The global natural and organic market has grown steadily over the last decade, doubling in value, to achieve sales revenue close to US$12bn. While the western markets have thrived, up until now there has been relatively low demand from Asian consumers for products in this sector. However, that is set to change, with Organic Monitor predicting that the market will show double-digit growth and revenues expected to break the US$1bn mark in the coming years.
With most consumers in Asia unaware of the differences between natural and conventional cosmetics, brands have their work cut out in the short term, but with rising prosperity in the region, there is certainly cause for long term optimism. What’s more, with concerns about synthetic chemicals becoming increasingly important to Asian consumers, there are signs that the natural and organic market will soon be thriving.
Sarah Gibson, Exhibition Director of in-cosmetics Asia, the leading all-Asia personal care ingredient event, which returns to Bangkok from 3-5 November 2015, commented: “Historically, demand for natural and organic products in the Asia region has been poor, compared to the rest of the world. The major barrier for brands is low consumer awareness of what these products are and how they differ from traditional cosmetics.
“The personal care industry has a lot of work to do in order to educate the market, but the recent adoption of western brands and new industry standards in the region are signs that consumers are beginning to demand natural and organic products. We believe that this is a huge growth area and that’s why we have decided to make it the focus of this year’s in-cosmetics Asia event,” added Gibson.
Elsewhere in Asia, the Chinese cosmetics market remains the second largest globally, behind only the USA. Despite the recent economic slowdown in the country, higher personal hygiene standards and rising awareness of personal grooming have resulted in increased sales, with double-digit value growth seen in baby and child-specific products, and strong value growth in men’s grooming, colour cosmetics and skin care in 2014 .
Even with this growth, the average number of cosmetics products bought per household remains fairly low at 3.63 – almost half that of neighbouring Korea . This means that there is a huge opportunity for brands, both international and domestic, to increase sales in the country, by educating consumers, tapping into the latest trends and developing unique new products.
As cosmetics continue to make inroads into department stores, pharmacies and beauty retailers across Asia, there is clearly positive news on the horizon.
Nonetheless, with hundreds of brands, from across the globe, fighting for shelf space in stores, brands and manufacturers must ensure that they have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to the latest ingredients, trends, threats and regulations influencing the Asian market.
in-cosmetics Asia provides the perfect opportunity for buyers to see all the major players, as well as the most innovative start-up businesses, in one place and at one time. The 2015 instalment of the industry-leading event will be a veritable melting pot of ingredients, raw materials, ideas and inspiration for buyers all looking to add that crucial point of difference to their product ranges. More than 400 exhibitors will be on show, displaying innovative, new ingredients that can help cosmetic businesses take advantage of the latest trends, when the show kicks off on 3 November 2015 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).
But if you’ve been to in-cosmetics Asia in the past and believe you’ve seen it all before, think again. This year’s event is returning with an exciting new programme that will equip visitors with all the inspiration, knowledge and industry insights they require to help set their business apart from the competition in the Asian market.
What’s new at in-cosmetics Asia 2015?
Natural and organic focus
The IMF predicts disposable incomes in Asian countries will continue to rise over the coming years, fuelling demand for premium cosmetics. As the natural and organic sector overcomes the various marketing, sourcing and regulatory hurdles that has held it back thus far, the market is expected to prosper in Asia.
in-cosmetics Asia visitors will be able to attend free seminars that will focus on the latest market statistics and forecasts, and issues associated with manufacturing natural and organic products. There will be sessions devoted to Asia’s position in the global ingredients market, and the challenges for brands, while a dedicated Product Trail will highlight 20 innovative natural and organic ingredients.
Spotlight on the Chinese cosmetic market As the world’s second largest cosmetics market, China represents a huge opportunity for personal care ingredient and raw material manufacturers, distributors and testing businesses. in-cosmetics Asia’s China Country Focus programme will help visitors gain a better understanding of the market, through a series of seminars and product displays.
With the Chinese personal grooming market flourishing, thanks to increasing demand from consumers born in the 80s and 90s, who are willing to spend their income on facial care products, now is the time to explore opportunities in the country. With more than 40 exhibitors from China already signed up to showcase their personal care ingredients, the in-cosmetics Asia China Product Trail and Chinese Pavilion are the perfect places to identify new ingredients that will act as inspiration for the next generation of products.
Additionally, in the Marketing Trends theatre, sessions will explore the key growth drivers in China, while Florence Bernadin, from leading consultancy Information et Inspiration, will offer visitors a unique overview of the Chinese beauty market.
