Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: OL005
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.OL005
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, OL005 (2025)
Twin transition in the European cosmetics industry. A survey-based investigation
Daniele Perossa1*, Luca Fumagalli1
1 Department of Management, Economics, and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Raffaele Lambruschini 4B, 20156 Milan, Italy
* Corresponding author: daniele.perossa@polimi.it
Abstract
Cosmetics industry is a sector that bears great economic and social relevance, with an estimated value of €49,1 billion traded within Europe and a total export outside Europe of €28,2 billion in 2023 alone directly and indirectly. Furthermore, it is estimated that cosmetic industry employed in the same year over 3 million people across the continent. Traditionally, Cosmetic Industry has always been particularly attentive to sustainability themes, due to the sensitivity of consumers towards it. A major lever to improve sustainability performance under the environmental perspective is constituted by digital tools and Industry 4.0 and 5.0 paradigms. The synergetic advancements in digital and green transitions are called twin transition. In the context of the Horizon Project ACTT4Cosmetics, the current state of the art of twin transition in the European cosmetic industry is being assessed, together with the main needs and opportunities for development. With this aim, two different surveys were submitted to European cosmetic supply chain actors. The first survey aimed at assessing the current level of real and concrete implementation of twin transition in cosmetic manufacturing companies, while the second investigated the main drivers and barriers that European cosmetic enterprises meet in performing green and digital transitions. The management of digital and green innovations inside the companies was also investigated. The results showed that European cosmetic companies are averagely well aware about twin transition and its relevance, and most of them are tackling it in a proactive manner. However, their understanding of the exploitability of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies to enable green transition presents non negligible limitations, and their management of digital and sustainable transitions is often unstructured.
Keywords: cosmetics industry, twin transition, survey
How to cite
D. Perossa, L. Fumagalli, 2025. Twin transition in the European cosmetics industry. A survey-based investigation. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.OL005