White Paper On Roadblocks To Sustainability Symposium
By the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster
Introductions To The Symposium
This Symposium is dedicated to show the real issues in sustainability and clean beauty between Canadian and French Companies. The focus will be on how tech can be used to solve roadblocks that are currently preventing companies from reaching their goals. There will be a spotlight on issues across the supply chain and bring players together to solve them. The focus of the event will be innovations that can innovations that can solve the roadblocks. We will look at how Canadian and French Companies can partner together to further their dreams in the cosmetic industry. This event will share the achievements of companies that are speakers and use their success stories to inspire others. We expect to have between roughly 100- 150 attendees. The format will be fluid to encourage networking and B2B connection. This event will be part of Cosmetic Week, which is hosted by Cosmetic Valley. Let us take a look at all of the aspects of this Symposium.
Roadblocks to Sustainability
We have conducted some preliminary research with our Cluster members, and we found that these are the roadblocks that cosmetic companies face in their journey towards sustainability:
Cost: Implementing sustainable practices and adopting clean technologies can be expensive, and many cosmetic companies are hesitant to make the investments required. Additionally, the costs of environmentally friendly raw materials, packaging, and energy sources are often higher than conventional alternatives.
Consumer behavior: Changing consumer behavior can be challenging, as people may not be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, especially if they are not well informed about the issues and the benefits of sustainability.
Supply chain challenges: Sustainability often requires collaboration with suppliers and partners throughout the supply chain, but many companies face challenges in working with suppliers who are not aligned with their sustainability goals.
Regulations: Different countries have different regulations regarding sustainability, and navigating the complex regulatory landscape can be challenging for cosmetic companies, especially for those operating on a global scale.
Lack of standardization: The cosmetic industry lacks a consistent standard for sustainability, which can make it difficult for companies to compare their performance and for consumers to make informed choices.
Resistance to change: Finally, some companies may be resistant to change, especially if they have invested heavily in traditional business models and are not familiar with the practices and technologies associated with sustainability.
Call To Action
Despite these challenges, many cosmetic companies are finding ways to overcome them and are making significant progress in promoting sustainability and clean technology. The key is to adopt a long-term perspective, to invest in sustainability initiatives, and to collaborate with suppliers, partners, and government agencies to drive positive change. This is the reason that we are calling individuals to action. We want to focus on some of the challenges the industry is facing. Our call to action will showcase the issues across the supply chain from ingredients to packaging. We ask all the different players involved to show there are many solutions for the challenges that companies face outside of the cosmetic industry in both Canada and in France. The tech industry is rapidly evolving and merging with industries including cosmetics. It is our belief that a lot of solutions for the problems that companies face will be tech solutions.
Sustainability and Tech Landscape in France
France has been at the forefront of adopting sustainable technologies and practices to address the challenges posed by climate change. The government has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the share of renewable energy, and promote sustainable transportation. The cosmetics industry in France has embraced sustainability and clean technology in recent years. The country is home to many well-known cosmetic brands, and consumers have become increasingly aware of the impact of their purchases on the environment. 47% of French people report having purchased natural cosmetics in the last 12 months. [1]
The cosmetics industry in France has embraced clean technology to reduce its carbon footprint and increase the use of renewable energy. For instance, some companies are investing in solar and wind energy to power their operations and are using environmentally friendly processes for producing their products. The Cosmetic Valley is the French Cluster and they are world leaders in the cosmetic industry. Cosmetic Valley supports French companies in their international development, an essential action for the French trade balance and, more broadly, for the country's prosperity. The Cosmetic 360 Show is going return on October 18 & 19, 2023 at the Carrousel du Louvre, bringing together the key players in innovation. This will be the 9th edition of this global innovation tradeshow. The focus this year will be on Clean Tech. Cosmetic 360 will be part of the Cosmetic Week. The focus will be on techniques and industrial services that use natural resources, energy, water, raw materials with a view to significantly improving efficiency and productivity. This approach is accompanied by a systematic reduction of the induced toxicity and the volume of waste, and ensures a performance identical to existing technologies or superior to them. [2]
Cosmetic Valley has also launched a new campaign called FRANCE CARES FOR YOUR SKIN. By the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster 2023 This new campaign is based around the notion of "care". This is a long-term foundation that establishes the industry in a mission of common good, and that connects to the five founding pillars addressed by COSMETIC VALLEY in the book "Manifesto of the Cosmetics of the 21st Century [3]:
• Universal utility
• Human well-being
• Responsibility towards the living
• Freedom
• Scientific progress
These pillars will be part of our symposium. As an example we will link sustainability to a better human well-being and how its importance is part of our responsibility toward living.
