Eco-friendly Dives: Sustainable Sourcing of Marine Beauty Ingredients

On this page

• The Push for Sustainable Marine Ingredients
• The Beauty Industry's Love Affair with Marine Ingredients
• Ensuring that Marine Ingredients are Sustainably Sourced 
• Leading the Way: Brands Making a Difference in the Marine world 
• Protecting the Ocean, One Beauty Product at a Time

The Push for Sustainable Marine Ingredients

The ocean has long been a source of inspiration and innovation for the beauty industry. From nutrient-rich seaweed to marine collagen, countless skincare products boast ingredients harvested from the deep blue. But as the demand for marine-based beauty solutions grows, so does the strain on our oceans. Overharvesting and irresponsible sourcing practices pose significant threats to marine ecosystems, raising the question: can the beauty industry continue to harness the power of the sea without depleting it? 

The answer lies in sustainable practices. Forward-thinking beauty brands are beginning to prioritize ethical sourcing of marine ingredients, ensuring that they preserve ocean biodiversity while delivering effective skincare solutions. Now, let’s explore how the sustainable sourcing of marine ingredients is reshaping the beauty industry. 

The Beauty Industry's Love Affair with Marine Ingredients

From ancient coastal rituals to modern skincare innovations, the beauty industry has always drawn inspiration from the ocean. Marine ingredients are celebrated for their powerful skincare benefits - from boosting hydration to reduced signs of aging. Many beauty brands continue to rely on ocean-sourced ingredients for their unique properties. 

But as demand for marine-based products has grown, so has the risk of overharvesting. Without sustainable practices, the extraction of these ingredients can harm delicate marine ecosystems, disrupt biodiversity, and contribute to ocean depletion. This puts both the planet and future innovations at risk. 

To understand how the beauty industry is combating this, we’re going to start by taking a look at how different marine-based ingredient groups and how their sustainable sourcing is done. 

Macroalgae, Microalgae and Seaweed Extracts

Macroalgae, microalgae and seaweed extracts have become prominent in skincare formulations due to their rich nutrient profiles and skin-enhancing properties. Each group includes different varieties which offer unique benefits. 

Taking the example of kelp, a type of brown seaweed abundant in essential minerals—including iodine, which supports thyroid function. In skincare, kelp is valued for its hydrating and soothing properties. Wild kelp is naturally grown in the ocean in unique forests, however, when overharvested, populations can be depleted over time. For sustainable harvesting, farmed kelp is the best solution as each blade produces millions of spores that can propagate in any designated underwater area. Farmers then have full control over the new patch of kelp, being a great technique for the rising demand for seaweed without depleting the wild kelp forests. 

Other macroalgae can be sustainably cultivated in bio tanks that replicate the ocean’s natural environment, rather than being harvested directly from marine ecosystems and causing them stress. Red, green and brown algae are known for different effects with moisturizing and antioxidant properties. These include ingredients you might know by a different name - agar-agar, fucoidan, alginate and Ulva lactuca. The sustainable sourcing of these microalgae involves cultivating them in controlled environments, such as bioreactors or aquaculture farms, which minimizes environmental impact and reduces the strain on wild populations. Additionally, seaweed farming offers environmental benefits beyond providing raw materials for the beauty industry. These aquatic plants sequester carbon from their surroundings, contributing to carbon reduction efforts and supporting marine life providing habitats and improving water quality. 

Marine Collagen, Minerals and Salts

Marine collagen is an incredibly famous ingredient amongst skincare products, derived primarily from fish skin, scales, and bones. It is rich in Type I collagen - the most abundant collagen type in our skin, hair, and nails. Compared to other sources, it is absorbed more efficiently by the body, being a clear choice for personal care products.

Traditionally, marine collagen is sourced by harvesting fish in large quantities, contributing to overfishing and threatening marine biodiversity. Its ethical sourcing comes from by-products from the fishing industry - particularly fish skin and scales that would otherwise go to waste. Sourcing from sustainable fisheries that are certified by organizations like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and exploring lab-grown marine collagen are among the most sustainable choices in sustainable sourcing. 

Marine minerals and salts, which you probably know as marine clay or dead sea salts, are praised for their detoxifying, exfoliating, and skin-nourishing properties. However, their extraction needs to be carefully managed to ensure that it doesn’t disrupt marine ecosystems or contribute to ocean degradation. For their sustainable sourcing we can look into solar salt harvesting, ethical sea salt farms, and utilizing by-products and partnerships with conservation organizations. If we look at a concrete example, dead sea salt, which has unique mineral properties, is harvested sustainably through partnerships with conservation efforts to preserve the region.  

