Breaking News on Cosmetics Formulation & Packaging - Europe US edition

Pollution from personal care compounds may cause antibiotic resistance

A study conducted by scientists at the universities of Birmingham and Warwick suggests pollution from compounds in a variety of household products could cause antibiotic resistance.

Aldivia launches certified organic surfactants for cosmetics

Aldivia is launching a range of Ecocert certified organic surfactants for the cosmetics market.

Nanoparticles may damage bacterial cell walls, say scientists

Nanoparticles found in sunscreens may damage the cell walls of bacteria which could leave them unviable, according to recent research.

Soliance focuses in on skin whitening with new launch

France-based active ingredients provider Soliance is aiming at the still growing market for skin whitening products with its latest launch.

News in brief

Chinese consumers intend to carry on spending

Despite job losses and factory closures Chinese consumers plan to carry on spending regardless, suggests new research.

Sara Lee confirms interest in selling personal care business

Sara Lee confirmed yesterday that the company is considering selling its household and body care business.

Weekly comment

EU rules on nanomaterials should be exported to the US

Small may well be beautiful but to protect public safety and prevent a consumer backlash the US should adopt European style rules on nanomaterials.

Dow Corning presents new silicones portfolio at In-Cosmetics

Chemicals giant Dow Corning will unveil a series of ingredients and technologies that focus on naturals, anti-ageing, hair care and sun care at the forthcoming In-Cosmetics show.

Congress uncovers aerosol trends and innovation

Sustainability, artwork techniques and the art of spray were core topics at the Aerosol Forum in Paris this month.

News in brief

BiotechMarine ingredients gets UK distribution

France-based BiotechMarine has secured the UK distribution of its Sea Satin ingredient through Adina Cosmetics Ingredients.

Private label products are not just a fad, says Professor

Private label food, cosmetics and household products are not just a fad that will run its course once the economy picks up, says marketing Professor.

Cocktail of chemicals poses danger to oceans, says scientist

Chemicals often assumed to pose no environmental danger on their own may be toxic when in combination with others, suggests research from Sweden.

Fair trade certification for mint oils

The organic oil specialist, Earthoil, has achieved fair trade status for its Indian mint growing facility under an Institute for Marketecology (IMO) scheme in order to meet growing demand for ethical products.

Lumson launches glass packaging with airless dispenser

Italian packaging company Lumson is about to unveil it latest glass packaging with built in airless dispenser at the forthcoming Cosmoprof show in Bologna.

New EU rules on nanomaterials cause controversy

The provisions for nanomaterials in the recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive have come in for criticism from campaigners.

Personal care pollution found in US waterways

A new study from the Baylor University shows that fish samples from US waterways are frequently showing up with personal care product residues

Board approves appointment of ex-P&G man as CEO of Estee Lauder

Estee Lauder’s board of directors has approved the appointment of Fabrizio Freda as president and CEO of the prestige beauty company.

Divestment and strong care chemical sales boost Cognis

Strong sales for its Care Chemicals division and the divestment of the Oleochemicals and Pulcra Chemicals businesses boost Cognis, but net profits were still in the red in 2008.

Cosmos certified products expected by spring 2010

The first products certified to the organic and natural Cosmos standards cannot be expected before spring 2010, but UK member Soil Association is confident uptake will be strong.

Interpolymer opens new facility in China

Interpolymer has started production at its new factory in Nanjing, China and expects the site to fully operational by June.

MEPs approve stricter version of EU cosmetics legislation

The amended recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive, approved yesterday by MEPs, contains stricter requirements for nanomaterials and CMRs.

News in brief

CPL Aromas appoints new purchasing director

CPL Aromas has appointed Nick Moore as its new global purchasing director in an effort to improve its ability to source raw materials worldwide.

Givaudan signs sustainable sourcing partnership

Givaudan has partnered with a Laos-based producer to secure the sustainable supply of benzoin, a raw material used in fragrances.

MEPs vote on the recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive

MEPs are voting today on the recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive following a last-minute agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on nanomaterials.

Harmonisation still far off for organic and natural certification

The number of products certified natural or organic is set to rise but the problem of competing standards remains unsolved, according to Organic Monitor.

Weekly comment

Do we really need all that packaging?

