Sustainability in beauty and personal care is essential. At Stephenson, we recognize that meeting consumer demand for responsible products is crucial, and we're committed to delivering high-performance solutions without sacrificing sustainability.
In a recent survey, market researchers Bain & Company found that 71% of European consumers prefer sustainable products while 71% of US consumers require products with as little packaging as possible.1 The reality however is that the use of plastic packaging in the beauty industry remains ubiquitous.
According to The British Beauty Council’s Courage to Change Report2, of the 120 billion units of beauty packaging per year, 67% is manufactured from plastic – as opposed to 38% on average in other industries. But there is good news too. 88% of consumers want less packaging and are committed to recycling while 90% of Generation Z consumers expect their chosen brand to support climate change. This is leading suppliers of semi-finished formats and ingredients to look at innovative formats to meet these needs.
Less plastic, more innovation
While refillable products seem a logical choice, they are not without their challenges, primarily around stability, quality, and repeat purchasing.
In a skin or hair care formulation, each ingredient plays a specific role that ensures a product or blend remains effective over time. Refills can expose a product to air, moisture, and other potential contaminants that not only impact the safety but the sensory attributes of a product, including texture and skin feel. When a product doesn’t deliver on its intended promise, it can impact a brand’s reputation, leading to costly recalls and a loss of trust.
While a significant number of consumers will remain loyal to a brand, the desire for self-expression, and the influence of trends and social media particularly around ingredients and sustainability are leading consumers to experiment and try different brands which can be disastrous for brands that solely focus on refillable options.
So, while refilling is an interesting model in theory, it does throw up significant challenges. At Stephenson, we believe that meaningful change is only possible by focusing on solid formats and replacing plastic packaging with coated fiber-based solutions that are easily recyclable and biodegradable.
A solid future is here
In conjunction with our manufacturing partners and our team of technical research and development experts, we have launched over 300 products in the last 24 months using our patented synthetic detergent (‘syndet’) soap-free base technology, Syndopal.
Syndopal is a perfect ingredient in solid format cleansers, exfoliators, deodorisers, make-up removers, moisturisers, and ophthalmological bars - offering a wide range of benefits to brands and consumers, avoiding single-use plastic packaging and reducing the water content of these products.
Syndet solid formats are:
Gentle on skin: Syndet formulations maintain a skin-friendly pH, making it ideal for sensitive and problem skin.
Offer high-performance cleansing: Effectively removes dirt, oil, and impurities without stripping moisture, leaving skin refreshed.
Versatile & inclusive: Syndets are suitable for all skin and hair types with tailored formulations to suit different applications.
Sustainable & low impact: Solid bars contain less water and can be packed in fiber-rich biodegradable packaging. The compactness of bars also offers supply chain and transportation benefits
Convenient: Finished bars and cubes are TSA-approved for travel convenience.
When it comes to offering sustainable solutions, the beauty and personal care industry is at a tipping point and must innovate beyond ingredients to include packaging and processing solutions.
Our team of experts is ready to help you develop the next generation of solid format products, ensuring your brand stays ahead in the sustainability revolution! Talk to us today.
