As biodiversity is an important source of innovation for the cosmetics sector, examples of the strong links between biodiversity and innovation will also be presented in the conference, says UEBT.
The conference will open with a keynote address by Maria Cecilia Wey De Brito, former Secretary of State of the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and currently director of WWF Brazil, who will look at the significance of the summit and of biodiversity for industry.
Emerging markets increasingly important
“Emerging markets like Brazil are not only important in economic terms, they are also becoming increasingly important in influencing sustainability trends” says Rik Kutsch Lojenga, executive director of UEBT.
“Biodiversity is an important driver of innovation for beauty companies, while ethical sourcing of biodiversity ensures that social-environmental benefits be generated along supply chains” adds Ricardo Faucon of Natura Cosmetics, who holds the presidency of the UEBT Board of Directors.
The event will also see the launch of this year’s biodiversity barometer; an annual initiative to determine the position of the industry and consumers on ethical matters.
Biodiversity barometer update
UEBT established the barometer at an event it held in Munich three years ago.
“We will be repeating the barometer every year to track where the personal care sector is moving vis-a-vis ethical biodiversity,” Lojenga told CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com at the time.
A consumer survey aims to identify the levels of consumer awareness on biodiversity, how they relate it to the personal care sector and how they see the role of companies in protecting biodiversity.
In addition, how companies are communicating the issues of biodiversity and ingredients sourcing and how the press are reporting it, will also be tracked in the barometer, which is published on the internet every year.
The Conference is taking place April 12, 2012 at the Centre d’Affaires Paris Trocadéro.