Impacts of Climate Change on Sustainable Production and Consumption

Climate change has become one of the biggest global problems of our day due to the rapidly increasing consumption of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution, excessive use of natural resources and environmentally insensitive production models. The concept of sustainable production and consumption is an approach that aims to use existing resources without harming future generations and plays a critical role in combating climate change. In this context, sectors that consume large amounts of raw materials, especially the cosmetics industry, need to take steps to minimize their environmental impacts. Renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, protection of biodiversity and biotechnological solutions stand out among climate-friendly production models. Establishing the correct link between global warming and resource management will both protect nature and support economic and social sustainability in the long term.

Climate Change and Sustainability Relationship: Basic Concepts

Climate change is a global problem that results in increased greenhouse gas emissions as a result of fossil fuel-based energy production, resulting in rising global temperatures, intensifying extreme weather events, decreasing water resources, and disrupting ecosystem balance. Sustainability is an approach that aims to achieve economic and social development without consuming natural resources or harming the environment. While sustainability policy aims to achieve balanced development in terms of environmental, economic, and social dimensions, climate change disrupts this balance. Climate change, as one of the biggest factors threatening sustainability, necessitates long-term planning in natural resource management. Sustainable practices such as the use of renewable energy sources, reducing carbon footprint, and water and energy efficiency can help mitigate the effects of climate change. In addition, reducing waste production with a circular economy approach, turning to nature-friendly production processes, and supporting biodiversity by protecting ecosystems are critical for sustainable development. In order to be successful in combating climate change on a global scale, sustainability principles must be adopted in every sector and at an individual level.

The Link Between Global Warming and Resource Management

Global warming is accelerating with fossil fuel consumption, deforestation and industrial activities, making natural resource management increasingly critical. Rising temperatures trigger water scarcity, melting glaciers raise sea levels, threatening coastal areas and extreme weather events destroy ecosystems. It is not possible to stop these effects without efficient resource management strategies. Energy efficiency practices, the expansion of renewable energy sources and the adoption of circular economy models are necessary to both reduce the carbon footprint and use resources sustainably. Especially in production-oriented sectors such as the cosmetics industry, practices such as water saving, the use of biodegradable packaging and waste management play a critical role in reducing the negative effects of global warming. In the fight against global warming, resource management necessitates change not only in industrial and production processes but also in individual consumption habits; making the implementation of sustainability policies inevitable.

Ecological Footprint of the Cosmetics Industry

The cosmetics industry has a large ecological footprint, from raw material production to packaging waste. Petroleum-derived chemicals used in production processes, water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are the main factors that threaten environmental sustainability. While microplastics and synthetic chemicals mix with water resources and negatively affect marine ecosystems, single-use plastic packaging increases the waste problem. Biodegradable content, water-saving production techniques and recyclable packaging should be encouraged for the transition to sustainable production in the sector. In addition, renewable energy use and processes aimed at reducing carbon footprints are critical for cosmetics manufacturers to minimize their environmental impacts. Consumer awareness and preference for sustainable products is an important step that will accelerate the green transformation in the sector.

Climate Crisis and Sustainable Production in the Cosmetics Industry

The climate crisis is forcing the cosmetics industry to reduce its environmental impact and adopt a sustainable cosmetics production approach. One of the most important components of this transformation is the widespread use of renewable energy in the cosmetics industry. Production facilities operating on clean energy sources such as solar and wind energy contribute to environmental sustainability in the sector by significantly reducing carbon emissions. In addition, regulations that limit the use of microplastics and harmful chemicals ensure the spread of sustainable cosmetics production processes with environmentally friendly formulas. These developments allow both brands to fulfill their environmental responsibilities and consumers to turn to eco-conscious products.

Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies (Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy)

Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities and is one of the biggest drivers of climate change. Two basic strategies stand out for reducing carbon footprint: energy efficiency and renewable energy use. Energy efficiency covers applications that aim to achieve the same output by consuming less energy and can be applied in a wide range of areas from industry to transportation. Thermal insulation in buildings, LED lighting systems, electric vehicle use and efficient production technologies are among the solutions that reduce carbon emissions by increasing energy efficiency. Renewable energy is the use of energy sources that do not harm nature, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and biomass, instead of fossil fuels and supports sustainable development by significantly reducing carbon emissions.