Marine Microorganisms, Biotech Derivatives and Bioengineered Marine Ingredients

Biotech derivatives and bioengineered marine actives are increasingly used in skincare for their potent anti-aging, hydrating, and skin-repairing properties. Lab-grown algae extracts are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids which reduce inflammation and boost hydration. Instead of harvesting delicate marine organisms like coral, sponges, or plankton from their natural habitats, biotech processes replicate their beneficial compounds in controlled environments. This reduces pressure on marine ecosystems while ensuring a steady, ethical supply of ingredients. Some examples of these sustainable practices include: 

1. Fermentation: using microorganisms to produce marine-inspired compounds, such as peptides and polysaccharides, in a lab setting. 
2. Cell culture technology: cultivating cells from marine organisms, like algae or coral, to produce bioactive compounds without harming marine ecosystems. 
3. Synthetic biology: designing DNA sequences to create marine-inspired ingredients, such as bioengineered collagen or antioxidant-rich algae extract,that mimic natural compounds. 
4. Blue biotech: exploring marine microorganisms and harnessing their metabolic processes to create sustainable, high-performance skincare ingredients. 

These methods minimize environmental disruption and allow for continuous innovation. By replicating marine compounds through sustainable means, beauty companies can create highly effective formulations that are more consistent and scalable compared to traditional harvesting.

Ensuring that Marine Ingredients are Sustainably Sourced 

Now that you understand the various processes behind sustainable marine-based ingredients, it’s essential to recognize what sustainable sourcing looks like in practice. Responsible sourcing ensures that marine ecosystems and local communities dependent on ocean resources are protected while still providing the beauty industry with high-performance ingredients. 

Suppliers who follow sustainable practices can demonstrate their commitment to protecting marine environments through recognized certifications. These certifications help brands and consumers verify that the ingredients they’re using are responsibly sourced. 

1. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) 
   For suppliers of marine-based ingredients, the MSC certification ensures that their products are sourced from sustainable fisheries that minimize environmental impact and prevent overfishing. 
   
   
2. ASC-MSC Seaweed Standard
   This certification focuses on the responsible farming and wild harvesting of seaweed, ensuring suppliers follow sustainable practices and support local communities. 
   
   
3. COSMOS Standard 
   For suppliers providing marine-derived ingredients to the beauty industry, the COSMOS certification ensures they follow strict sustainability and ethical guidelines for ingredient sourcing and production. 
   
   
4. Blue BioTrade Principles
   Developed by the United Nations, Blue BioTrade provides suppliers with guidelines on how to ensure the sustainable and fair trade of marine resources, benefiting both ecosystems and local communities. 
   
   
5. FairWild Certifications
   Suppliers who harvest wild marine plants and algae can use FairWild certification to demonstrate they are protecting biodiversity while supporting fair wages and sustainable livelihoods for local harvesters. 

Leading the Way: Brands Making a Difference in the Marine world 

If you’re a beauty brand or supplier looking to incorporate sustainably sourced marine ingredients, several companies are already setting the standard by balancing innovation with ocean conservation. These brands show that you can deliver marine-based beauty without compromising the health of our oceans. 

La Mer 

Known for its iconic Miracle Broth™, La Mer sources its sea kelp sustainably through hand-harvesting methods. The brand also supports ocean conservation initiatives to ensure marine ecosystems remain protected for future generations. 

Phytomer

This marine-based skincare brand uses sustainably cultivated algae through aquaculture farming, reducing the impact on wild populations. Their lab-grown marine actives ensure consistent quality while preserving biodiversity. 

Marinova 

An Australian supplier specializing in seaweed extracts, Marinova employs eco-friendly harvesting and processing methods. Their marine-derived ingredients are widely used in skincare for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Protecting the Ocean, One Beauty Product at a Time

As the beauty industry embraces the wonders of the ocean, it’s clear that sustainable sourcing isn’t just a trend. From lab-grown marine actives to responsibly harvested seaweed, brands are discovering innovative ways to tap into the ocean’s power while preserving its delicate ecosystems. But this is only the beginning. The more we prioritize sustainability, the closer we get to a future where beauty and conservation go hand in hand. 

Join us in supporting the blue economy and championing a cleaner, greener future for beauty. Follow our Blue Economy landing page to stay updated! 

Interested in exploring marine ingredients? Visit our ingredients to discover our offers!