A division of Faber-Castell Group which has been operating since 1761, the cosmetics business unit has been running for 40 years.
Countess Mary von Faber-Castell, who heads up the unit as president, says the it was created to respond to particularly challenging market conditions for the Group elsewhere, and has gone for strength to strength.
It now makes up 20% of the Group’s business, employing about 800 people across three plants in Germany and Brazil.
Recent wins
Looking back at the most recent successes enjoyed by the cosmetics unit, Mary von Faber-Castell picks out new product launches, sustainability efforts, and investment in its production infrastructure.
“In the last two years, we developed two new packaging options: The sharpenable slim plastic pencil MAGNETIC, for super long-lasting formulations easily customized from “tip to toe”, and STYLER - our second slim liquid liner generation - available with four different felt tips,” she says of NPD.
Sustainability management and ecological responsibility have always been part of the company’s core value, von Faber-Castell suggests.
“Faber-Castell Cosmetics attaches high importance to successfully blend the heritage and tradition and environmental responsibility of Faber-Castell with the modern challenges of the dynamic cosmetics industry.
“In 2008, we started with the TRULY NATURAL concept using renewable natural resources, followed by natural cosmetics with organic certification from ECOCERT.
“Further concepts followed so that we are a pioneer in environmentally responsible cosmetic pencils. Not to forget, we are fully integrated utilizing our own FSC®-certified wood for our wooden pencils."
Finally, she flags the facility that Faber-Castell built in Brazil in the past five years.
“In 2013, we built a new state-of-the-art cosmetic production plant in Brazil where we produce wood-cased and mechanical pencils for the international markets but also liquid products for the Latin American region.”
Looking ahead
The unit president suggests that being responsive to an increasingly dynamic market is a key element to the company’s plan for its efforts in the cosmetics industry moving forward.
“Flexibility and size are our key strengths, that enable us to respond quickly to demand,” she confirms.
“An intelligent modular system of formulations, packagings and accessories offers ultimate flexibility.
“Whether wax-based or liquid, every formulation is characterized by a set of well-defined properties adapted to the individual packaging.”