About the Webinar

Sustainability has become a defining force in the beauty industry, shaping product development and strongly influencing consumer choice. Yet, its meaning, priorities, and trade-offs vary significantly across the cosmetics value chain.

​​​​​​​This presentation examines sustainable beauty through the consumer lens—what consumers believe they are choosing when they select “sustainable,” “natural,” or “eco-friendly” products, and how these perceptions compare with the underlying technical and environmental realities. It highlights where common gaps arise between perception and measurable impact, particularly across ingredients, packaging, and product use.

Building on this, the discussion expands to the broader value chain, exploring how ingredient manufacturers, distributors, formulators, contract manufacturers, and brands approach sustainability within their own technical, regulatory, and commercial constraints.

By connecting consumer expectations with formulation science, supply chain realities, and lifecycle thinking, this session aims to provide a more holistic and grounded perspective on sustainable beauty. It will highlight key areas of misalignment and explore how improved transparency, efficiency, and collaboration can support more credible and meaningful progress across the industry.
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About the Speaker:

Dr Joan Chiu holds a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and brings nearly two decades of experience in the personal care industry. Her expertise spans formulation science, ingredient technologies, product development, and technical communication, with a strong emphasis on transforming scientific innovation into commercially viable solutions.

Joan has worked across multiple segments of the cosmetics value chain—including contract manufacturing, national and indie brands, and raw material distribution—giving her a holistic understanding of both technical and commercial drivers in product development. Her recent work in Principal Management at IMCD Australia has expanded her commercial leadership, enabling her to effectively bridge science, market needs, and business strategy.

An active member of the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Joan previously served as Vice Chair of the ASCC Technical Committee. Her professional interests include sustainable formulation, ingredient innovation, and emerging industry trends, with a particular passion for addressing sustainability challenges through pragmatic, science‑based approaches.