MONTEGO BAY, St James — As Jamaica hunts its share of the US$4.4-trillion global beauty industry, local stakeholders are being urged to practise sustainable development.

The appeal came from president of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro) Shulette Cox as she delivered the opening address at the Jamaica International Beauty Expo (JIBE) in Montego Bay last Friday evening.

“As custodians of Jamaica’s beauty industry, it is your responsibility to ensure that practices align to the principles of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and conscious consumption,” she urged the gathering at the western city’s convention centre.

“By prioritising sustainability, embracing eco-friendly practices and supporting ethical sourcing, we can build a future where beauty coexists harmoniously with the world that we have to leave our grandchildren into,” she added.

Jamaica’s beauty industry is highly dependent on products developed through the use of local raw materials. Products such as the country’s castor oil and others are now in wide demand both locally and overseas.

In her address, Cox emphasised that Jamaica has a role to play in continued discussions about sustainability.

“We must also acknowledge the challenges that we have to overcome,” she urged.

“How do we make sure that the products and the inputs are sustainable? There are ethical considerations and consumer demands for transparency are among some of the pressing issues that require our attention if we’re going to be a part of this global community,” she added.

Striking a balance between the need to engage in sustainable practices, Cox also called on Jamaicans to do their best to establish a foothold in the lucrative industry.

“We have to think about exports; the export potential of the beauty industry is significant as consumers globally become more cosmopolitan and sophisticated and interconnected. They seek beauty products from different regions inspired by diverse cultural influences, and they are seeking novel experiences,” she advised.

“It is also essential, nationally, to recognise challenges and considerations that come with exporting beauty products: compliance with international regulations such as product labelling, ingredient restrictions, safety standards, are all crucial to ensure a smooth export process. Each country has its own set of regulations and so, as businesses we have to do the research,” Cox pointed out.

The Jamaica International Beauty Expo, which was in its fourth staging, brought in beauty practitioners from across Jamaica and overseas to showcase their products. Patrons have benefited from demonstrations in makeup application, massages, product development, clothing design, and a wide assortment of other items linked to beauty.

The event ran from Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25.