28 SUSTAINABILITY


Findings and discussion Although by no means an exhaustive search,


it was difficult to find UK sources for many of the 19 ingredients investigated and shown in Table 1. Many of the ingredients in Table 1 are manufactured/sourced from Europe and Asia, especially China, South America, and the USA. Although it is not possible to say that a


cosmetic or personal care product could not be manufactured from ingredients ‘wholly’ sourced from the UK, the review does suggest that the task could be challenging, especially in large- scale commercial production. It appears the UK has some fundamental gaps in producing key cosmetic and personal care ingredients. However, new alternatives and innovations are coming through.


Common types of ingredients Humectants (glycerin) Taking glycerin (glycerine, glycerol) as an example, it is possible to source it in the UK, but many product manufacturers obtain glycerin from a range of suppliers from different countries (mainly European countries, such as France and Germany), depending on availability. So while it is possible, manufacturers are unlikely to be able to source it completely from the UK at a large scale consistently. Most glycerin is sourced from rapeseed


and other vegetable oils, such as sunflower oil. It is also a byproduct of biodiesel production (methyl esters), as crude glycerin, which needs to be purified. The vast majority of UK rapeseed oil goes into food, with only a small fraction used in other industries (approximately 3%). The UK was historically a net exporter of


rapeseed oil, but with a ban on the use of neonicotinoid chemicals, it has seen a fall in production and with a combination of factors – such as poor growing conditions, a sharp fall in the price of rapeseed, pest pressure and the increased attractiveness of agri-environment options - the UK had a disappointing harvest in 2023/2024 with increased demands for imports.1


Fragrances In terms of ‘Parfum’ (IFRA 49.3) and fragrances


TABLE 1: UK SOURCING OF ‘COMMON’ COSMETIC AND PERSONAL CARE INGREDIENTS Ingredients


Function


Caprylic / Capric Triglycerides Glycerin Parfum


Sodium Benzoate Phenoxyethanol Tetrasodium EDTA Isostearyl Isostearate Cetearyl alcohol


Vitamin E


Cocamidopropyl Betaine Panthenol


Xanthan gum


Glyceryl stearate & PEG-100 Strearate


Shea butter


Hydroxyethylcellulose Cetrimonium chloride


Sweet Almond oil Carbomer


Sodium polyacrylate


Emollient Humectant Fragrance


Preservative Preservative


Chelating agent Emollient


Emollientand and emulsifer


Antioxidant, humectant, & emollient (preservative qualities)


Surfactant & foam enhancer


Humectant, emollient, anti-inflammatory, and conditioning agent


Rheology modifier Emulsifier/Surfactant


Skin softener, emollient and humectant - fatty acids and vitamins


Viscosifier/rheology modifier, humectant, film-forming


Surfactant/emulsifier, preservative, conditioner/ moisturizer


Emollient and anti-inflammatory Viscosifier/rheology modifier


Emulsifier, rheology modifier, and film-forming


PERSONAL CARE November 2025 Applications


Body oil, cream, serums, moisturisers Face wash, serums, lotions Face wash, serums, body oils Wide variety Wide variety


Face wash, cleanser, hair conditioner, lotions Balms, moisturizers, serums


Lotions, creams hair conditioner, moisturisers Creams, serums, moisturisers


Face & body wash, cleansers, shampoo, hair conditioners


Moisturisers, serums, lotions, face wash, shampoos, conditioners


Face wash, serum, hair conditioner, creams, lotions Cleansers, creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners


Moisturizers, lotions, creams


Face wash, serum, hair conditioner, creams, lotions Hair conditioner, skin creams, topical antiseptic


Body oil, lotion


Face wash, serum, hair conditioner, creams, lotions Moisturisers, creams, sunscreen


in general, the UK has sources of natural aroma compounds and essential oils, but few major fragrance houses will guarantee UK sourcing, especially as many fragrances and parfums are a proprietary and complex mix of aromatics, oils, solvents, and fixatives. A listing of ‘Parfum’ on a label can contain


many ingredients. There are alternatives, and as mentioned, the UK has a palette of ‘smells’ from natural oils and extracts, including rose, lavender, blackcurrant, and hops, although it is no doubt


UK Grown/Sourced/Manufacture No


Yes, but demand outstrips supply Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely Unlikely


Yes, as part of plant oils


Unlikely Unlikely


No


Unlikely No


Unlikely Unlikely


No


Unlikely Unlikely


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