In this episode of In Conversation With, Global Cosmetics News turns its focus to the global personal care market—a category forecast to reach US$167bn between 2023 and 2028, but one now operating in an increasingly volatile and resource-constrained environment. Just months into 2026, geopolitical disruption, inflationary pressures and supply chain instability are already reshaping how brands source, formulate and scale products.
Against a backdrop of rising raw material costs, oil price volatility and growing sustainability expectations, the industry is being forced to rethink efficiency, resilience and long-term value creation. The conversation explores whether this moment could accelerate a more circular, lower-impact approach to personal care.
This Month’s Expert Panel
• Jo Chidley – Founder, Beauty Kitchen UK & Reposit
• Richard Cope – Founder, EcoVox UK
• Vincent Enaux – Chief Commercial Officer, GF Biochemicals
Key Takeaways for B2B Leaders
1. Sustainability Is Becoming Personal
Consumers may not always describe their purchasing decisions as “sustainable,” but Cope argues they are increasingly experiencing climate change and environmental degradation through a personal lens—whether through rising costs, pollution exposure or disruptions to everyday life.
“People are experiencing climate change as an economic threat and an existential health threat.”
– Richard Cope
This is fuelling what Cope describes as the “meconomy”: consumers embracing lower-impact products when there is a clear personal benefit, such as saving money, reducing waste or improving wellbeing. Rather than rejecting sustainability, consumers are demanding solutions that feel tangible, local and immediately relevant to their lives.
2. Multifunctionality and Simplicity Drive Ingredient Innovation
From the ingredient perspective, Enaux says brands remain committed to carbon reduction goals and are increasingly scrutinising product carbon footprint (PCF), biodegradability and bioaccumulation.
“The challenge today is to keep the function while reducing the carbon impact.”
– Vincent Enaux
This is accelerating demand for bio-based, multifunctional ingredients capable of delivering multiple formulation benefits at once—reducing complexity, lowering transport impact and improving efficiency. Suppliers are also responding to growing instability in fossil-derived supply chains by developing more predictable, bio-based sourcing models less exposed to geopolitical disruption.
At the same time, both consumers and formulators are moving towards “less but better” product design, favouring concentrated formulas, fewer fillers and more performance-led ingredients.
3. Circularity Requires Systems, Not Just Better Products
For Chidley, the biggest opportunity lies not in isolated product innovation, but in redesigning the systems surrounding consumption.
“The risk with technology is that we use it to make an old system go faster.”
– Jo Chidley
Drawing on her experience with refill and return systems through Reposit, Chidley argues that many technically successful refill models fail because the wider infrastructure—collection, convenience and standardisation—has not been built to support scale adoption.
She believes the next phase of circularity will depend on industry-wide collaboration, moving beyond single-use packaging towards systems that reward participation, strengthen loyalty and create measurable commercial value. Beauty Kitchen’s retail partnerships, for example, have demonstrated that return systems can drive repeat visits and increase customer spend without additional discounting.
4. Waterless, Concentrated and High-Performance Formats Gain Momentum
Innovation in personal care is shifting away from constant newness and towards efficiency, concentration and resource reduction. Cope highlights growing consumer interest in waterless and highly concentrated formats that position sustainability as a performance advantage—not a compromise.
“There’s no water, no filler—consumers are paying for more active ingredients.”
– Richard Cope
This aligns with broader consumer expectations around value and intentional purchasing, as brands increasingly frame lower-impact formulations as superior, more potent and more economical to use.
5. Trust, Transparency and Regulation Become Competitive Assets
The panel agrees that consumer trust is becoming increasingly tied to transparency and credible sustainability communication. Cope points to rising demand for clearer, more standardised environmental labelling—similar to nutrition scoring systems—while Enaux warns that sustainability claims must move beyond offsets and vague messaging.
“Consumers want to feel they are paying for something real—not paperwork.”
– Vincent Enaux
Meanwhile, Chidley argues that regulation should not be viewed as a burden, but as a framework for redesigning systems more effectively. She stresses that the industry already understands many of its core sustainability challenges and should move proactively—rather than waiting for legislation to force change.“Progress is still fragmented because businesses are responding individually rather than aligning around shared solutions.”
– Jo Chidley
Looking Ahead: Personal Care Beyond 2026
The panel predicts the next phase of personal care growth will be shaped by:
Intentional consumption, driven by value, durability and reduced waste
System-led innovation, where refill, reuse and infrastructure outperform constant product launches
Bio-based and multifunctional ingredients that lower carbon impact while maintaining performance
Greater industry collaboration, particularly around circular systems and shared sustainability standards
Clearer consumer communication, with simpler, more visible sustainability metrics and claims
Chidley also predicts that collective action—not just individual brand responsibility—will become a core competitive advantage, particularly as regulation and consumer expectations intensify.
Bottom line: Personal care in 2026 is being reshaped by geopolitical disruption, rising operational pressure and growing sustainability expectations. The brands best positioned to succeed will be those that combine efficiency, transparency and circular thinking—while proving that lower-impact products can also deliver stronger value and performance.
