The cosmetics business has exploited natural resources for centuries. With consumers now demanding more sustainable products, gene-editing technology could give the industry a makeover—and make cosmetics cheaper.

Film sponsored by Franklin Templeton

00:00 - Could gene editing make cosmetics more sustainable?
01:01 - Hunting sharks for skincare
02:58 - How does synthetic biology work?
05:39 - What is the environmental cost of plant-based cosmetics?
07:45 - Can engineered microbes digest plastic?
09:18 - How to scale up gene edited ingredients
09:40 - How affordable is DNA sequencing?
10:45 - What are the regulations?

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Read our tech quarterly on synthetic biology: https://econ.st/3b1ST8t

Watch our film on gene editing: https://econ.st/3OkLf7r

How CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is transforming healthcare and agriculture: https://econ.st/39uQNh9

How DNA and proteins work: https://econ.st/3aWo19g

Genomics took a long time to fulfil its promise https://econ.st/3MZx5HV

Biotechnology is booming in pharmaceuticals: https://econ.st/3HxhwpK

Botox and other injectable cosmetics are booming: https://econ.st/3aVxmy7