Podcast 320: Why doesn’t the beauty industry have to tell you this?

What if you discovered that a significant portion of the products you use or formulate every day could be rooted in fossil fuels – and no one is required to tell you?

In this thought-provoking episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier challenges one of the biggest blind spots in the beauty industry: transparency around petrochemical dependency. It’s a question that most formulators, brands and consumers have never even considered – and once you hear it, you won’t be able to ignore it.

Building on last week’s powerful interview with Chris Valencius of Evolved by Nature, exploring cutting-edge biotech alternatives, this episode shifts the spotlight back onto the beauty industry itself.

Why is there so much discussion around traceability for ingredients like palm oil or mica, yet almost none around petrochemical feedstocks? Lorraine unpacks the uncomfortable truth: it’s not that the answers are being hidden – it’s that the questions are rarely asked.

If you care about sustainability, formulation integrity, or the future direction of the beauty industry, this episode will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew – and wondering why this conversation isn’t happening more widely.

“If we used fossil fuels responsibly, things would look very different.” — Lorraine Dallmeier

Key takeaways:

• The beauty industry lacks transparency around petrochemical use: While there is increasing scrutiny around ingredient sourcing, such as palm oil or mica, the beauty industry does not require brands to disclose how much of their formulations originate from fossil fuels. This includes not just obvious ingredients like petrolatum, but also hidden processes involving solvents, catalysts and reagents. As a result, even well-informed formulators often have no clear understanding of the true origins of their ingredients. This absence of data makes it nearly impossible to assess the industry’s full environmental impact.
• Fossil fuels themselves are not the core issue – our usage is: Lorraine reframes a commonly polarised debate by explaining that fossil fuels and petrochemicals are not inherently harmful. In fact, they are highly efficient and valuable resources. The real issue lies in how extensively and carelessly they are used, particularly when burned as fuel. When used in long-lasting materials like cosmetic ingredients, their environmental impact is fundamentally different – but this distinction is rarely discussed in mainstream beauty narratives.
• The real problem is the industry’s failure to measure and disclose: One of the most striking insights from the episode is that there is no industry-wide data on how much fossil fuel is used in cosmetic formulations. Without measurement, there can be no accountability or meaningful progress. The lack of regulation or standardised disclosure allows this issue to remain largely invisible, despite its scale. This silence raises important questions about whether the industry is avoiding scrutiny by simply not collecting the data.
• Supply chain complexity hides the true extent of petrochemical reliance: Even when an ingredient appears non-petrochemical on the surface, its production process may still rely heavily on fossil fuels. From synthesis methods to processing aids, petrochemicals are often embedded deep within supply chains. This makes it difficult for both brands and consumers to fully understand what they are using. The complexity of these systems further reinforces the need for greater transparency and traceability.
• Alternatives exist – but inertia is holding the industry back: With the rise of biotech innovation and upcycled ingredients, the beauty industry now has viable alternatives to traditional petrochemical processes. However, adoption remains slow, often due to habit rather than necessity. Lorraine highlights that once alternatives are available, continuing with the status quo becomes harder to justify. The future of the beauty industry will depend on whether it chooses to embrace these innovations – or remain rooted in outdated systems.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Lorraine Dallmeier

Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.