Global South Korea-based cosmetics brand Cosmax Co. has announced that its key production plant in Seoul is now certified vegan.
According to Cosmax, the certification is in response to the growing worldwide demand for cruelty-free cosmetics. The global company received the “vegan” stamp of approval from France-based organization Expertise Vegane Europe, which provides certification to plant-based food, cosmetics, apparel, and more. Though only the brand’s plant located in southwest Seoul is the only facility to receive the label, the brand noted that it is moving towards becoming more vegan-friendly. Cosmax currently exports products to more than 100 countries and owns the K-beauty brand 3 Apples Cosmetics.
“Demand for environmentally friendly items, such as vegan and halal products, has been multiplying in the global cosmetics market,” Cosmax CEO Lee Kyung-soo said in a statement. “We will continue to make new products that meet the various needs of our global clients.”
the rising global demand for vegan cosmetics
While many K-beauty brands are not vegan, the industry is evolving in response to the rising demand for cruelty-free cosmetics free from animal products. According to The Klog, a resource for all things related to Korean beauty, companies like RE:P, COSRX, Neogen, and others are vegan-friendly. The country is also expected to enact a full ban on cosmetic animal testing for finished products this year following a bill passed by the Korean Nationa Assembly in January 2016, according to Cruelty Free International.
Once thought to be a necessity in ensuring the safety of products, the consensus on animal testing is shifting as more become conscious of the realities behind the industry. Globally, nearly 40 countries have banned the antiquated practice and last May, the European Parliament vocalized its support of a worldwide ban on cosmetic animal testing. Over the summer California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Californi Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB1249) into law, making it the first state to ban the sale of animal-tested cosmetics. Many speculate that as the world’s fifth-largest economy, California has set a new precedent for the global cosmetics industry.
The demand for vegan cosmetics has grown exponentially in recent years. Last month, market research firm Mintel released a report showing that worldwide vegan cosmetics launches grew 175 percent over a five-year period. The global market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8 percent to an estimated value of $20.8 billion by 2025.
Image Credit: korea_esthetics_ | Instagram
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