Shampoo bars using conventional liquid surfactants
Trevor Barker of JRS shares a case study of reformulating for solid formats
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Figure 1 – Launches of shampoo bars , 2015-24 Source : Mintel
Shampoo bars and other solid formats are growing in popularity worldwide . Recent years have seen an exponential increase in shampoo bar launches , from 15 in 2016 to 300 in 2021 . This trend is likely to continue apace due to the unique drivers involved ( Figure 1 )
Unlike some drivers in our industry , sustainability is more than just another fashion trend . The issues are real , widespread and extremely well documented . They are not going to go away .
The cosmetics industry is essentially consumer-driven . The needs and wants of the consumer are paramount when developing and marketing new products . There has been a move away from what has become known as ‘ greenwashing ’ towards more ethical considerations . This is , to a large extent , due to a better informed and more environmentally aware consumer base .
Sustainability captures a wide range of issues from palm-related deforestation to carbon footprint , micro-plastics to water consumption . Shampoo bars offer the consumer a product that ticks a number of boxes : water reduction , carbon footprint and non-plastic packaging , to name just a few .
Figure 2 – JRS solidification process
These , other dry product formats and concentrates represent a shift away from traditional formulations to a more sustainable and consumeracceptable range of products . They also come with their own challenges and limitations but offer an alternative technology , which will allow for improved performance and consumer acceptance of shampoo bars .
44 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981