Secondary packaging can serve to protect a product and also to give it a more up market appearance, but with consumers becoming both more eco- and budget-conscious its demise could be imminent.

SGD launches glass bottle range for Cosmopack

SGD is launching a new range of glass bottles and jars for the cosmetics market at the Cosmopack exhibition in Bologna next month.

Peptides have 'immense' potential in future of skin care, review

The potential for bioactive peptide ingredients in cosmetics is ‘immense’ due to their highly targeted and flexible nature, according to dermatologists.

IFF opens new creative center in Brazil

International Fragrances and Flavors (IFF) is opening a new creative center in Brazil to spark new product ideas and tune in to local consumer preferences.

Azzalure anti-wrinkle injection given UK all clear

Azzalure, an injectable anti-wrinkle treatment, has been given the go ahead by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

News in brief

Chitin-glucan ingredient from KitoZyme gets Ecocert recognition

An anti-aging active from Belgium-based company KitoZyme is now listed as Ecocert compliant.

Tube manufacturers need to be flexible to survive the crisis, says trade body head

‘Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility’ should be the mantra of all European tube manufacturers if they want to weather the current economic storm, says the head of their trade body.

Internal ageing plays part in skin wrinkling, study suggests

Research conducted by a team of scientists working with US skin care expert NuSkin links a newly identified free radical generator to age-related skin damage.

News in brief

PLF International appoints new sales director

PLF International has appointed a new sales director to drive organic growth and take the packaging machinery firm into new market sectors.

Borregaard plays up lignin-vanillin CO2 developments

A supplier of lignin-derived vanillin claims that its processes for sourcing and producing the ingredient can dramatically reduced the carbon footprint compared to sourcing from some mineral oils, according to recent testing.

Rexam targets promotional campaigns with new mini dispenser

Personal care players launching promotional programs with trial products are the target of Rexam’s new mini dispenser.

Ciba develops new colours and stabilisers for in-cosmetics

Ciba is showcasing its latest products including new colours, effects and stabilisers at in-cosmetics next month.

Provital Group targets Austria and German

Spain-based ingredients provider Provital says it is targeting the German and Austrian markets with the opening of a new commercial office.

MWV closes two factories and reduces secondary packaging production

Marking a move away from secondary packaging, MeadWestvaco (MWV) is closing two factories in Virginia and Puerto Rico with the loss of 278 jobs.

J&J baby products under question in China

A number of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) baby bath products are being tested by health authorities in China following allegations they contain carcinogenic chemicals.

Recycling logo for consumer packaging launched in UK

Major UK supermarkets have signed up to a new recycling logo for consumer packaging, aiming to present how much of the packaging can be recycled and where.

Europe OKs vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 has won Novel Foods approval paving the way for the fermented soy extract to be used in a wide variety of applications across the European Union’s 27 member states.

News in brief

Fenchem launches anti-microbial liquorice extract

The China-based ingredient provider is once again tapping into age old Chinese remedies with the launch of its new liquorice extract, which contains several key active compounds.

Sederma launches topical lip plumping ingredient

Sederma’s new lip plumping ingredient targets the increasing segmentation of the anti-ageing market.

Organic Monitor digs into natural cosmetics in the UK and Germany

Organic Monitor has published a report on the natural cosmetics market in Germany and the UK highlighting the growing popularity of private label brands in both countries.

Television tipped for beauty success by NPD

NPD Group tips infomercials and TV shopping as promising avenues for beauty companies looking to beat the recession.

New ingredient blocks damage from UV that slips past filters, claims Symrise

Symrise’s new ingredient promises to protect against UVB damage by blocking the creation of toxic substances produced when the rays penetrate the skin.

Dr Straetmans target organic formulators with new range

Dr Straetmans’ new range of organic actives target manufacturers looking to up the proportion of organic raw materials in their formulations.

RPC Beauté launches two new decoration methods

RPC Beauté has launched two new decoration techniques called HotFix and EcoCoat that are both targeted at the luxury cosmetics market.

News in brief

L'Oreal Hungary fined for misleading customers

L’Oreal has been fined 150m forints (€502,500) by Hungary’s competition watchdog for misleading customers, according to Reuters.

