From Sea to Skin: What the Blue Economy Means for Beauty and Personal Care

Transforming the beauty industry through ocean sustainability 

The concept of “Blue Economy” is transforming industries around the world, with the personal care sector being no exception. As one of the industries with reliance on marine-derived ingredients and materials, personal care is uniquely positioned to lead the charge toward sustainable ocean stewardship. But what does the blue economy really mean, and how is it reshaping the way personal care products are sourced, produced, and consumed?

As consumers demand more innovative and environmentally conscious products, the personal care industry is embracing this shift, leveraging the principles of the blue economy to create a new wave of ocean-friendly beauty and hygiene. Let’s unpack what this means for the future of personal care and why it's a change we all need to embrace. 

What is the Blue Economy in personal care?

You might find two commonly used terms in the personal care industry that refer to the same principles: blue economy and blue beauty. To understand these differences, let’s start by defining them.

The blue economy is a broader term across all industries, defined by a sustainable development framework that focuses on utilizing ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ecosystem health. It emphasizes responsible practices in industries connected to the ocean, and ensuring the activities do not harm marine environments. At its core, the blue economy seeks to balance economic and scientific progress with the preservation of one of the Earth’s most vital ecosystems. 

In the personal care industry, the blue economy takes on a unique and essential role. This sector has long relied on marine-derived ingredients, such as seaweed extracts, marine collagen, and algae, to formulate innovative skincare and beauty products. However, as concerns over ocean health and sustainability grow, the industry is rethinking how it sources these ingredients and manages its environmental footprint. From adopting sustainable harvesting methods to reducing ocean-bound plastic waste through eco-friendly packaging, personal care brands are embracing the principles of the blue economy to ensure their products contribute to healthier oceans.

Blue beauty is a term coined in 2018 by Jeannie Jarnot, health specialist and CEO of Beauty Heroes^®, referring to a subsection of sustainability that not only ensures safe, sustainably sourced ingredients, but also incorporates ocean-safe ingredients that are reused, recyclable, or have a refillable packaging. This emerging tier of sustainability ensures that brands must consider the cyclical environmental effects of their product lifecycle towards oceans and skies, including ingredient sourcing, production, packaging, shipping usage, and disposal, as well as giving back to communities.

We at Covalo chose “blue economy” over “blue beauty” for our campaign, because it encompasses a broader, more impactful vision. This approach allows us to align our efforts not only with creating sustainable products, but also with fostering a larger commitment to protecting marine ecosystems, reducing waste, and promoting economic practices that benefit both people and the planet. By championing the blue economy, we emphasize our role in driving systemic change in beauty, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future for our oceans. 

What are the core principles and benefits of the Blue Economy? 

The blue economy is guided by core principles that prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation in the use of ocean resources. At its heart is the balance between economic utilization and ecological conservation, ensuring that industries benefiting from marine ecosystems do so responsibly and equitably. 

1. Sustainability: Ensuring that the use of ocean resources does not replete or harm marine ecosystems, allowing them to regenerate and thrive for future generations.
2. Equity and inclusivity: Promoting fair access to ocean resources and benefits, particularly for coastal communities that rely on the sea for their livelihoods. 
3. Innovation: Encouraging the development of technologies and practices that reduce environmental impact while maximizing economic potential.
4. Resilience: Building systems that can adapt to environmental changes, such as climate changes, while protecting biodiversity. 

Furthermore, the blue economy seeks a middle ground where the oceans can support economic activities without overexploitation. This requires practices that preserve marine biodiversity, minimize pollution, and regenerate ecosystems, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the cost of ecological degradation. By maintaining this balance, the blue economy not only protects the planet but also secures long-term economic and social benefits for communities worldwide. 

Sustainability and Innovaton: The dual pillars of the Blue Economy 

Long-term sustainability and innovation are at the heart of the blue economy, driving a future where ocean resources are utilized responsibly while ensuring their regeneration for generations to come. Sustainability in the context of personal care means adopting practices that protect marine ecosystems, reduce pollution, and mitigate climate change impacts, allowing the oceans to maintain their biodiversity and productivity over time. 

