Written by Kumpal Mehta; Lead Applications Specialist (CRODA)
World Water Day was March 22, 2020 but there’s a high chance that most of the world overlooked this event in the wake of COVID-19. Mintel has reported that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries with absolute water scarcity and two-thirds of the world’s population will be under water-stressed conditions. These numbers while scary, tell us that action needs to be taken now to ensure that we are prepared for the future.
There are many ways for us to be mindful of our water consumption, both in our personal and professional lives.
- Using a refillable water bottle to eliminate both plastic waste and wasted water;
- Turning off the tap while brushing our teeth or doing dishes;
- Taking shorter showers are just a few of the many ways we can make an impact in our daily lives.
In the personal care industry, water conservation efforts include developing waterless formats that eliminate the needless shipping of water around the globe. These waterless formats can include sticks, bars, oil/gel cleansers, and powders and concentrated formulations that can be mixed with water prior to use.
The number of waterless products launched in the Beauty and Personal Care category has increased over the last 5 years.
Further investigation shows that the majority of these waterless formats are oils, sticks and powders.
Formulations that are “no-rinse” may contain water, but do not require rinsing after application. These formulations are especially beneficial for consumers in areas where water is scarce. When formulating for leave-on systems, it is important to ensure that ingredients that are included are within the recommended use levels for skin care.
Sensory needs to be kept at the forefront as well because no-rinse systems are meant to stay on comfortably without causing any unpleasantness. Efficacy is another attribute to keep in mind because no-rinse products need to perform at par with their rinse-off alternatives.
Croda offers many anhydrous formulations that meet waterless market trends. These formulations are offered in multiple formats: oils, gels, bars, and sticks.
Cithrol 10GTIS is a surfactant that can be used in completely anhydrous oil or gel cleansers. When water is applied to rinse, Cithrol 10GTIS emulsifies oils and dirt on the skin and helps to wash away impurities. These oil-based cleansers can also be used to remove long-wear and water-proof makeup.
The Syncrowax range of synthetic waxes provide an alternative to natural waxes which can sometimes have sourcing issues and incompatibilities with some ingredients. Syncrowax HGLC and Syncrowax ERLC have properties similar to Carnauba wax and Candelilla wax respectively. Syncrowax SB-1 provides a non-animal derived, non-GMO alternative to natural beeswax. These waxes can be used in bar and stick systems to provide structure and use levels can be adjusted to improve pay-off.
These are just a few of the many ways that we as individuals and as organizations can take steps towards conserving water to protect our planet.
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