deforestation for palm oil plantations. Microplastics – partly as liquid microplastics – are also found in many cosmetic products, which end up back on our plates via wastewater through indirect routes.
My approach: It is therefore at least as important what does not go into my organic grape cosmetics. I consistently avoid artificial preservatives and fragrances in all products, use only palm oil- and mineral oil-free excipients, and work completely without fillers. This results in short ingredient lists, products that are particularly well tolerated, and no burden on your body or the environment.
Sustainable packaging
Not everything that is green is good for the environment. Although many companies are taking an important step towards sustainable packaging, especially with alternatives, one should consider whether they are really more ecologically sound. For example, "green plastic" often requires large cultivation areas for raw materials such as sugarcane. This green plastic is often produced from renewable resources, but it is not biodegradable and is just as durable and ultimately no better than conventional plastic.
My approach: For this reason, I try to avoid plastic wherever possible, so as not to have to produce new plastic, and for example, I use 100% recycled PET for my shower gels. I also use recyclable glass jars and aluminum tubes as they have a particularly high recycling rate. All cardboard packaging for products is printed regionally on recycled paper, and the resulting CO2 emissions are compensated with humus accumulation projects. Our daily office work is also printed on recycled paper, and I take new small steps every day to minimize my footprint in the bathroom.
I hope I was able to give you an insight into this comprehensive topic and show you what holistic sustainability means to me. By using my products, you can minimize your ecological footprint in the bathroom and thus not burden your body or the environment.
All the best,
dieNikolai
