Well-being

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." –Jim Rohn

What Is Well-being?

Well-being is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as “…. a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic and environmental conditions.” (World Health Organisation, n.d.). Psychology Today refers to it as “…. experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress” (Davis, 2024).

In the context of sustainable wellness and beauty, it refers to a holistic state of physical, mental, and social thriving that is inextricably linked to the health of the planet and community. It emphasises that personal well-being is not isolated but deeply interdependent with ecological and social systems.

Well-being is a broad concept. Its meaning does not exclude the absence of illness, but rather a positive, flourishing state encompassing quality of life, purpose, resilience, and positive relationships. The "well-being connection" highlights several key interdependencies, such as:

Individual to Self. Making choices (e.g., using non-toxic products) that promote one's own physical health, mental clarity, and self-esteem.
Individual to Society. Recognising that personal well-being is shaped by, and contributes to, the well-being of the community (e.g., supporting ethical labour practices).
Individual to Planet: Understanding that human flourishing is intrinsically linked to the vitality of ecological systems (e.g., clean air and water, biodiversity), meaning that what is good for the planet is also good for our health.

Key Aspects of Well-being and Why They Are Important

Feeling Good. Experiencing positive emotions, happiness, contentment, and comfort.
Functioning Well. Having a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfilment; feeling capable of managing life's challenges.
Holistic Health. A combination of physical vitality, strong mental health, emotional resilience, and positive social connections.
Life Satisfaction: Overall evaluation and contentment with how your life is going as a whole.

Well-being is affected by internal and external factors. Internal factors include personal values, mindset, stress management, and physical health. External factors are social support,
economic stability, work environment, and community resources. Well-being
is so important because:

It's a resource for daily life, enabling people and societies to thrive.
It's linked to better health outcomes, improved performance, and reduced absenteeism.
It's a key indicator of national success, alongside economic growth.

The Connection Between Well-being, Wellness, Beauty and Sustainability

The connection between wellbeing, sustainable wellness, and beauty, along with their associated products and services, is quite intricate and multifaceted. Here’s a breakdown of how these concepts interrelate.

Well-being

This encompasses physical, mental and emotional health. Well-being is about achieving a balanced and fulfilling life, which includes self-care practices, healthy relationships, and a positive mindset. Well-being is a broad concept that goes beyond mere absence of illness to a positive, flourishing state encompassing quality of life, purpose, resilience, and positive relationships.

Sustainable Wellness

This concept extends the concept of well-being to encompass environmental and social responsibility. Sustainable wellness emphasises practices and products that foster health while also taking into account their environmental and social implications. This includes using natural ingredients, supporting ethical sourcing and minimising waste.

Sustainable Beauty

Traditionally, beauty has been associated with aesthetics, but it is increasingly recognised as a reflection of overall well-being. The beauty industry is evolving to embrace holistic approaches that prioritise health and sustainability. This includes products that enhance not just appearance but also skin health and emotional well-being.

Connection With Wellness

Wellness refers to the overall state of health, well-being, and balance in an individual's life. It focuses on physical, mental, emotional, and sometimes social aspects, and involves activities or practices that improve immediate health or happiness, such as exercise, healthy eating, meditation, or stress management. It can be short-term or episodic, depending on individual efforts and circumstances.

The traditional wellness focuses on individual health (diet, fitness, stress), while sustainable wellness expands this to include long-term, eco-conscious, and socially responsible practices, recognising personal health is tied to planetary and community health, ensuring actions benefit future generations and ecosystems, not just the present self. In essence, traditional wellness is often about personal health now, while sustainable wellness is about holistic, lasting health for people and planet over time.

Key Differences

The key differences between traditional and sustainable wellness can be summarised below.

Traditional Wellness.

Focus: Individual and often for short-term, symptom-focused improvements.
Examples. Gym memberships, meditation apps, diet plans, EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs).
Goal. Personal fitness, reduced stress and better mood.

Sustainable Wellness

Focus. Interconnectedness of individual, societal, and environmental well-being, using a systems-thinking approach.
Examples. Choosing plant-based diets, using public transport, supporting local/eco-friendly brands, and reducing waste.
Goal: Long-term vitality for oneself and the planet, ensuring resources and a healthy environment for the future.

Summary

Scope. Traditional wellness is often narrow. It's about you. Sustainable wellness is broad. It's about you, plus your community and the earth.
Timeframe. Traditional wellness can be about quick fixes; sustainable wellness is about long-term resilience and balance.
Ethos. Traditional wellness asks, "What's good for me?" while sustainable wellness asks, "What's good for me, and what's good for the world that supports me, now and later?"

Connection With Beauty

Wellbeing, beauty, and sustainable beauty are deeply
connected: wellbeing (physical & mental) is enhanced by beauty
rituals, while sustainable beauty links personal care to planetary health,
using clean ingredients and ethical practices that benefit both the user's skin
(less irritation) and the environment (less pollution/waste), creating a
holistic approach where self-care aligns with environmental responsibility for
a truly healthier, more conscious lifestyle.

Wellbeing & Beauty (The Personal Connection)

Mental
Boost: Beauty routines (haircuts, makeup, skincare) boost
confidence, happiness, and mental refreshment, enhancing self-esteem and
overall happiness.
Self-Care
Rituals: Acts of self-care, like massages or specific routines,
are linked to reduced stress and improved mental health.
Inner
& Outer: Consumers recognize beauty involves both external
appearance and inner qualities like confidence and peace.