Sustainability and Tech Landscape in Canada
Canada has been making significant progress in promoting sustainability and adopting clean technologies to address the challenges posed by climate change. The country is rich in natural resources, including abundant supplies of clean energy, and has been leveraging these resources to drive its transition to a more sustainable future. In recent years, the cosmetics industry in Canada has also been moving closer to valuing the importance of sustainability and clean technology. Consumers in Canada are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their purchases on the environment and are demanding environmentally friendly products.
The Canadian government has started incorporating sustainable practices into the law. The Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) are part of the Government of Canada’s comprehensive plan to address pollution, meet its target of zero plastic waste by 2030, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Regulations prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks, and straws. [4]
Canada has a great potential for developing of new products and ideas. Canada can benefit for the industry know-how of the French industry. This partnership is one of our priorities.
Trade Mission From Canada To France
There will be a mission from Canada that will be a significant part of this Symposium. Canadian companies will land on the 16th of October. The 17th of October will be the first day of Cosmetic Week in Paris. The global cosmetic clusters will meet and have a day together. The 18th and the 19th of October will be the Cosmetic 360 show and gala. The 20th of October will be the day of the Symposium. The following day on the 21st we will have a tourism day in Bordeaux to tour the surrounding areas. Companies will have business support and access to business matching.
Need For New Solutions From Outside the Industry
Innovation is a key driver of growth and progress in any industry. The ability to think outside the box and come up with new and creative solutions to problems is what sets successful companies apart from those that struggle to keep pace. But innovation can also be found outside of one's own industry and looking to other industries for inspiration can have a profound impact on one's own business. For this event we will be exploring technology from the wine and spirits industry, clean tech, and agri-food industries. It is important to look outside of the one’s industry.
One of the main reasons to look outside of one's own industry for innovation is to gain a new perspective. When working within the same industry for a long time, it is easy to get bogged down in the same ways of thinking and to overlook new and creative solutions. By looking outside of one's own industry, one can gain a fresh perspective on the challenges they face and find new and innovative ways to tackle them.
Another reason to look outside of one's own industry for innovation is to learn from others. Every industry has its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, and by looking at how others have approached similar issues, one can gain valuable insights and lessons that can be applied to their own business. For example, a company in the agri-food industry could provide innovation to a company in the cosmetic industry about how to upcycle agriculture waste to improve their waste management and create new ingredients.
Looking outside of one's own industry for innovation can also help to build stronger partnerships and collaborations. When companies from different industries work together, they can bring unique perspectives and skills to the table, leading to more creative and effective solutions.
The Objective of the Roadblock Symposium
The objective of the symposium is to create a platform for discussion and exchange between sustainably and clean tech experts from France and Canada on topic of solving roadblocks in the industry for a better future. The aim is to build a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist for the two countries in their relationship, and to identify ways in which the two nations can work together to address these challenges and make the most of the opportunities. The symposium will focus on the following key areas:
Scientific Exchange: The symposium will explore the role that scientific innovation plays in building strong partnerships between France and Canada. The goal will be to identifying new ways to promote greater scientific exchange between the two countries.
Economic Cooperation: The symposium will examine the opportunities and challenges that exist for economic cooperation between France and Canada, including trade and investment. The focus will be on identifying ways in which the two nations can work together to support the growth and competitiveness of their economies.
Sustainable Cooperation: The symposium will explore the ways in which France and Canada can cooperate on suitability issues that affect the cosmetic supply chain, including solutions for climate change, energy transition in manufacturing, and sustainable development of products By the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster 2023 and ingredients. The focus will be on identifying ways in which the two nations can work together to achieve their common environmental goals.