Innovation plays a critical role in achieving these goals, enabling industries to create smarter solutions that align economic growth with ecological preservation. By investing in sustainable practices and embracing cutting-edge technologies, the blue economy paves the way for long-term resilience, ensuring that both businesses and marine ecosystems thrive together. 

Let’s have a look at concrete examples and topics…

Marine Biodiversity: Innovation meets conservation

Marine-derived ingredients have long been the secret to high-performing skincare and haircare. But with oceans under threat, companies are stepping up to ensure their practices safeguard marine biodiversity. 

Take Biotherm, for example. The brand has pioneered sustainable harvesting methods for its flagship ingredient, Life Plankton™, ensuring minimal disruption to marine ecosystems. By working closely with scientists and environmental organizations, Biotherm is demonstrating how innovation and conservation can coexist. Similarly, OSEA is deeply dedicated to sustainability and ocean preservation. OSEA sources nutrient-rich seaweed ingredients through eco-responsive methods, ensuring that marine habitats are left untouched and thriving. 

ALGAKTIV harnessed the power of microalgae through sustainable biotechnology, and created highly effective, active ingredients for skincare without harming natural ecosystems. Their lab-grown approach reduces the environmental footprint while delivering powerful results - proving that science and sustainability are the solutions for the future of the beauty industry. Likewise, Carbonwave is revolutionizing the way we think about marine sustainability by transforming invasive seaweed into valuable ingredients. By turning Sargassum, a seaweed notorious for disrupting marine ecosystems, into functional materials for skincare and cosmetics, Carbonwave is tackling environmental issues while providing cutting-edge products.  

While these efforts are groundbreaking, they are only the beginning. The oceans remain one of the least explored frontiers on Earth, holding a treasure of untapped resources and discoveries. From new marine compounds with skincare benefits, such as the ones from LipoTrue, to sustainable harvesting technologies and ongoing research, we continue to uncover the vast potential of our oceans. As the industry dives deeper into these possibilities, the balance between utilization and conservation will remain critical to ensuring the health of marine ecosystems for generations to come.

Circular Economy: Rethinking packaging and waste

Plastic pollution is one of the most visible threats to our oceans, but personal care brands are taking action. 

REN Clean Skincare has committed to zero-waste packaging by 2025, incorporating ocean-recycled plastics into its bottles and jars. Their partnership with organizations like TerraCyle has made it easier for consumers to recycle product packaging, closing the loop on waste. 

Meanwhile, Lush Cosmetics has championed “naked” products, offering solid shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and the most popular bath bombs that require no packaging at all. Another key offering of Lush Cosmetics is the chance to recycle product packing through their “Bring it Back” program, where consumers are encouraged to bring their packages to recycle and receive 50p per package. Similarly, Getblackmarket offers refillable products such as handwash, with zero plastic usage and all packing is recyclable. These innovative formats not only reduce plastic waste that would end up on the ocean but also deliver the same luxurious experiences customers expect.  

Another standout is Garnier, which launched a partnership with Plastics for Change to remove and recycle ocean-bound plastics while providing income opportunities for coastal communities. This dual approach of environmental and social impact embodies the blue economy’s holistic vision.

Why the Blue Economy matters

The blue economy offers a path to sustainability that balances innovation with responsibility. These brands represent just how you can bring new, groundbreaking products while protecting marine biodiversity and funding research. By adopting these measures and using waste-reducing circular practices, the industry can address critical environmental challenges while meeting the growing demand for eco-conscious products. 

Conclusion

The blue economy is more than just a framework; it’s a call to action - a chance to redefine how industries interact with our oceans. For the personal care sector, this means transforming the way we source, create, and package products, ensuring that our efforts contribute to a healthier, more sustainable planet. By embracing the principles of the blue economy, we’re not just protecting marine ecosystems, we’re also innovating for a future where beauty and sustainability go hand in hand. 

Now is the time to act! Follow our campaign as we share insights, innovations, and actionable steps you can take to support this vital movement. 

Have a dive into what marine ingredients Covalo has to offer, and start being a part of the Blue Economy movement , for a better future together!