Beauty & Sustainable Beauty (The Shift)

Conscious
Consumerism: Consumers demand transparency and ethical practices,
moving beyond just product performance to align with personal values.
Clean
Ingredients: A push away from synthetic chemicals towards
natural, plant-based, and ethically sourced ingredients that are gentler
on skin and the planet.
Holistic
Approach: It's about more than just "looking good";
it's about a lifestyle choice that includes diet, sleep, and
exercise.

The Interconnection: Wellbeing + Beauty +
Sustainability (The Full Picture)

Healthy
Skin, Healthy Planet: Sustainable beauty products use natural,
biodegradable ingredients, reducing chemical exposure for you and
pollution for the Earth.
Ethical
Sourcing: Sourcing ingredients ethically (fair wages, supporting
communities) benefits the people in the supply chain, adding another layer
to wellbeing.
Mindful
Consumption: Choosing refillable, plastic-free, or low-waste
packaging reduces your environmental footprint while enjoying beauty
products.
Values
Alignment: For many, choosing sustainable beauty is self-care,
reflecting a deeper commitment to caring for oneself and the world
simultaneously.

In essence, sustainable beauty redefines beauty as being
intrinsically linked to the planet's health, creating a virtuous cycle where
caring for yourself means caring for the environment, enhancing overall
wellbeing.

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The Concept of Sustainability and Why It Is Important

Why Sustainability Is Important

Wellness refers to the overall state of health, well-being, and balance in an individual's life. It focuses on physical, mental, emotional, and sometimes social aspects, and involves activities or practices that improve immediate health or happiness, such as exercise, healthy eating, meditation, or stress management. It can be short-term or episodic, depending on individual efforts and circumstances.

The traditional wellness focuses on individual health (diet, fitness, stress), while sustainable wellness expands this to include long-term, eco-conscious, and socially responsible practices, recognising personal health is tied to planetary and community health, ensuring actions benefit future generations and ecosystems, not just the present self. In essence, traditional wellness is often about personal health now, while sustainable wellness is about holistic, lasting health for people and planet over time.

Key Differences

The key differences between traditional and sustainable wellness can be summarised below.

Traditional Wellness.

Focus: Individual and often for short-term, symptom-focused improvements.
Examples. Gym memberships, meditation apps, diet plans, EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs).
Goal. Personal fitness, reduced stress and better mood.

Sustainable Wellness

Focus. Interconnectedness of individual, societal, and environmental well-being, using a systems-thinking approach.
Examples. Choosing plant-based diets, using public transport, supporting local/eco-friendly brands, and reducing waste.
Goal: Long-term vitality for oneself and the planet, ensuring resources and a healthy environment for the future.

Summary

Scope. Traditional wellness is often narrow. It's about you. Sustainable wellness is broad. It's about you, plus your community and the earth.
Timeframe. Traditional wellness can be about quick fixes; sustainable wellness is about long-term resilience and balance.
Ethos. Traditional wellness asks, "What's good for me?" while sustainable wellness asks, "What's good for me, and what's good for the world that supports me, now and later?"

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Products and Services

Sustainable wellness and beauty products and services focus on minimising environmental harm and promoting health through their entire lifecycle, from sourcing to disposal. They prioritise natural ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, ethical practices, and a holistic approach to well-being.

Key Characteristics of Sustainable Products

Eco-friendly ingredients. Products use natural, organic, and plant-based ingredients (like essential oils, natural clays, and botanical extracts) that are biodegradable and sourced from renewable raw materials. They avoid harmful chemicals, parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances, which can pollute the environment or disrupt hormones.
Sustainable Packaging. To address the significant waste produced by the industry, brands opt for minimal packaging or materials that are refillable, reusable, recyclable (e.g., glass, aluminium), or compostable. Solid product alternatives (shampoo bars, soap bars) also help eliminate plastic bottles.
Ethical and Cruelty-Free Practices. Ethical sourcing is a core principle, ensuring fair labour conditions and responsible farming practices that support local communities and ecosystems. Products are cruelty-free (not tested on animals), and many are also vegan (containing no animal-derived ingredients).
Green Production. Manufacturing processes are energy-efficient, using less water and electricity, often powered by renewable sources like solar or wind power. Brands also implement zero-waste strategies, repurposingbyproducts into other useful items (e.g., coffee grounds into serum).

Examples of Products and Services

Products

Solid Bars. Shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars that eliminate the need for plastic bottles.
Reusable Accessories. Washable makeup remover pads made from organic cotton and hemp, replacing single-use wipes.
Multi-purpose Items: Products like all-round creams or specific oils (e.g., coconut oil) that serve multiple functions (moisturiser, makeup remover) to reduce consumption and waste.
Upcycled Skincare. Products made from repurposed ingredients that would otherwise be waste, such as moisturisers using argan shells or face serums using coffee oil.
Eco-friendly Gear. Fitness items like exercise mats are made from natural rubber instead of PVC.

Services

Refill Schemes. In-store or mail-back programs that allow customers to return packaging or refill containers, creating a circular economy model.
Mindful Wellness Practices. Services that focus on holistic health beyond products, such as digital detox programs, meditation, or DIY skincare workshops.
Transparent Sourcing and Manufacturing. Brands provide transparency about their supply chains and environmental impact, allowing consumers to make informed, conscious choices.

By opting for these products and services, consumers can reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, minimise waste, support ethical businesses, and con

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References

Davis, T. (2024). What Is Well-Being? Definition, Types, and Well-Being Skills | Psychology Today United Kingdom. [online] www.psychologytoday.com. Available at:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/click-here-for happiness/201901/what-is-well-being-definition-types-and-well-being-skills.

World Health Organisation (n.d.). Promoting well-being. [online] World Health Organisation. Available at: https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-well-being.