Power to the People: Consumers Demand Sustainably Sourced Goods

From Cosmetics Design:

The consumer quest for truly natural and organic personal care products is having a knock- on effect on manufacturers, pushing the boundaries involved in ethical and sustainable production.

What does this mean exactly?

1. That the processes behind the manufacturing of the products are "green" (i.e., made using power from renewable energy, creating minimal waste) ultimately ensuring that the carbon footprint is kept to a minimum. --Example: British retailer Boots is working to develop natural ingredients from algae grown from the waste and heat of its power station in Nottingham. (Wait...is this ironic?)
2. That the farming techniques for the ingredients are monitored so that there is no threat to the plant or the environment. --About a month ago, a new way to produce solvent-free scented chemicals by using reducing agent sodium borohydride was discovered by scientists at the University of Genova. (Love those Italians!)

The customer is always right, they say, and in this case, it is consumer demands that are driving changes in the industry. Don't stop...demanding. It's a long Journey.