Colette Laxton is the co-founder of climate friendly beauty brand, The Inkey List. She is also an expert ambassador for Breakout Beauty UK – a new accelerator programme from Growth Studio designed for high-potential beauty founders.
In this interview, we explore what it takes to create a planet positive beauty brand and why Colette wants to help budding UK beauty entrepreneurs succeed – by learning the lessons she has!
Colette Laxton.
For me, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs is both a responsibility and a privilege. When we launched The INKEY List, we benefited from mentors and people who gave their time generously to share insights, so it feels only right to pay that forward. This is something we apply through beauty and beyond. For example through our Inkey Impact Fund and our work in breaking barriers in education. The beauty industry is dynamic, but it can also be overwhelming and sometimes exclusive. By offering guidance, demystifying the process, and sharing both successes and failures, I hope to help open doors for those coming through. Fresh perspectives and new ideas are what keep our industry alive- supporting young founders is an investment in the future of beauty.
Sustainability Vision
Your Impact Report lays out a range of sustainability pledges — what do you see as the most transformative steps your business can take in the next three years?
In the next three years, I believe the most transformative steps will come from embedding circularity into everything we do. That means redesigning packaging to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic, and ensuring end-of-life solutions are built in from the start. Alongside packaging, working with suppliers to cut emissions across our value chain is critical- we can’t reach our goals in isolation. These steps, while challenging, have the potential to change the way beauty is produced and consumed.
How do you ensure transparency and accountability in your reporting?
We’ve learned that transparency means being comfortable with imperfection. Our reporting process is about opening the books, showing where we’re making progress and where we’re falling short. We work with third-party partners to verify our data, and we publish clear, measurable targets so we can be held accountable by our community and stakeholders. Importantly, we view accountability as an ongoing conversation, not a once-a-year report.
Climate & Environmental Innovation
Packaging is a major environmental challenge in skincare — are there any innovative solutions you are exploring to reduce single-use plastic and increase circularity?
We’re exploring packaging that prioritises mono-materials for easier recycling, increasing our use of recycled and recyclable content, and testing refillable formats.
Beyond packaging, how do you measure and reduce the carbon footprint of your supply chain?
We start by measuring Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, with a particular focus on Scope 3, since that’s where the majority of our impact lies. We make sure we prioritise Scope 3 hotspots and work with our teams and suppliers on energy and transport efficiency.
Are there ways biotechnology or ingredient innovation can help make skincare more climate-conscious without compromising performance?
Absolutely. Biotechnology allows us to produce high-performing actives without the environmental cost of harvesting them from nature. For example, lab-grown ingredients can deliver consistency, potency, and safety while dramatically reducing land and water use. We’re only scratching the surface of what biotech can offer in creating climate-smart, effective skincare.
Industry Transformation
As a fast-growing global brand, how do you balance expansion with reducing environmental impact?
It’s about building growth and sustainability into the same strategy, not treating them as competing priorities. For us, that means choosing partners who share our sustainability commitments, designing supply chains with efficiency in mind, and embedding sustainability KPIs into our business performance. Growth doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense, but it does require constant discipline and innovation.
If you could push through one regulatory change for the cosmetics industry to advance climate action, what would it be?
I would advocate for more support in standardised, mandatory carbon labelling on all beauty products. Giving consumers clear, comparable information about the impact of what they’re buying would not only drive more conscious choices but also push brands to accelerate their own sustainability improvements. Transparency levels the playing field.
Consumer Behaviour & Education
The INKEY List is known for education and transparency. How do you see consumer education evolving around sustainability?
We’ve always believed education is empowerment. With sustainability, it’s about cutting through jargon and greenwashing to make it simple, relatable, and actionable. Education will evolve to focus not just on “what” brands are doing but on “how” consumers can participate, for example, how to recycle correctly or how to make conscious choices without sacrificing performance or affordability.
Do you believe Gen Z’s purchasing power is reshaping the sustainability agenda in beauty?
Without a doubt. Gen Z are holding brands accountable in a way no generation has before. They want receipts- proof of action, not just marketing. Their values-driven purchasing power is forcing the industry to step up faster, and that’s a hugely positive force for change.
Leadership & Future Outlook
You’ve spoken about the importance of simplifying skincare. How can brands also simplify sustainability for consumers in a meaningful way?
Sustainability should never feel like homework, but that’s not to say it won’t have challenges. Brands can simplify by designing packaging that’s easy to recycle, offering clear disposal instructions, and communicating progress in straightforward language. It’s about making the right choice- no extra steps, no confusion, just seamless integration into daily routines.
What legacy do you hope The INKEY List will leave in terms of climate action and industry change?
I hope our legacy is proving that affordability and sustainability can co-exist — that you don’t have to choose between doing the right thing for your skin and doing the right thing for the planet. If we can show that even a young, fast-growing brand can make meaningful change, hopefully we’ll inspire others to raise the bar too.
Looking ahead 10 years, what does a sustainable beauty industry look like to you?
In 10 years, I see an industry that works together and collaborates to drive circular design, where packaging waste is a thing of the past and ingredients are sourced or created with minimal impact. I see full transparency — carbon labels, supply chain traceability, and zero tolerance for greenwashing. Most importantly, I see sustainability no longer being a conversation just for “green” brands, but the foundation of how beauty operates globally.