Male grooming market has enormous potential, says Datamonitor

Marketers need to find a way of engaging with male consumers if they want to take advantage of the significant potential that the market presents, according to a Datamonitor report.

Sara Lee rumoured to be making moves to exit personal care

Food, household and personal care player Sara Lee is contemplating selling its remaining cosmetics business interest in Europe to focus on food and beverage.

Weekly comment

Resorting to obscure nonsense won't cover up bad news

Every product is “innovative”, every award is “prestigious” and everyone is “delighted” to be climbing the corporate ladder.

Copalis launches sea plant peptide active range

Copalis is launching a range of three peptide active ingredients based on the sea plant halophyte, targeting the anti-ageing and skin whitening categories.

BUAV Humane Cosmetics Standard 'will remain relevant'

BUAV claims its Humane Cosmetics Standard will remain relevant for many years to come despite the animal testing ban.

‘Free from’ claims can trade on false safety concerns says trade body

Manufacturers are advised against labelling their products as ‘free from’ certain ingredients by the UK cosmetics trade association (CTPA).

European Commission imposes conditions on BASF’s acquisition of Ciba

BASF is now one step closer to acquiring Ciba but had to promise to share cosmetics know-how and sell businesses to get the €3.8bn deal accepted.

Inter Parfums sales slide on strong dollar and weak consumer demand

Sales for both the US and European operations slid considerably as the company faced the dual challenge of a strong dollar and the economic crisis.

Companies can exploit animal testing loopholes, says charity

Companies can easily exploit yesterday’s EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics ingredients, says UK charity the Dr Hadwen Trust.

Kautex launches blow moulding equipment for clear packaging

Kautex Maschinenbau has developed new blow moulding equipment for the manufacture of highly transparent cosmetics packaging.

Exclusive interview

Profitable growth opportunities remain in beauty packaging

The economic crisis has eaten into the turnover of leading packaging firms but the president of personal and beauty care at MeadWestvaco (MWV) insists that profitable growth opportunities remain.

Clariant opens surfactants production facility in China

Switzerland-based fine chemicals player Clariant has opened up a production facility in Zhenjiang, Eastern China, to tap into growing demand for key personal care ingredients.

How ethical is the cosmetics industry? A new barometer may tell...

An initiative to determine the position of the industry and consumers on ethical matters will be launched at a conference in April.

Manufacturers could be misleading consumers over preservatives, report

Highlighting the absence of certain preservatives in a product when the formulation contains others is misleading to the consumer, according to France’s body for competition and fraud control (DGCCRF).

EU ban on animal testing comes into force today

Campaigners are today celebrating the enforcement of the EU ban on the use of animals to test cosmetic ingredients but reservations remain about the availability of alternatives.

Beauty goes 3D at in-cosmetics 2009 in Munich

The relationship between the worlds of beauty and architecture is the "in-focus" for this year’s in-cosmetics, set to open its doors in Munich, April 21. Parallels between food and beauty, and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, are familiar, but now it is architecture’s turn to come under the spotlight in the event that aims to foster product development and innovation. CosmeticsDesign-Europe spoke to exhibition director Lucy Gillam who said that even in a global recession when marketing budgets are tightening, visitor and exhibitor numbers for the event are looking good.

Coty's ex-CFO accuses former employers of fraud

Coty’s former chief financial officer has filed a civil complaint against the company accusing the board of “arbitrarily, capriciously, fraudulently and illegally” cheating him out of millions of dollars in stock options.

P&G most admired company in cosmetics industry

P&G and Henkel are two of the most admired companies in the industry, according to a recent survey by Fortune magazine.

New chemical labelling legislation expected to let cosmetics off lightly

New EU legislation on chemical labelling is not expected to be a significant burden for cosmetic manufacturers and ingredients suppliers, says CONUSBAT technical director.

Berkem invests in vegetal extract capabilities

In an effort to maintain growth during the downturn Berkham is refocusing its business to concentrate on vegetal extracts for the cosmetics and food industry.

L'Oreal takes eBay to court over counterfeit sales in UK

L’Oreal has brought its ongoing fight against eBay to the British courts, launching a trademark infringement case against the internet auction site.

Dow settles differences with Rohm and Haas

Dow Chemical’s acquisition of Rohm and Haas will go ahead after the companies reached an agreement that eases Dow’s debt burden.

