Bamboo: Sustainable Ingredient Du Jour

Bamboo is quickly becoming ingredient of choice for companies in the cosmetics and personal care industry looking to improve their sustainability credentials, according to the recent Consumer Packaged Goods trend report from market researcher Datamonitor.

According to Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics, the number of new products utilizing bamboo both within packaging and as an ingredient in cosmetics and hair and nail products has risen from 52 new products in 2005 to 221 new product reports in 2009, an 325% increase. However, Analyst Tom Vierhile said some of the new products use bamboo as a shade or as part of the product branding, rather than as an active ingredient or in packaging. According to Vierhile, bamboo is such a popular choice for green packaging because of its versatility and rapid growth rate—it can grow up to 24 inches in a day.

At the 2009 HBA International Packaging Design Awards, both Beauty Society and Urban Decay won finalists awards for color cosmetics palettes made from bamboo. LMVH used sustainable bamboo and recycled metal as packaging material for the eye-shadow and blush make-up palette they made for Sephora.

Last year L’Oreal Portugal introduced a hair colorant with bamboo extract under its Garnier brand. The ammonia free, HerbaShine colorant is advertised as a hair strengthener that improves hair shine while offering grey coverage.
Nail care company Sally Hansen launched “nail nutrition” Green Tea and Bamboo Nail Strengthener.
Bamboo is also marketed by manufacturers for its nourishing and soothing properties in other products including mascara and lip balm.
Click here for the complete Cosmetics Design report.

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