In July 2026, the cosmetic industry is today highly opting for sustainable packaging in the form of environmentally friendly formulations and packaging to contribute to economic dynamism. The trend is primarily driven by new regulations and growing consumer awareness. Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 prohibits the intentional addition of synthetic polymer microparticles (5 mm or smaller) to reduce microplastics. It establishes transitional periods culminating in 2035, when their use will be prohibited in rinse-off and leave-on cosmetic products, as well as in lip, nail, and make-up products.
New routes are also emerging in the cosmetic industry to obtain natural and biodegradable cosmetic ingredients to replace synthetic ingredients that were traditionally used. The use of microalgae in the cosmetic industry is also becoming increasingly relevant. It helps to provide active ingredients such as antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins, and essential fatty acids for incorporation into cosmetic formulations. Hence, today, various cosmetic brands, including L’Oréal Groupe, Dersia, and AlSkin Natural Cosmetics, are opting for formulations with a higher content of naturally derived ingredients.
Microalgae are autotrophic aquatic organisms with strong commercial potential because of their diversity, productivity, and economic viability. According to Data Bridge Market Research, the microalgae market is growing at a CAGR of 6.4% over the 2023-2030 period and is expected to reach USD 1.395 billion by 2030. The growth is also being driven by various uses of microalgae, including biofuel production, human nutrition and health, aquaculture, cosmetic and biofertilisers, as well as wastewater treatment and CO2 capture.
The high-value ingredients extracted from microalgae may function either as excipients or as active ingredients. As excipients - inactive ingredients - they can improve the texture, viscosity, and stability of a cosmetic formulation. As active ingredients, they provide a specific function. As per the species of microalgae and the extraction method followed, compounds with different functionalities can be easily obtained, inclusive of antioxidants such as phenols, terpenes, carotenes, tocopherols, vitamin C, and niacin (vitamin B3); moisturising agents such as alginates; fatty acids and lipids that provide hydration, nourishment and protection of the skin barrier; and polysaccharides such as starch, among others.
Today, the main aim of the cosmetic packaging industry is to religiously follow sustainability without sacrificing functionality, in line with the requirements of consumers and regulatory bodies. On the other hand, brands are also focusing on incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, reusable packaging combined with flexible refill packs or in-store refill systems, and eco-design measures aimed at reducing raw-material consumption, among other actions.
Another major factor accounting for innovation in the cosmetic packaging industry is active packaging. Active packaging incorporates compounds that interact with the packaged product. The procedure helps to slow down the degradation of mechanisms that are helpful to extend the shelf life of the cosmetic product. The main degradation factors affecting cosmetic products are light, temperature, oxygen, and moisture, together with the microbial contamination that may occur during use.
Adding compounds to the packaging that provide antioxidant and antimicrobial properties is therefore particularly valuable, either to extend the shelf life of cosmetics or to reduce the amount of preservatives in the cosmetic formulation by 25-40% while maintaining the same shelf life. Cosmetic formulations may contain up to 29 different synthetic preservatives to ensure consumer safety and extend product shelf life. Though adding such preservatives may hurt consumers in the form of allergic reactions and hypersensitivity caused by accumulation on the skin. Hence, active packaging is considered of particular interest to the cosmetics sector.
In line with the use of microalgae, the MULTIPLY project is investigating the extraction of active ingredients such as fatty acids, phenols, and lipids from microalgae and their incorporation into a polymer matrix to produce active cosmetic packaging in jar form.
Such active ingredients are mainly sensitive to thermal degradation and hence are encapsulated to control release throughout the packaging’s shelf life. The brand is also studying the extraction of silica from microalgae, especially diatoms, to use it as a carrier for encapsulating active ingredients obtained from microalgae. The project is also researching the extraction of starch from the microalgae species Nannochloropsis, sp., and Chromochloris zofingiensis for use as a renewable packaging material that is biodegradable at its end-of-life. On the other hand, active coatings are being developed to provide paper with grease and water resistance, especially to create paper-based flexible packaging solutions.
The packaging industry is highly opting for paper for packaging as it comes from renewable sources, and it can also be recycled or composted at the end of its life. MULTIPLY is also developing esters from microalgae-derived fatty acids for use in the cosmetics industry, as well as producing lubricants.
31 July 2026
30 July 2026
30 July 2026
30 July 2026