Cosmetics industry predicted to move towards up-cycled ingredients

Food byproducts are being increasingly up-cycled as raw materials by the cosmetics industry, according to Ecovia Intelligence.

Food byproducts are already established as a source of natural ingredients and some, such as palm kernel oil, are widely used in cosmetic and personal care products. There is greater demand for such raw materials because of growing consumer demand for natural and organic personal care products. As well as this, sustainability is a major driver, with cosmetic and ingredient firms making pledges to use more plant-based/natural ingredients in their formulations.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also disrupted the supply of natural ingredients, as the collection and processing of plant materials has been affected by emergency measures introduced by the government. Ingredient buyers also experienced higher transportation costs and delays because of quarantine measures at ports, according to Ecovia Intelligence.

The pandemic is therefore leading many operators to consider regional, if not local, supply sources of natural ingredients. Food byproducts are increasingly viewed as a sustainable source of materials and, because of this, cosmetic firms are predicted to re-formulate their products using ingredients from such waste streams.