What the Global Green Beauty Awards Look for When Judging Entries

What the Global Green Beauty Awards Look for When Judging Entries

As the green beauty industry continues to grow, clarity around how products are judged has never been more important. At the Global Green Beauty Awards, the judging process is designed to be transparent, balanced and grounded in how products perform in the real world.

With entries for the 2026 awards opening on 1 May, it is helpful for brands to understand exactly how entries are assessed.

Across all product categories, judging is split evenly.Fifty percent of the score is based on product efficacy, performance and usability. The remaining fifty percent considers how well a product fits within its green category, including formulation approach and overall green credentials.

Product performance is always central. Judges assess how well a product delivers on its intended purpose, whether that is skincare, haircare, makeup, wellbeing or personal care. Texture, results, formulation balance and user experience all play an important role in this part of the assessment.

Alongside performance, judges consider how a product aligns with its green positioning. This includes ingredient choices, formulation philosophy, sourcing, transparency and wider environmental considerations where relevant. Products are expected to genuinely fit the category they are entered into.

The Global Green Beauty Awards do not require official certification for vegan or organic categories. Instead, judges assess whether a product genuinely meets the expectations of that category based on formulation and ingredient use. This approach allows both independent and established brands to enter without unnecessary barriers, while still maintaining credibility and integrity.

For natural categories, there is no minimum percentage requirement in most cases. Judges consider how natural a product is overall, with greater emphasis placed on thoughtful ingredient selection and higher proportions of natural ingredients. Products with a stronger natural formulation will naturally perform better in judging.

The only exceptions are the categories Best 99% Natural Product and Best 100% Natural Product, where entries must meet the stated percentage requirements.

The Global Green Beauty Awards are designed to recognise products that perform well and are developed responsibly. Judges are not looking for perfection, but for quality, honesty and genuine commitment to green beauty.

As entries open for the 2026 awards, the focus remains on celebrating products and brands that balance efficacy with responsible formulation and meaningful green credentials.