Double Diamond Sustainability Award Win for Katoa Botanicals’ Symbiotic Circular Skincare with Compostable Packaging

Katoa Botanicals is leading the way in sustainability with a truly circular skincare brand. With a steadfast commitment to transparency and innovation, this UK-based company is redefining how beauty products are made, packaged, and disposed of—proving that high-performance skincare goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility. They have been awarded both the Diamond Organisation Award and two Diamond Product Awards in the Sustainability Award 2025; the highest level of award. These awards highlight Katoa Botanicals dedication to setting new benchmarks in sustainable skincare.

Meet the Founder of Katoa Botanicals: Penny

Penny, the inspiring founder of Katoa Botanicals, is a proud descendant of Māori heritage, whose culture has a deep spiritual and physical connection to the earth. Raised on a 750-acre farm in New Zealand, she was immersed in a way of life that celebrated Kaitiakitanga—the Māori practice of caring for the land, sea, and sky.

This upbringing instilled in her a profound respect for nature and the importance of sustainable living. Her early years were filled with harvesting, foraging, and sharing, fostering an intrinsic connection with the environment.

With 28 years of experience as an international hair and makeup artist, Penny has developed an instinctive understanding of healthy skin. Her career has fueled her desire to educate and innovate, leading her to create a brand that merges traditional wisdom with cutting-edge skincare science.

“We need to reconnect and adapt, it’s our time to give back and try to live more harmoniously with nature. I’m beyond excited to be recognised and awarded not only the Diamond Organisation Award, but also winning Diamond for both of our products, the highest of award categories. These awards show our commitment to environmental sustainability, aligning with the six UN Sustainability Goals. We’re not perfect but we cannot wait for the future and keep pushing new boundaries.”

-Penny Ryan, Founder, Katoa Botanicals

Award-Winning Products

Katoa Botanicals’ two flagship products have both won the Diamond-level Product Sustainability Award:

1. Cleansing Enzyme Butter – This delicate AHA exfoliating balm removes dead skin cells, revealing a smooth and brighter complexion. Enriched with Bio Ferments, clinically proven to detoxify and clarify skin tone, it also removes makeup, daily pollutants, and SPF.

Formulated with Papaya Enzymes & Lactic Acid, this balm gently breaks down dead proteins, releasing dull skin cells from the skin’s surface. The result is clean, bright skin while maintaining the natural lipid and ceramide complex for soft, healthy, glowing skin.

2. Luminess Hydra Créme – A luxury gel-crème delivering a nutrient-packed veil of hydration, formulated with clinically proven, advanced botanical extracts. Luminess Hydra Crème targets fine lines and discoloration, brightening the overall complexion and leaving skin plump and hydrated.

Infused with Rosa Damascena floral water, this crème preps the skin for a flawless makeup application or for natural, radiant, glowing skin.

The external packaging is 100% recyclable and compostable. The boxes are made from FSC registered card and printed with environmentally friendly ink

A Game-Changer: The Vivomer Compostable Cosmetic Tub

At the heart of Katoa Botanicals’ sustainability efforts lies their revolutionary Vivomer cosmetic tub—a first-of-its-kind packaging solution that breaks down completely in home compost or food waste bins. Unlike traditional “recyclable” beauty packaging that often ends up in landfills due to ineffective recycling systems, Vivomer is entirely free from microplastics and toxic waste, leaving no trace behind.

This bio-innovative material is formed from the cells of microbes, mimicking nature’s own decomposition process. Once disposed of in the right conditions, the packaging naturally degrades without harming the environment.

With the beauty industry contributing 120 billion units of plastic waste every year, Katoa Botanicals is setting a bold precedent for what truly sustainable packaging should look like.

A Commitment to Local & Low-Impact Manufacturing

Sustainability isn’t just about packaging for Katoa Botanicals—it’s woven into every step of their production. To minimise their carbon footprint, all products are manufactured in the UK, with their cosmetic tubs produced within a 100-mile radius of their manufacturing facility. They actively lower their emissions by reducing transportation needs while maintaining full supply chain transparency.

Additionally, through partnerships with Ecologi & 1% For The Planet, Katoa Botanicals offsets carbon emissions, further reinforcing their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Rethinking Ingredients: Advanced Botanical Extracts

The demand for natural beauty ingredients has led to excessive harvesting, deforestation, and ecosystem destruction. Katoa Botanicals is tackling this issue head-on with cutting-edge Advanced Botanical Extracts, including patent Plant Stem Cells and Plant Bio-ferments. By cultivating active plant cells in controlled environments rather than harvesting vast amounts of raw materials, they significantly reduce environmental strain while delivering powerful, scientifically-backed skincare solutions.

This approach allows them to preserve biodiversity while ensuring their products remain highly effective, a win-win for both consumers and the planet.

Setting a New Benchmark for Circular Skincare

“I was so excited to discover Katoa Botanicals, they’re such a beautiful inspiring brand setting a new benchmark for circular skincare. Every aspect of the brand and products has clearly been lovingly planned and created from the sourcing and design of the ingredients to every part of the packaging. This is what the future looks like!”

– Anna Chatburn, Sustainability Award Founder

Join the Sustainability Revolution

At Sustainability Award, we celebrate companies pushing the boundaries of environmental responsibility, and Katoa Botanicals is a shining example. By leading with innovation, ethical sourcing, and circular design, they are paving the way for a new era of sustainable skincare and beauty.

Visit Katoa Botanicals and discover how they are changing the beauty industry—one compostable tub at a time.

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