Home and Personal Care Journal

Presented by the Nouryon Home and Personal Care Team

Nouryon introduces SolAmaze Natural, a novel bio-based, biodegradable, film-forming polymer that offers superior water resistance and pleasing aesthetics for high SPF emulsion sunscreens. SolAmaze Natural is compatible with typical sunscreen formulations and can be applied to other personal care products, including traditional organic and inorganic sunscreen emulsions, colour cosmetics and facial / body skincare moisturizers.

For many of us, hot summer weather makes sunscreen a necessary component of our daily skincare regime. Whether it is for the daily commute to work or summer outdoor activities, savvy consumers in Asia have become more discerning in their selection of sun protection products to maintain fairness and avoid skin damage due to sun exposure.

According to a report published by Transparency Market Research in 2018, titled “Chemical Sunscreen Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 – 2024,” the market value of sunscreen products is projected to reach 25 billion USD in 2024, growing at a rate of 5.8% CAGR over the next five years.

A Developing Trend

In Asia Pacific, China is expected to lead the growth for sunscreen market demand. According to information published by Euromonitor, the market value for sunscreen products in China was 12 billion rmb in 2019, growing at rate of 10%. This exceeds the market growth for overall cosmetics products in China. Euromonitor also reported that over 70% of the female consumers in China use sunscreen products in summer, applying it on average about six times per week. Additionally, demand from male consumers is also on the rise in China.

As sun protection becomes an integral part of people’s daily skin care regime, consumers’ attitudes highlight the need for high SPF protection and perspiration-resistant properties. As with many other personal care products, consumer demand for natural and plant-derived formulations is increasing. Consumers are also increasingly conscious of their choices’ impact on the environment. The impact of sunscreen products on marine pollution and marine life has been widely discussed.

When formulating high-performing sunscreens, formulators have learned to fully trust synthetic ingredients that provide outstanding water resistance and pleasant consumer aesthetics. However, these ingredients, often based on petrochemically derived raw materials, are under scrutiny from NGOs and the media for their persistence in the environment and arguable sustainability.

Responding to Consumers' Needs

Nouryon’s Home & Personal Care team introduced SolAmaze Natural in May 2020 to offer our customers a novel bio-based, biodegradable film-forming polymer that offers superior water resistance and pleasing aesthetics for high SPF emulsion sunscreen emulsions. Approved globally, it was developed to maintain the performance of leading synthetic polymers except with reduced persistence in the environment.

SolAmaze Natural has been determined to be readily biodegradable by OECD 301D biodegradation testing. In addition to its biodegradability, SolAmaze Natural has been tested for toxicity and was determined to be nontoxic to aquatic life.

Produced from completely non-hazardous raw materials in a solvent-free and waste-free process, SolAmaze Natural conforms with the 12 principles of Green Chemistry, showing maximum atom economy, the highest degree of renewable carbon usage and excellent process efficiency.

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