Natural Beauty Summit Launched

The aim of Natural Beauty Summit is to create a forum to learn and discuss the key challenges the cosmetics industry faces in the areas of natural & organic products and sustainability. It aims at bringing together key stake-holders like cosmetic manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, packaging companies, retailers, industry organisations, and investors and to create a forum to discuss and debate critical issues. The inaugural conference, Natural Beauty Summit Europe (NBSE), will take place in Paris, 29-30th November 2007. The conference will tackle major issues like defining natural cosmetics, standards & certifications, ingredients & formulations, sustainability & ethical sourcing, marketing & distribution, investments and growth strategies. Leading experts in the natural cosmetics industry will present papers in a high-level forum.

Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda, will kick off the premier event with an opening address on the importance of sustainability. ‘Sustainability in the Cosmetics Industry’ is the theme of the first conference session. Topics covered in this session include ethical sourcing, traceability of ingredients, organic cosmetics, and corporate social responsibility. Leading organic cosmetic companies like Dr. Hauschka will be part of the panel discussion that will look at furthering sustainable initiatives in the cosmetics industry. The second session will focus on technical issues and formulations. Major cosmetic ingredient companies like Cognis will share their experiences in developing natural replacements for synthetic chemicals. Other presentations will cover natural actives, preservatives, and novel ingredients. Also in the second session, the leading certification agencies like Ecocert, Soil Association and BDIH will be part of a panel discussion that looks at ‘The Possibility of Harmominsation of Natural & Organic Standards’.

Sessions three and four of this two-day conference in Paris will focus on Marketing Ethical Cosmetics, and Regulatory & Investment Issues. Key topics in the third session include reaching the ethical consumer, building successful e-retailers, and the importance of concept stores. Tesco will share its experiences of its B-Naturals range of natural cosmetics, whilst top UK hair stylist Daniel Galvin Jr. will look at the growing needs of the salon & spa market. The final session will have presentations looking at the implications of REACH on natural cosmetics, labelling & packaging issues. A key concern for natural cosmetic companies, ‘Growth & Financing Options’ will be addressed by the ethical bank Triodos Bank. The Greek company Korres Natural Products will share how it has gone from homeopathy to cosmetics, and how to develop a successful IPO. Other presentations will look at mergers, acquisitions and investments in the natural cosmetics industry.

Natural Beauty Summit is the result of a strategic partnership between ITEC France and Organic Monitor. Both industry leaders in their respective areas, the two organisations plan to host further Natural Beauty Summits in Europe and North America in 2008. David Bond, CEO of ITEC France, comments: ‘We are proud to host the first-ever series of conferences on natural cosmetics and sustainability in Paris.’ Amarjit Sahota, director of Organic Monitor, is also excited about the conference series, ‘Natural Beauty Summit has the hallmarks to become the premier learning and discussion platform for the natural beauty industry.’

www.natbeauty.org