August 8th, 2020

Let’s get rid off Plastics in cosmetics and personal care

Plastics are known as water insoluble polymers that can be moulded, extruded, or physically manipulated into various solid forms which retain their defined shapes in their intended applications (i.e. use and disposal). We use plastics every day not only in shopping plastic bags, garbage bags, and most of the packaging of the many products we use daily, etc. but it goes into what is inside those plastic packaging namely, shampoos, creams, make up, any many others at about 2000 tons per year yet alone in personal care.

The 2 typical applications in cosmetics and personal care are:

• Rinse-off: exfoliating & cleansing agents
• Leave-on texturizing & binding agents

So, what is the problem? Plastics and microplastics includes plastic waste, synthetic fibres are very much harmful to marine life as the pollutant travels all the way from rivers to seas or oceans. Water insoluble solid plastic particles with a size less than 5mm can be found abundantly as aquatic litter in many areas around the world. It is estimated that in the last decade only, more plastic has been manufactured and used than in whole last century. So, what should we do now as formulation chemists? Do we have a responsibility here to remove and replace Nylon, PMMA, exfoliating PE beads, and other harmful plastics from all our formulations? Of course, we do but what are the means available to make this movement happen and are they effective?

Farachem is pleased to provide different solutions from our innovative partners and offers 1-1 replacement to Nylon and PMMA to make this change happen without sacrificing the feel and efficacy of the products. Should you be interested about these options, let us know to have a full presentation of the novel solutions we have for you. To do so, please click here.