Sales of organic and natural beauty up 14%
Sales of certified organic and natural beauty products reached £86.5 million in 2018 as customers sought out items with a strong ethical and sustainable message, according to the Soil Association Certification’s Organic Beauty & Wellbeing Market 2019 report.
Conscious consumerism, especially among parents, caused sales of certified natural and organic products to surge by 14% last year, up from £75.9m in 2017, and now more than half of shoppers (65%) look for and expect brands to share their ingredient sourcing.
“The certified organic and natural beauty sector is at an all-time high. Consumers are seeking sustainable beauty products that promote a holistic sense of wellbeing while also upholding their ethical and environmental values,” said Georgia Barnes, business development manager for beauty and wellbeing at Soil Association Certification.
Beauty products in Europe certified with the Soil Association Certification’s COSMOS – a logo that makes it easier for consumers to choose organic formulations – also doubled last year to reach more than 10,000 products across 794 brands, pushing the sector into its eight consecutive year of growth.
Bigger brands such as L’Oréal Garnier are also looking to showcase their sustainable credentials by gaining COSMOS certification. “Consumer demand is driving change and more brands than ever are securing the Soil Association COSMOS logo on a product, which shows it’s been through a rigorous certification process,” added Barnes.
Mental health is also expected to find its way into the marketing of natural and organic beauty products this year as brands ramp up efforts to target millennials and generation Z.
The Soil Association Certification predicts further growth in the market in the next 12 months, thanks to the rise of wellbeing and holistic beauty; savvy millennial and generation Z shoppers; and eco-friendly initiatives surrounding plastic waste helping to raise consumer awareness about the importance of sustainability.