A new report by Ecovia Intelligence shows that sales revenues in the natural and organic personal care market have risen by nearly 30% since 2012, with hair care products being the most popular, with a 5% market share of total hair care products.
However, growth is now slowing due to the uncertain political and economic climate, partly caused by the Brexit vote, says Ecovia, adding that the depreciation of Sterling is also leading to higher prices for natural and organic personal care products. In addition, retailers also becoming more cautious about introducing or extending their ranges of these items.
The research company says that consumer concerns about synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and toiletries is the major driver of market growth, with distribution being another, as these products are finding their way into conventional retail channels. However, it adds that most sales are still coming from health food shops and organic food retailers.
The research found that about a third of all natural and organic personal care products are now certified, with the Soil Association/COSMOS standard being the most popular with UK brands. Ethical labels are becoming more visible on products too, and a growing number of products are carrying labels such as Vegan Society and Fairtrade.
The Ecovia report concludes that UK is the one of the largest and most competitive markets for natural & organic personal care products in Europe and predicts slowing growth rates to make the market more competitive. In fact, it says, a growing number of UK brands are looking at export markets for business growth.