These strategies are also of great importance in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in the cosmetics industry. Cosmetics production is a sector that generally requires energy-intensive processes and traditional production methods are based on fossil fuels. Therefore, the transition of factories to renewable energy and the spread of production facilities operating with solar and wind energy are steps that support environmental sustainability in the sector. In addition, waste heat recovery, low-temperature machines and water-saving systems can be used in production processes within the scope of energy efficiency. In addition, preferring sustainable content will reduce the carbon footprint not only at the production stage but also throughout the supply chain. We see that reducing and tracking the carbon footprint is becoming the new management approach of the manufacturers. Consumers' preference for products with low carbon footprints will accelerate the green transformation of the sector and encourage a more environmentally friendly approach to the climate crisis.

Protection of Water Resources and Waste Management

The protection of water resources is a critical issue in maintaining ecosystem balance and combating climate change. The effects of increasing population, industrialization and global warming are leading to the decrease of freshwater resources and water scarcity. This situation has made it necessary to develop sustainable solutions that save water. Rainwater harvesting, water recycling systems, efficient irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and the reuse of water in industrial processes are effective methods to reduce water consumption. In addition, waste management is also of great importance in terms of preventing water pollution. Industrial waste, agricultural chemicals and plastic pollution are the main factors that threaten water resources. Expanding recycling systems, reducing single-use plastics, switching to refillable packaging and encouraging biodegradable packaging are critical steps in protecting aquatic ecosystems.

In this context, the cosmetics industry must also take responsibility for the protection of water resources and waste management. Traditional cosmetics production processes consume large amounts of water, while production waste also causes water pollution. The development of water-based formulas, the use of sustainable raw materials and the improvement of wastewater treatment systems can help the industry reduce water consumption. Banning microplastics in cosmetics and promoting natural ingredients can also reduce negative impacts on the ecosystem.

Climate-Friendly Impact of Biotechnological Raw Materials

Biotechnological raw materials offer climate-friendly alternatives that leave a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional agricultural and chemical production processes. Traditional raw material production leads to environmental problems such as high water and energy consumption, excessive use of agricultural lands, and carbon emissions. While plant and animal ingredients obtained through traditional methods cause deforestation with high water and energy consumption, biotechnological production processes minimize environmental impacts by using renewable resources. Biomimetic ingredients, especially those produced through fermentation and cell culture technologies, both reduce natural resource consumption and create a sustainable raw material source. The cosmetics sector can both reduce the pressure on the ecosystem and develop environmentally friendly formulations by providing water and energy efficiency by using these innovative ingredients. Biotechnological raw materials, which replace traditional ingredients, are an important step in the sector's fight against climate change and accelerate the transition to sustainable production models.

Assets Obtained through Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is a production model that protects soil health, uses water resources efficiently, and minimizes the use of synthetic chemicals. The herbal active ingredients obtained through this method support biodiversity while also reducing the carbon footprint in production. For example, herbal oils, extracts, and antioxidant components produced through organic farming have a lower environmental impact compared to synthetic alternatives. Sustainable agricultural practices are also of great importance for the cosmetics sector because the active ingredients used in herbal cosmetic products are produced without harming nature, contributing to the reduction of the ecological footprint of brands.

Laboratory-Produced Innovative Ingredients (Fermented Substances)

With the development of biotechnology, fermented ingredients and biomimetic raw materials produced in laboratory environments offer a much more sustainable alternative compared to traditional methods. Fermentation technology allows the production of vitamins, antioxidants and skin-renewing ingredients using microorganisms. This method minimizes the use of agricultural resources while also greatly reducing water consumption. The cosmetics industry is increasingly adopting ingredients such as probiotics, enzymes and amino acids produced from fermented ingredients. This both increases the bioavailability of products and prevents the depletion of traditional raw material resources, creating a sustainable production process.

Biodiversity Loss and Cosmetic Formulations

Biodiversity and cosmetics can be considered two concepts that are difficult to bring together. Biodiversity is one of the most important elements that maintain the health and balance of ecosystems. However, due to global warming, habitat destruction, excessive agricultural production and industrial activities, many plant and animal species are in danger of extinction. The cosmetics industry is directly affected by biodiversity loss due to production processes based on herbal extracts, natural oils and biologically active ingredients and can be one of the factors that accelerate this loss. The sector's shift towards formulations that are less harmful to nature by using sustainable ingredients and local resources can contribute to the protection of biodiversity.

