A report has shown that an increase in people’s awareness of bio diversity is leading to a demand of more ethical ingredients to be sourced for products such as skin care and natural beauty products.

The Union of Ethical Bio-Trade ran an extensive survey this year and found an increase of people who were now aware of biodiversity. The figure now stands at 65% compared to 56% on the same survey carried out two years previously.

“The rising awareness will contribute towards the on-going trend to use more and more natural ingredients and the trend of ethical sourcing. These trends come together in ethical sourcing of biodiversity,” said Rik Kutsch Lojenga, executive director for the UEBT.

The results of the survey, which have been published in a report by the UEBT, suggests that the increased awareness is part thanks to the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity which aimed to increase peoples knowledge worldwide.

Biodiversity is crucial for many cosmetic companies that use agricultural resources, but the cosmetic industry is feeling the pressure to show how they source their ingredients.

“The UEBT’s Biodiversity Barometer showed that in 2011 nearly 90 per cent of consumers want to know more about how companies are sourcing their natural ingredients, and over 80 per cent said they would boycott a brand if it was not respecting the environment or ethical trading practices,” said Kutsch Lojenga.

“Companies are likely to respond to this by increasing the number of products that respect ethical practices and that are openly communicating about how biodiversity fits into their supply chains.”