Green materials, sustainable sourcing and marketing will be the focus of this year’s Sustainable Cosmetics Summit, taking place in New York from 16 to 18 May.

Now in its ninth year, the summit will begin with an update on sustainability developments in the wellness industry – including a discussion on the health and environmental impacts of contentious chemicals.

Keynote speaker David Streuli, principal scientist at US chemical company Ashland, will describe the sustainability issues associated with aerosols, while delegates will also learn about the Chemical Footprint Project and how it can help develop safer chemicals.

One of the hottest environmental topics – combatting ocean plastic – will also be discussed, with a focus on the wellness industry’s responsibility in tackling the issue. Among the solutions delegates will hear about is how recovering plastic waste from the sea could be used to create new packaging materials.

There will also be case studies from a leading personal care company and fashion retailer on how they are addressing their impacts.

On the topic of green materials, professor Rita Colwell from the University of Maryland will deliver a keynote session on skin biomes and their relationship with health and wellness.

There will also be a session discussing the dangers of constant mobile device use – and how it is leading to new skin conditions caused by blue light and infrared rays.

Another highlight is a keynote on sustainable sourcing by Chris Kilham. Also known as the Medicine Hunter, Kilham will offer examples of Amazonian ingredients and outline the ecological and social benefits of ethical sourcing.

Founded in 2009, the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit was set up to encourage sustainability in the beauty and wellness industries by bringing together key stakeholders and debate major issues in a high-level forum.