FACE TIME: MIKE WONG ON SUSTAINABILITY

Quality products and quality of life

Our vision at Orveon is to be the sustainable face care expert. Mike Wong, Chief Science Officer explains here why sustainability is so important to us and how we’ll make Orveon an industry leader in beauty products that are good for the planet.

Sustainability for all future products

For Mike, the motivation to create sustainable products is simple. “We need to make sure that we're protecting the whole ecosystem. We want consumers to have choices when they're buying products and we must also make sure that future generations are able to enjoy the same quality of life overall as we do now.”

“One of our mantras is that any future product launches will have to meet sustainability criteria — whether it's using less packaging, less water or more naturally sourced ingredients — before we’re willing to launch it,” he says.?

Choosing ingredients mindfully

“When we’re thinking about sustainability, we're always taking the five Rs into account: respect, reuse, reduce, recycle, and replace,” Mike says. “We’re also focused on the two key areas where facecare can reduce its ecological footprint: ingredients and packaging.”

In terms of ingredients, technologies already exist to reduce water usage, as well as waterless or anhydrous formulation options. “We just need to make conscious choices in where our ingredients are sourced, not only in terms of geography, but also the types of starting materials, like whether something is petroleum derived or plant based,” Mike explains.

Packaging that’s better for the planet

Packaging is an especially important issue because it has an environmental impact both when it’s in production and after consumption, when it could become waste. Mike says, “With packaging, there are so many recycled packaging and lightweight technologies that we can use.”?

For packaging improvements, the main consideration is materials. “If you're using plastics, there are some that are recyclable and some that aren’t. You want to try to use the plastics that are recyclable or, better yet, use a paper carton,” Mike explains.?

Even when using paper, there’s still a lot to keep in mind. “Can you source paper carton that’s Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, where the trees are planted according to regulations that help them to regenerate or not take away from the land? Things like that are important, as well as reducing the amount of packaging,” he says. “We’re also exploring new ways to make reusable and refillable products for consumers to use repeatedly.”?

Three brands, one commitment to sustainability

“We’re working on many fronts to make our offerings sustainable, from the ingredients we use, to the way we manufacture our products, to the packaging,” Mike says. “We have a set of goals for what we can do short term versus medium term. I don't want to say long term because sustainability is something that we should be making progress on every day.”

The list of innovations in development is extensive. “We're looking to upcycle ingredients in our formulations and to use PCR packaging, which is made from recycled materials, and the FSC-certified carton,” he says. “We're also looking at designing eco-friendly gifts.”?

Ultimately, the names of the three brands will stand for a commitment to sustainability with each new product that’s introduced. “Every product that we launch going forward will have a sustainability aspect to it, starting now with products for 2022 and 2023,” Mike says. Orveon will also be expanding the metrics used to measure its efforts, from formulation to manufacturing to shipping. Mike says, “The plan going forward is that we will have improved metrics, including cradle to grave analyses.”?

Sustainability that doesn’t compromise

One concern with a focus on innovations in sustainability is that it could affect the way a product performs. Mike says, “We have to make sure that we're still developing quality products that work well for consumers. You don’t need to compromise on performance when you're making sustainable products. They can all coexist.” Product developers at Orveon don’t compromise on performance when making cleaner options. “We're still going through all of our rigorous testing, including safety testing, claims testing, performance testing, and so on,” Mike says.?

In fact, Mike thinks that achieving sustainability results doesn’t make much of a difference if products don’t perform. “If you compromise on the quality of the product, people may try your product once, but they're not going to buy it again. Now they’ll think that, because you made it sustainable, the product doesn’t perform,” he says. If consumers skip out on sustainable options because the performance is lacking, the innovations go to waste and there’s no environmental benefit.

On the other hand, with three well-established brands, Orveon is able to bring more sustainable products to a broader range of customers. “Consumers today shouldn't have to go out of their way to find sustainable product options. They should be easy and accessible,” Mike says. “That's the advantage of having our products at key retailers. Consumers can go to the store right away and experience the products firsthand, they can speak to the knowledgeable representative, and are able to find the products and the brands that they trust.”

It takes a Collective effort

Our success in sustainability will rely on multiple teams across Orveon. “To start, product development works with marketing to identify the right products, concepts and trends. Then product development and research develop the products. Next, we work with marketing to craft a concept and story around the product,” Mike explains. “After that, we have to work with the supply chain team to make sure the products are manufactured and delivered where they need to be. Lastly, we work with the sales team to make sure they have the right material when they're going out into the field, selling it to an Ulta or a Sephora to make sure our products stand out,” he says.?

With so many talented people who are motivated to do great work, Mike knows that Orveon can be what we’ve set out to become. “I think the people — their passion for these brands and the role that everybody's playing — will make our vision come true. We will become the sustainable face care expert.”