The Participants
The symposium will bring together experts from across the cosmetic supply chain in France and Canada, including academics, policymakers, business leaders, and other industry representatives. There will be a group of participants from Canada as part of a trade mission. The other participants will be visitors of the Cosmetic 360 show, and Global Cosmetic Cluster members. The goal is to involve all of the Global Cosmetic Members in the panels.
The main organizations that will be involved in this event will be the following;
• Cosmetic Valley
• Canadian Cosmetic Cluster
• French Tech
• Region of Bordeaux
• Canadian Trade Commissioners
• French Embassy
Proposed Program for Symposium
This is the proposed schedule for this one-day event.
10 am-10:20 am - Opening Speeches :
France Partnerships and the Global Cluster Network. One of the focuses of the opening speech is on what is the definition of sustainability. We will have a presentation from the Bordeaux region on business opportunities in the city of Bordeaux.
10:30 am-10:45 am - How Can We Regulate Clean Beauty (What is the definition?) :
What is clean beauty? What does it mean? This is a question being asked by many people around the world. Everyone seems to have their own definition of what clean beauty is. Our expert will guide us through the different opinions and discuss whether clean beauty should be regulated by the government.
10:45 am - 11:05 am - Panel 1 - Should We Regulate Clean Beauty ?
11:10 am – 11:25 am - Sustainability Challenges for Big Companies Vs Start-ups :
There are many challenges in becoming sustainable in the cosmetic industry. One of the biggest differences is that bigger companies can be more sustainable due to their financial resources. SME’s have the advantage being able to faster apply new methods for more sustainable business practices. We’re going to look at the differences between bigger companies and smaller companies and how their challenges and sustainability differ as well as how are they alike. We will also look at the solutions that both can utilize to streamline their road to being more sustainable.
11:30 am -11:50 am - Panel 2 – Sustainability Challenges for Big Companies Vs Start-ups
11:50am - 12:50pm - Lunch
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm - Focus On The Issues For Brands (and the Tech Solutions) :
The cosmetic market is full of brands that are competing for shelf space, online viewership, and finally to be in the hands of the consumer. One of the methods that brands to attract consumers is the marketing of sustainability and eco-friendliness of their products. We will discuss the factors that contribute to greenwashing versus actual sustainability.
1:15 pm- 1:30 pm - Focus On The Issues For Ingredients (and the Tech Solutions) :
Ingredients are the building blocks of all cosmetic products. Many companies are focused on upcycled ingredients or have developed a cleaner extraction process. We look at all the different avenues that companies face when they are trying to be more sustainable and the tech solutions that can help with achieving this.
1:30- 1:45 pm - Focus On The Issues For Packaging (and the Tech Solutions) :
The packaging industry is always full of innovation, but how many companies can achieve their goals to be more sustainable or have a smaller carbon footprint? We ask packaging companies to submit all their roadblocks so that we can find solutions from our tech partners.
1:45 pm- 2:05 pm - Panel 3 – On Sustainability Challenges Of Brands, Ingredients and Packaging
2:05 pm- 3:00 pm - Round Table Work Session/ Networking :
During this work session, people will have a chance to talk about their roadblocks and meet potential solution-makers.
At this time, we are exploring an opportunity to visit a lab or company in the area. A group of companies will depart at 2:15 pm to make a company visit during the time. All events are expected to be finished before 4:30pm.
Conclusion
This Roadblocks to Sustainability Symposium will take place this fall in Bordeaux. It will represent an important opportunity for Canadian, French and other companies to deepen their partnership and build a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist in the road to being more sustainable. By bringing together experts from across the supply chain, the symposium will provide a platform for discussion and exchange and will help to lay the foundation for obtaining solutions for a more sustainable future. We hope that solutions will be provided to companies that are part of this symposium. Industries outside of the cosmetic industry can find potential customers and explore this industry as potential new market.
References
[1] https://www.statista.com/topics/8387/natural-cosmetics-in-france/#dossier-chapter3
[2] https://www.cosmetic-valley.com/en/taxonomy/term/721
[3] https://www.cosmetic-valley.com/en/action/new-international-claim-french-industry
[4] https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/reduce-plastic-waste/single-use-plastic-overview.html