ICS have been featured in Beauty Packaging Magazine’s December 2020 Issue on Sustainability Drives New Solutions in Innovative Cosmetic Packaging!
Propelled by consumer demands, especially Gen Z and young Millennials who actively seek packaging in line with their social values, sustainability in packaging continues to be a main focal point in today’s beauty world. Innovation does not necessarily mean to create the newest technical beauty product but can be a simple adaptation to current packaging to provide a more sustainable or functional solution. At ICS, we have an in-house Design Team that are experts at providing innovative ideas and solutions for packaging requirements. Many recent ICS beauty innovations have revolved around creating new sustainable initiatives for our packaging, promoting sustainable material alternatives such as our ICS exclusive biodegradable packaging, recyclable Mono-material packaging, PCR packaging, Glass, Aluminum and Bio-resin packaging, as well as more sustainable features for packaging such as Refillable, Reusable and Double-duty.
Due to COVID-19 safety and hygiene are now also at the forefront of consumers’ minds when it comes to innovation. Beauty routines often involve touching multiple different packs and formulations before touching one’s face but packaging with built-in applicators reduce this contact with “hands free” application to help keep the formulation, as well as your skin, contaminant-free, such as packaging with built-in brushes, doe foots or rollers.
At ICS we have had increased requests from beauty brands for Mini-size or Mono-dose packaging to replace the in-store testers consumers can no longer experience. The habits of testing a product before you buy have fundamentally changed and at ICS we have been specializing in sampling solutions for over 30 years, offering a variety of mini size options to full size packaging, for a variety of categories from bottles to jars, lip-gloss to mascara, pumps to tubes and more. ICS’s experience has given us the agility and flexibility to adjust to fast-paced changes in consumer demands which is key to staying at the forefront of innovation within the beauty industry.
At ICS we have seen an increased demand for glass packaging, not only because of its formulation compatibility benefits but also because of its easily recyclable, sustainable material benefits. Glass packaging is one of our key product categories and recently we developed our ICS exclusive Boston Round Molded Glass Bottles and Molded Glass Jar. Our exclusive Boston Round Molded Glass Bottles are available in both 15ml and 30ml sizes, perfect for product samples and full size options, with standard neck sizes to fit various applicators, including droppers, pumps and sprayers for contaminant “touch free” application. Our ICS exclusive Molded Glass Jar has a 12.5ml fill and is an ideal mini size for various skincare formulations.
The beauty market is mostly a sensorial one and without the instore ability of touch, feel or smell, packaging will need to rely on visual aspects to stand out online. Minimalist packaging has been the trend of the past couple years, saturating the packaging market, but more unique visual aesthetics to packaging may need to take the reins in this new digital era to catch consumer’s eyes. Fun, colorful, playful packaging that makes consumers smile will provide brands with the chance of on-screen innovation to generate consumer purchases.
Adapting consumer shopping habits will gear the digital market towards the promotion of more sample size products. Consumers will be looking for more mini size and tester options available online to replicate the instore shopping experience and provide the opportunity to try a smaller size product for their initial purchase, since the normalcy of trying out testers in stores is no longer an option.
With 5 offices around the globe operating in different time zones, ICS was already accustomed to a digital way of life utilizing Microsoft Teams and our online internal Cloud system to keep up seamless communication between our global teams, so were able to quickly react to the effects of clients working from home due to COVID-19. We have also set up more digital methods of communication with our clients this year, including our enhanced featured products section on our website and the upcoming launch of our own e-tradeshow videos demonstrating trending products that we would normally showcase at physical tradeshows.
Inspired by our shared mutual experiences around the globe, ICS also recently launched our Selfcare Collection to help navigate through these unprecedented times and create a sense of normalcy. As now, more than ever, it is important to focus on ourselves both mentally and physically. Our Selfcare Collection features packaging and formulation options for a variety of selfcare categories, such as Skincare, Body care, Hair care, Nail care, Color Cosmetics and DIY Selfcare, which has not only resonated with our clients but also our team.
Together we are looking positively ahead to the future and the upcoming trends of safety, hygiene, sustainability, consumer consciousness and selfcare, always continuing in our efforts of product innovation.
At ICS we anticipate that future cosmetic innovation lies in the perseverance of sustainable packaging, especially mini and mono-dose packaging that will be more commonly used due to increased hygiene standards and that are commonly thrown away after short use. Development of protective packaging such as antimicrobial treatments and/or properties will also be on the rise with increased hygiene standards because of COVID-19.
Beauty Packaging is the premier global media source dedicated to the cosmetic, fragrance and personal care packaging industry, providing in depth coverage throughout the year on leading beauty companies, beauty news, beauty trends and exhibitions. See our feature below and find the link here!
https://beautypackaging.texterity.com/beautypackaging/december_2020/
