2024 Trends in Eco-Materials: Innovative, Biodegradable, and Plant-Based
Continuous innovation is the key to long-term success in any industry, but that is especially true for the beauty industry. Staying on top of styling trends, like this summer’s “blush crush” and Hailey Bieber’s “Peachy Makeup,” is crucial for makeup artists and retailers alike. It’s also important to pay attention to the packaging these cosmetics come in and the tools used to apply them. While the tools never make the artist, they can certainly give better control and precision over specific looks and the wrong packaging can even lead to cosmetic formulas losing their efficacy.
As beauty brands continuously innovate their formulas to meet trends and scientific advancements, here at Qosmedix we likewise work to design innovative packaging to support your needs. We scour the globe for the latest advances in sustainability as part of our commitment to the planet and its people. We’ve outlined the latest eco-friendly materials our team has sourced below along with potential uses for your brand.
Rice Husk
Rice has been a beauty staple for centuries thanks to its nutrient-rich properties. While washing hair in rice water is believed to have originated in ancient China and Japan, it has often been the rice itself, or a byproduct of the rice, that is used as a key ingredient. Now, rice husks, often discarded as agricultural waste, are being repurposed to create innovative packaging solutions.?
By integrating rice husk into plastic production, we can not only reduce waste but also create durable and eco-friendly packaging options. Although these plastics are typically not biodegradable, their production significantly lessens the environmental footprint by utilizing a byproduct that would otherwise contribute to waste. Recognizing the value of incorporating this material into disposable applicators and other beauty tools, our team is hard at work imagining new beauty solutions that use less traditional plastic and more products made from rice husk. One example is our biodegradable makeup sponge, which capitalizes on the versatility of rice husk to create a sponge that is great for achieving a smooth, natural-looking finish when using liquid foundation.
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Dissolvable Wipes
While plastics may be the number one pollutant that comes to mind, the beauty industry’s most significant challenge is actually disposable beauty wipes, which are one of its most persistent pollutants and unfortunately often wind up in our oceans. To combat this, Qosmedix is working on the development of marine degradable wipes. Unlike conventional wipes that contribute to long-term marine pollution, we’re developing our dissolvable wipes to break down in seawater within three months and completely decompose into harmless amounts within six months. With this innovation we hope to reduce our environmental impact, as with the rice husk, while aligning with our corporate social responsibility goals of creating products that are both effective and environmentally responsible.
Corn Based Plastic
Where plastics made from rice husks reduce waste, and marine degradable wipes can reduce pollution and the toll on landfills, polylactic acid (PLA) derived from corn, aka “Corn Based Plastic” offers the best of both worlds. It’s another sustainable material we're looking into as a potential packaging solution as we continuously work to improve our EQO-Friendly line. PLA is a biodegradable material made from renewable resources, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. By using PLA in future products, we can create packaging that is not only sustainable but also maintains the high quality standards and key practicality our products are known for.
As we work to evolve our EQO-Friendly line and create more eco-conscious versions of our best-selling products, we’re further embracing sustainable practices and exploring new materials. It is our hope that as we continue researching biodegradable and plant-based materials, we lead the beauty industry towards a more earth-friendly future. For ways to incorporate these materials into your packaging, beauty supplies, and services, explore the EQO-Friendly line at qosmedix.com.