Top 5 most-read stories November 2021: CMR chemicals update, Unilever antiperspirant patents and sustainable beauty strategies

A round-up of CosmeticsDesign-Europe’s most-read news from November 2021 shows interest in EC regulatory updates on CMR chemicals, Unilever’s duo of patents on metal-free antiperspirants and insights on sustainability and consumer trends.

Ingredients upheaval​

The European Commission added 23 carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) chemicals to its prohibited list under Article 15 of the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, including zinc pyrithione. The ban was set to come into force on March 1, 2022, for all cosmetic products on the EU market – imported and EU-made.

Trade association Cosmetics Europe said it supported the annual CMS Omnibus process.

Personal care major Unilever also filed two international patents outlining metal-free antiperspirant formulations, made without traditional aluminium actives. The company said the formulas, which used a blend of film forming polymers, solvents and plasticizers, offered similar or better efficacy.

Sustainable beauty strategies​

Attendees at October’s digital SEPAWA 2021 event heard from Tina Choi-Odenwald, research director and head of beauty and home at German market research firm GIM about what it took to ensure sustainable product offerings were successful.

Odenwald said whilst great strides had been made in ingredients and packaging for beauty products that were better for the planet and people, success relied on a positive consumer perception around these offerings – something brands and manufacturers had to think about carefully during design and marketing efforts.

At SCS Formulate 2021 in Coventry, UK, in November, Natura &Co’s The Body Shop shared its plans on building out and investing in regenerative supply chain innovation. The beauty major said it would invest in biotechnology and carbon capture, amongst many other things.

Consumer trends – a perception of beauty​

Market research firm Euromonitor International released data from a July-August consumer survey revealing consumers now considered a healthy appearance and inner confidence the most important aspects of beauty. And this, the company said, offered plenty of opportunity for functional, efficacious and authentic innovations moving forward.

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