Endangered Plant Species and Alternative Contents

Some plant raw materials commonly used in the cosmetic industry have become endangered species due to over-consumption and habitat loss. For example, sandalwood (Santalum album) is in high demand for its essential oil, leading to the extinction of its natural populations. Similarly, ginseng (Panax ginseng), known for its antioxidant and anti-aging properties, threatens ecosystem balance due to over-harvesting. Unsustainable collection of these species accelerates biodiversity loss and damages ecological systems.

As a solution to this problem, there is an increasing tendency towards biotechnological and synthetic alternative ingredients. For example, biomimetic essential oils produced by fermentation in a laboratory environment can be used instead of sandalwood oil. Instead of ginseng, fermented green tea extract with similar antioxidant properties or seaweed-based active ingredients are added to the formulations to develop solutions that are less harmful to nature. In addition, hyaluronic acid and microalgae-based biotechnological ingredients provide a sustainable alternative in the cosmetics sector by providing high levels of nourishment and skin rejuvenation effects without depleting natural resources. The conscious steps taken by the industry in this direction will both support ecological sustainability by ensuring the protection of endangered plants and offer consumers environmentally friendly product options.

The Importance of Local Sourcing

Local sourcing is an approach that encourages sustainable production, reduces carbon footprint and supports regional economies. While dependence on the global supply chain causes high carbon emissions in logistics processes, the use of local resources minimizes this impact and increases environmental sustainability. Turkey has significant potential in terms of sustainable cosmetic raw materials with its rich flora and natural resources. For example, Isparta rose (Rosa damascena) is a world-famous ingredient and is used in the production of rose oil and rose water, increasing the income of local farmers while providing an ecosystem-friendly alternative. Similarly, olive oil and bay leaf extract grown in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions are among the sustainable ingredients used in natural cosmetics and soap production. Ethical and sustainable processing of such local raw materials both reduces environmental impact and helps protect Türkiye's biodiversity. In addition, propolis, lavender oil and black cumin oil, traditionally used in Anatolia, offer environmentally friendly alternatives to imported chemical ingredients and encourage sustainable production in the cosmetics sector. Conscious use of local resources will both protect the ecological balance and increase Türkiye's competitiveness in the global market by increasing its sustainable production capacity.

Adopting sustainable production and consumption habits has become an inevitable necessity in the fight against climate change. Strategies such as energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, protection of water resources and support of biodiversity are the basic elements of ensuring environmental sustainability. In particular, the cosmetics sector should adopt sustainable solutions such as biotechnological raw materials, fermented ingredients and production based on local resources in order to reduce its ecological footprint. In addition, consumers' orientation towards environmentally friendly products will accelerate the sustainable transformation process. Implementing sustainability principles on a global scale will not only provide economic and environmental benefits, but will also be an effective solution in minimizing the negative effects of climate change.

As ya da multicosmetics;

Our greatest sensitivity is to leave a livable world for future generations. We aim to make sustainability an indispensable part of the cosmetics industry by developing innovative and environmentally friendly solutions in the production of our products. The basic principles of our sustainability policy are shaped around protecting nature. We pay attention to the protection of natural resources when choosing the raw materials of our products. Within the framework of our philosophy , we attach importance to the respectful use of natural and herbal extracts. We consider environmental compatibility both in raw material production and in post-use waste. We observe the sensitivity of nature with recyclable and sustainable packaging and carbon-free production. In this way, you can gift yourself climate-friendly skin care with 'ya da' skin care products without harming nature.

Our world is more fragile than we think. Making nature the basis of production and consumption is no longer a choice, it is a necessity. We can remain silent and turn a blind eye to climate change OR we can adopt the principle of sustainability and leave a hopeful future. The choice is ours!

SOURCE

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3. IEA (2023) - Energy Efficiency 2023 Report. International Energy Agency.
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5. UNEP (2023) - Plastic Pollution and Waste Management in the Cosmetics Industry.
6. OECD (2023) - Bio-Based Economy and Sustainable Resource Management. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
7. OECD (2023) - Sustainable Water Use and Circular Economy Strategies.
8. OECD (2023) - Sustainable Resource Management and Local Sourcing Strategies.
9. FAO (2023) - Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Region.
10. European Environment Agency (2022) - Environmental Impact of the Beauty and Personal Care Industry in Europe.
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13. WMO (2023) - State of the Global Climate 2023. World Meteorological Organization.