Recent developments
Regional growth and collaboration
Brand owners and partners expanded regional reach and co-development. dsm-firmenich opened the Po ONE Lab in Riyadh designing regionally inspired fragrances. Brenntag extended its distribution agreement with Givaudan to Malaysia and Singapore with formulation support. Eastman and Kolmar signed a partnership to scale biodegradable personal care based on Esmeri technology.
Sustainable ingredient advances
Progress on sustainability continued. Symrise received high CDP sustainability scores and outlined regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, and renewable energy plans. Elkem’s MIRASIL N‑DML 15, a silicone gum in a sunflower-derived alkane carrier, earned an environmental award and targets non-volatile silicone replacement across skin and hair care. BASF introduced Dehyquart S18, a biodegradable conditioning agent complementing efficacy-focused launches.
Packaging and applicators
Packaging and dispensing innovations addressed compliance and hygiene. INEOS launched the Recycl‑IN hybrid polymer grade rPP1025C with 70% PCR, FDA NOL and RecyClass certification, enabling cosmetics contact applications with reduced footprint. Aptar Beauty’s NeoDropper Autoload offers automatic filling, cleaner dosing, and significantly lower microbial contamination, with customization options and glass-stream compatibility.
Operations and showcases
Operations and showcases shaped supply and demand. International Chemical Investors Group will acquire Venator’s Duisburg operations, retaining employees and prioritizing established functional mineral brands. At Cosmet’Agora 2026, BASF presented hybrid concepts and Aloversil for denser-looking hair, underscoring performance plus sustainability narratives in active and formulation design.