Education, training and seminars
Visitors who work in formulation, R&D, chemistry, science or technical fields can apply to attend in-cosmetics Asia’s practical formulation training sessions, which will be held in the event’s Formulation Lab. These free-to-attend sessions will be presented by a number of exhibitors, including DSM Nutritional Products Asia Pacific, Ashland, Gattefossé, Lipoid Kosmetik, the Institute of Personal Care Science and Nikko Chemicals. Running on all three days of the event, visitors will be able to explore new formulations, while taking part in practical training sessions.
A series of free-to-attend Marketing Trends Presentations will also take a closer look at emerging trends in Asia, while the Innovation Seminars will provide insight into new ingredients and technologies.
This year’s Marketing Trends programme is designed to help attendees inspire the next generation of cosmetic products in Asia. Florence Bernardin, from leading consultancy Information & Inspiration, will offer a fascinating insight on herbal medicine’s role in modern age China, as well as exploring what’s ‘hot’ in the Chinese market. Minji Kim, from Euromonitor International, will present on men’s grooming. Seers Consulting’s Alain Khaiat will highlight the requirements and pitfalls of animal testing.
Belinda Carli, from the Institute of Personal Care, will discuss the evolution of regulations in nanotechnology. And Arnold Bos, from Lux Research, will offer a fascinating insight into 3D bio printing and how it can be used in cosmetic manufacturing.
Alongside the Marketing Trends presentations, a number of Innovation Seminars will take place. Run by exhibitors, the sessions will offer visitors a unique insight into different techniques and ingredients being used across the globe. Among others, DSM Nutritional Products Asia Pacific will present its latest ethnic anti-ageing ingredient, Lipotec will showcase a marine ingredient for light and uniform skin, while AAK Personal Care will discuss sustainable tools for new facial care rituals.
Gain inspiration
As always, the exhibition will be a hive of activity, with plenty of opportunities for visitors to network with existing contacts, while meeting new ingredient and raw material manufacturers.
The show’s Product Trails offer the perfect opportunity for businesses searching for specific ingredients. Rather than browsing every stand at the show, time pressed visitors can quickly navigate ingredients, sourced by some of the industry’s most respected opinion leaders. This year, there will be five product trails highlighting innovations in anti-ageing, skin-whitening and UV filters, as well as the natural and organic, and Chinese market.
During the exhibition, 400 exhibitors will showcase their latest ingredients.
Mibelle Biochemistry (stand D18) will present VinupLift – a new active ingredient, based on Swiss ice wine that instantly lifts the skin and reduces wrinkles. Visitors will also be able to find out more about Lipoid Kosmetik’s (stand G41) botanical active, usNeo™ – which uses usnic acid to target and treat the microbial cause of dandruff, reducing it by 69.5% after 28 days.
Elsewhere, Seiwa Kasei (stand R30) will be showcasing its new ingredient, Amitose 3LGA – a unique Vitamin C derivative designed to help improve skin barrier functions. GREENTECH (stand F11) will present REVERSKIN® – a purified, natural, bioactive fraction that helps slow the skin ageing process. And Sophim (stand B28) will be showing visitors Vegeline® – a 100 percent, vegetable-based texturing emollient, offering an alternative to petrolatum and vaseline.
Mintel Beauty and Personal Care will once again run a series of live demonstrations showing some of the most innovative finished products in the Innovation Zone. This popular area is always well attended and this year visitors will be able to see and sample the most creative products coming out of Asia.
The ingredients shown in the Innovation Zone will have launched in the last eight months, or are set to be revealed at the show, while some exhibitors will unveil exclusive formulations for visitors to touch, feel and test.
What’s more, on 4 November, a panel of international experts will announce the winners of this year’s Best Active Ingredient and Best Functional Ingredient awards.
Sarah Gibson concluded: “We’re excited about this year’s in-cosmetics Asia event. We have put together a programme that is highly relevant for the current market, but also provides visitors with exclusive content to help them develop their businesses in the region over the coming years. We look forward to welcoming the industry to Bangkok in November.”
For further details, including information on visiting, go to www.in-cosmeticsasia.com, follow the event on Twitter at www.twitter.com/incosmetics or join the debate on LinkedIn at www.in-cosmetics.com/linkedin or on our Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/incosmeticsgroup (English) and www.facebook.com/incosmeticsasia (Thai).
Contact Person: Astrid Dickinson
Email: astrid.dickinson@stormcom.co.uk
Telephone: 02072402444
Website: http://www.in-cosmeticsasia.com/
Organization: Storm Communications
- Distributed via http://www.AsiaToday.com
