Plastic waste is one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems. So far, many beauty products with their pots and bottles made of plastic, which are thrown away after a single use, unfortunately contribute to this. That’s about to change, as Harper’s Bazaar reports in a recent article.
For food startups, topics such as “organic” and “sustainability” have long played a central role, but the beauty scene is also increasingly valued for it. Whether vegan or plastic-free, many young companies are looking for alternatives to conventional cosmetics and personal care products.
“Refill” is the magic word that has already been written by well-known suppliers such as Aveda and Dior. Being able to refill your favorite cosmetics product is not only good for the environment. Also, the purse is happy, because a refill is usually much cheaper than the first purchase, including packaging. For the manufacturers, the process is also worthwhile, because it increases customer loyalty.
Nohbo Drops: the packaging dissolves in water
Even better than a packaging that can be used again and again, is a packaging that does not cause any waste, because it disappears without leaving any residue. This feat has succeeded the young founder and inventor Benjamin Stern with his Nohbo Drops.
Nohbo Drops are shampoo-filled capsules that dissolve in contact with water within seconds. With this idea, Benjamin appeared in 2016 in the founding show “Shark Tank”, the American model for “The Cave of the Lions”. Start-up investor Mark Cuban hit back then, and the product is now on the market after a few tests and optimizations. Actually Nohbo would be an excellent candidate for our FIC-Beauty Award, but as an American company, unfortunately, it is not eligible to vote.
Megatrend sub-zero waste
Nohbo is a good example of the megatrend “Sub-Zero Waste”, which the market research institute Mintel has identified for 2019. A somewhat misleading term, because less than zero garbage is hardly possible. However, Andrew McDougall, Associate Director at Mintel, puts it this way: “Sub-zero waste” is not just a trend, but a move towards a groundbreaking new archetype for the beauty and personal care industry.
Some companies are already discussing the complete removal of packaging from the equation. Whether it’s reducing or eliminating waste, if brands do not change their approach now, they will become insignificant and may not exist in the future. Brands that put current profits before the necessary investment in zero waste and sustainability will not exist in the future. ”
A pioneer in this area is the Lush brand, which has always sold unpacked soap in its stores. In the meantime there is even a completely packaging-free shop in Berlin with shampoo, shower gel, body lotion and other products in soap form. Also some startups have discovered this broadening niche for themselves.
Everything vegan, even toothbrushes
At least in the EU, animal testing for cosmetic products has been banned for some time, and imports of products and ingredients that have been tested on animals have also been banned. The next step towards animal welfare is the production of vegan products. They are enjoying increasing popularity.
When the drugstore chain dm recently added a vegan toothbrush to its product range, it triggered a rapture in the social media about which, among other things, the Cologne Express reported. A toothbrush made of wood and natural bristles is certainly more environmentally friendly than a plastic one, but is not it vegan too? In fact not, because animal fat is used in their production, albeit in small quantities. The field for vegan alternatives is so broader than many suspect – a chance not least for startups!