The fact that topical application of sun care products poses a risk to waterways and the marine environment puts pressure on brands to come up with solutions that have less impact on aquatic life and the environment as a whole.
Beyond this, suncare companies must also consider the overall carbon footprint of the products they develop, emphasizing biodegradable and water-free formulations, as well as changing packaging materials. not.
Responding to consumer demands for sustainability
To find out how this will impact the facial suncare sector, we spoke to Anna Keller, Senior Global Beauty Analyst at Mintel. She has been observing the sector to shed light on the appropriate moves to take as consumers become more concerned about cosmetics. sustainability.
“While the sunscreen industry has long leveraged environmentally-minded claims focused on ocean and reef safety, the reality of rapid ocean warming and marine environmental degradation is causing consumers and brands to shift focus. “We are now forced to consider other important aspects of the sustainability movement: carbon footprint, biodegradability, and packaging materials.” said Keller.
As average temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common around the world, consumer awareness and interest in sustainable solutions is increasing, and positive changes are being made to avoid contributing to the problem. I urge you to wake up.
Suncare sustainability claims are on the rise
Mintel’s Global New Product Database highlights this, with 34% of new suncare products worldwide having sustainable claims, compared to just 8% in 2018. Meanwhile, 39% of U.S. consumers between the ages of 24 and 34 say they are now making more of an effort to purchase sustainable sun care products. Not harmful to the environment.
“The majority of sunscreen products offered today are applied topically and end up in aquatic environments.”said Keller.
“Alternative formats and application methods, including ingestible supplements, can help improve protection from the sun while reducing the direct impact that sunscreen formulations have on the planet.”
More meaningful green claims
Packaging has long been the easiest aspect of sustainability to understand, simply because it’s easy for consumers to associate it with the environment, but growing awareness of the causes of climate change and environmental damage is pushing people to demand more meaningful change. It has become.
Keller believes that efforts to improve the sustainability profile of their products will make suncare brands more visible and appealing in this space.
“In the BPC sector, sustainable innovation has primarily focused on environmentally friendly packaging, but as the climate crisis evolves, more environmentally friendly claims need to be considered.” Mr. Keller said
“Lead sustainable NPD in sun care and go beyond traditional packaging.” Important claims made through principled stories and marketing that appeal across generations. ”
A new generation of sun care products
As an example of this different kind of approach, Mintel’s research points to KLĒNSKIN wash-on sunscreen, which provides SPF 30 protection in a daily cleansing format. Pair this sunscreen with a multitasking skin care product for easy application.
The study also focuses on ingestible sun care supplements, which could lead to a more sustainable and more effective future for the category. Keller believes that advances in this field should make sunscreen use more convenient while also reducing the risk of contamination, allowing for significant growth in the category in the coming years.
Examples of new sun care supplement launches include Sundaily’s The Baselayer, which contains plant-based antioxidants that fight the aging effects of UV rays and air pollution, and provides photodamage protection beyond traditional topical products. There’s UVlipse, a Korean brand that claims to offer this.
Mintel Recommendations for Sustainability Claims
- · Single-dose biodegradable capsules – Claims: Reduced waste, convenience/transportability, avoidance of overdose
- · Anhydrous or concentrated products – Claims: Water-conscious beauty, powder/solid format, reduced carbon footprint (from the time of shipment)
- · Alternative packaging materials (e.g. aluminium) – Claims: Plastic-free, increased recyclability, improved biodegradability/reduced microplastics
