Kiss your old lip blam goodbye - naturally - at Sydney Organics Expo
Cult natural personal care brand Burt’s Bees is taking the ‘natural’ challenge to the market with a Lip Balm Amnesty offer to all visitors to this year’s Sydney Organics Show, July 25-27 at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.
To spread the word about their arrival in Australia, and to put a spotlight on the debate around the term ‘natural’, Burt’s Bees will exchange one old lip balm for a Burt’s Bees Lip Balm, free of petrochemicals, synthetic preservatives, chemical sunscreens, phthalates, artificial flavours or colours.
“The Sydney Organics Show is one of the best showcases for organic and natural products in the country”, Burt’s Bees Australia General Manager Emma Bird said.
“We think it is an ideal opportunity to help consumers get to grips with what the term ‘natural’ really means when it’s used in relations to personal care products,” Ms Bird said.
“We know from extensive consumer studies that people are confused about the definition of the word ‘natural’ as it relates to personal care, and we know that consumers are concerned about making the right choices,” she said.
“Our hope is that by helping to promote a standard definition, it will be easier for consumers to make informed choices, just as they have over the years about the value of organic ingredients and products.
“Regulatory bodies around the world are grappling with this issue. In May, the Natural Product Association (NPA) launched in the United States and Burt’s Bees has been a prime mover behind both the formation of the Association and establishing an industry-approved definition of ‘natural’, along with other proponents of natural products, such as Badger Balm.
“The purpose of establishing the Association, and of arriving at an industry-accepted definition of ‘natural’, is to help consumers be confident that they are getting what they think they’re getting when they buy products labelled ‘natural’. ‘Lots of products sound natural but still contain all sorts of chemicals that consumers may not realise are there.
“The NPA defines ‘natural’ as ingredients that come from, or are made from a renewable resource found in nature – that’s flora, fauna and mineral ingredients – and absolutely no petroleum compounds. Additionally, the processes used must maintain the purity of the end ingredient used in the formula.”
Burt’s Bees has long been a champion of natural ingredients and all Burt’s Bees products feature a percent natural bar showing exactly what percentage of each individual product is natural. The company will also be inviting Australian beauty brands and the beauty media to step up to adopt – and promote – their definition of the term.
“This is about clarifying the claims the industry makes and ensuring consumer confidence,” Ms Bird said.
“Clarity helps all consumers, no matter what their brand preference, and that’s what matters.”