This month, I visited the Eden Project in Cornwall, a place I had always been drawn to, but nothing had prepared me for the experience of being under its vast bioclimatic domes. Each one seemed like a living organism, a microcosm of our planet thriving on a perfect balance. I felt small, yet profoundly connected, moved by seeing how every leaf, stem, and root played its role in sustaining life. The visit, definitively, reaffirmed my commitment to integrating rigorous sustainable practices into every aspect of Twelve Beauty.
Even before entering, I was impressed by the history of the land on which the Eden Project stands. It was built on the remains of an old kaolin mine (which was destined for the production of earthenware cups and plates): an exhausted, eroded, and lifeless land. Today, that same soil is bursting with color, life, and hope. It is living proof that, when humans act with vision and care, they can transform a devastated landscape into a thriving ecosystem. If we can regenerate land that seemed irrecoverable, imagine what we could achieve for the planet if each of us truly committed to sustainable practices.
Today I want to share some of the lessons that inspired me after that visit, wisdom from nature, science, and consciousness, which continue to guide our way of creating cosmetics in harmony with the planet.
The Price of Purity
One of the exhibitions at the Eden Project spoke of “Human Pressure,” a simple yet revealing term that describes humanity's immense influence on the planet. For more than 10,000 years we have transformed landscapes, cultivated land, and cut down forests. The Mediterranean region, where Twelve Beauty is located, has witnessed this transformation for millennia: its dense forests gave way to agriculture and cities, and with all the data we have, we know that the impact of human activity is linked to rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall.
As a Spaniard, this reality deeply affects me. The Mediterranean has always symbolized abundance, but today it also warns us of what happens when the natural balance is broken. Every local action, however small, resonates globally.
At Twelve Beauty, our sustainable practices go far beyond ingredient sourcing. They influence how we operate, innovate, and educate: supporting regenerative agriculture, reducing packaging waste, and minimizing carbon emissions. Because sustainability is not an initiative: it is an attitude born of awareness and growing with every daily decision.
Human Pressure and the Mediterranean Mirror
One of the exhibitions at the Eden Project spoke of “Human Pressure,” a simple yet revealing term that describes humanity's immense influence on the planet. For more than 10,000 years we have transformed landscapes, cultivated land, and cut down forests. The Mediterranean region, where Twelve Beauty is located, has witnessed this transformation for millennia: its dense forests gave way to agriculture and cities, and with all the data we have, we know that the impact of human activity is linked to rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall.
As a Spaniard, this reality deeply affects me. The Mediterranean has always symbolized abundance, but today it also warns us of what happens when the natural balance is broken. Every local action, however small, resonates globally.
At Twelve Beauty, our sustainable practices go far beyond ingredient sourcing. They influence how we operate, innovate, and educate: supporting regenerative agriculture, reducing packaging waste, and minimizing carbon emissions. Because sustainability is not an initiative: it is an attitude born of awareness and growing with every daily decision.
The Lungs of the Planet: Realities of the Tropical Rainforest
If the Mediterranean reflects our history, tropical rainforests represent our hope. Standing under the humid canopy of the Eden Project's Tropical Biome, I was reminded that these ecosystems are literally the lungs of the planet. They regulate the climate, purify the air, and sustain life in ways we are only beginning to understand.
They absorb and store carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and recycle moisture through their leaves, generating clouds that travel thousands of kilometers and bring rain to distant crops. Scientists estimate that these ecosystems can cool the surrounding air by up to 5°C and release more than eight trillion tons of water vapor into the atmosphere each year.
Our sustainable practices are based on this understanding of interconnectedness. Every formula reflects the principle that no ingredient, product, or decision exists in isolation. We favor small-scale producers, support conservation initiatives, and ensure that none of our decisions contribute to deforestation or habitat destruction.
I often think of South Korea as a powerful modern example of renewal. After decades of deforestation and war, the country undertook one of the most successful reforestation programs in the world, transforming its arid hills into thriving forests in just a few generations. It is proof that collective and determined action can restore balance faster than we imagine, a lesson that reinforces our mission and gives meaning to our sustainable practices. I love it.
Tropical forests remind us that nature does not need to be improved, only respected. Working in harmony with the planet is the most beneficial path to a shared future.
The Carbon Dilemma: A Call to Action
Carbon is the great paradox: the foundation of life and, at the same time, the driver of the greatest environmental threat. It is present in all living beings, but in excess it traps heat and destabilizes climate systems. Since 1880, the global temperature has risen by about 1.2 °C, most of that increase having occurred from 1975 to today. Exceeding 1.5 °C could trigger irreversible consequences, and current projections point to almost 4 °C.
This is not a future problem, but a present reality. The climate crisis affects farmers, pollinators, and ecosystems: the very sources of our natural ingredients.
At Twelve Beauty, our sustainable practices are guided by a principle we call "carbon consciousness." We measure and minimize emissions whenever possible, from production to packaging and distribution. We continually review our operations to reduce our footprint. Carbon neutrality is not a final goal, but an ongoing commitment to balance.
A Complex Ingredient: The Palm Oil Dilemma
Few ingredients embody the tension between progress and destruction as clearly as palm oil. It is present in over 60% of supermarket products, from cookies to soaps and cosmetics, and its cultivation has contributed to the loss or degradation of many tropical forests.
Understanding this issue is essential to improving sustainable practices across the entire cosmetics industry. The solution is not simply to replace palm oil with other crops, such as coconut or soy, without ensuring that these are also produced sustainably. Otherwise, we would only be shifting the problem to other ingredients.
A promising approach is the mass balance system, a model used by some suppliers, such as BASF, to support the gradual transition to certified sustainable raw materials. This system allows responsibly sourced ingredients to be integrated into existing production chains, maintaining traceability and certification oversight. It is not a perfect solution, but it is a practical step that accelerates the shift towards verifiable and large-scale sustainable practices.
That is why we closely study models for sustainable palm cultivation on degraded land, with minimal reliance on pesticides, protection of biodiversity, and support for local communities. True sustainability requires nuance, not evasion.
Many consumers are unaware of the number of names under which palm oil can hide. Some of them are:
Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Fruit Oil, Palm Stearate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Palmate, Palmitoyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Stearic Acid (often palm-derived), Glyceryl Palmitate, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Palmitoyl Oxostearamide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides.
Learning to identify them and choose certified sustainable sources empowers us as consumers, fostering more conscious choices. That collective awareness drives change. Transparency will always remain the foundation of Twelve Beauty's ethics.
My Promise to You
As I left the Eden Project, in front of those majestic domes, I understood a profound truth: everything is connected. From the ground beneath our feet to the air we breathe, from the farmers who cultivate wonderful trees and plants to the people who entrust us with their skin: our well-being is one.
The lessons in sustainability from the Eden Project have reinforced my understanding of what it means to formulate responsibly. They remind me that luxury must evolve, not as indulgence, but as an expression of integrity.
At Twelve Beauty, we maintain our commitment to demonstrating that science, ethics, and beauty can coexist in harmony. From our ethical sourcing of organic ingredients to our long-term environmental partnerships, we will continue to refine our sustainable practices, ensuring that our growth never comes at the expense of nature.
Because true luxury must give back more than it takes. And in that act of giving back, we rediscover beauty, not as a product, but as a living relationship with the Earth.