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green chemistry

Applying green chemistry to raw material selection and product formulation at The Estée Lauder Companies

Advances in green chemistry over the past 25 years have improved sustainability in the development of new cosmetic and personal care products. Product formulators benefit from an expanding palette of “greener” natural and synthetic ingredients but need clear guidance on how to choose among options to optimize formula sustainability while also evaluating for performance. As greener can have a variety of meanings, for the purpose of this article, we define greener as being aligned with green chemistry principles.

Designing for a green chemistry future

The material basis of a sustainable society will depend on chemical products and processes that are designed following principles that make them conducive to life. Important inherent properties of molecules need to be considered from the earliest stage—the design stage—to address whether compounds and processes are depleting versus renewable, toxic versus benign, and persistent versus readily degradable.

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