Avon rating downgraded on currency weakness and CEE gloom

Citing currency weakness and overexposure in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market, an analyst has downgraded Avon's outlook for 2009.

Weekly comment

Don’t patronize consumers with science jargon and high-tech talk

Face lifts in a jar, botox in a cream and youthful skin stem cells in a tube. However attractive, companies must avoid these exaggerated marketing claims or risk losing their credibility with a discerning public.

New Lipotec anti-ageing ingredient targets glycation in collagen

Spanish supplier Lipotec has launched a new active ingredient that promises to slow down skin ageing by inhibiting glycation in collagen.

APGI skincare symposium targets formulators

The third skincare symposium organised by the Association de Pharmacie Galenique is to open its doors next week at the Palais des Congres, in Versailles, near Paris.

Cosmetics Compact

Cosmetics Compact: Getting to the root of grey hair

Cosmetics Compact brings you the highlights of the sites’ top science. This week we explore why hair turns grey and look at possible mechanisms to fight against the culprit hydrogen peroxide.

News in brief

Natrue publishes natural and organic certification guides

Natrue has published two brochures to outline the details of its natural and organic cosmetic standards to consumers and companies.

La Prairie Group delivers strong sales growth in 2008

Switzerland-based premium cosmetics player La Prairie Group has revealed strong sales growth in 2008, despite the economic downturn.

Stakeholders disagree on how nanotech should be regulated, report

Policy makers, industry and non governmental organisations do not agree on how nanotechnology should be regulated, according to a report from the FramingNano project.

Pentapeptides are ineffective anti-ageing ingredients, says ASA

Scientific evidence does not show that pentapeptides are effective at reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, according to an ASA adjudication.

UK contract manufacturer confident about the coming months

A sales increase and continuing demand leads UK contract manufacturer Swallowfield to remain confident for the future.

Zorbit expands global packaging footprint with new facilities

Beauty packaging company Zorbit has expanded its packaging manufacturing capabilities through a joint venture with New York-based Paul T. Freund Corp.

Cosmoprof seminar digs into private label potential

Cosmoprof North America will be hosting a seminar on private label cosmetics for decision makers looking for a recession resistant business model.

Raw materials and acquisition costs drag earnings down for Symrise

Sales increases at fragrance and flavour company Symrise were not enough to keep net income from slipping in 2008.

Competing natural and organic standards explored in workshop

The relationship between the European harmonised standard Cosmos and its cousins on both sides of the Atlantic will be explored in a masterclass on natural and organic cosmetics.

Beiersdorf says acquisitions are still possible as results defy downturn

Beiersdorf announces strong sales growth and beats earning forecasts, adding that it will remain acquisitive in 2009 if the right opportunities arise.

Treatt launches citrus oils with low furanocoumarin levels

Treatt has launched a new range of citrus oils containing low levels of furanocoumarin for fragrance and cosmetic products.

Injectable peptide could help regenerate the fat lost in ageing skin

An injectable peptide that helps induce the growth of fat under the skin could help plump up aging skin, according to researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

News in brief

Symrise appoints new head of European scent and care business

Symrise has appointed a new president of the Europe, Africa and Middle East (EAME) region of its scent and care division.

Comment

Value cosmetics will be key to beating the economic downturn

With word out that consumers are increasingly focused on value for money, providing personal care products that fulfill this criteria is now the big challenge facing manufacturers.

Conferences explore how to be green while cutting costs

Manufacturers and product designers can be more environmentally friendly while cutting costs, according to the BSI Group.

Body Shop cuts 275 jobs in restructuring effort

The Body Shop is cutting 275 jobs as part of a restructuring plan that aims to equip the company for long term growth.

Cosmetic Valley and Pole PASS sign collaborative agreement

Cosmetic Valley has signed an agreement with Pole PASS to extend co-operation between the two French trade groups.

Dandruff treatment doesn’t stop working with repeated use, P&G

The effectiveness of anti-dandruff treatments does not decline over time contrary to what many assume, according to P&G scientists.

Beauty brands in the US enjoy wider trade mark protection than in Europe

Beauty brands in the US enjoy a level of protection that L’Oreal has struggled to find in Europe during its long-running legal battle with discount perfumers Bellure, says senior Beanstalk lawyer.