Study shows refillable cosmetics are attractive for consumers despite drawbacks
For World Refill Day, on Monday June 16, French beauty industry association FEBEA has published a study on the perception that French female cosmetics consumers have of refillable cosmetics products*. The goal was to better understand the expectations of consumers and the obstacles they are facing with regards to a type of format that is gaining traction, but whose potential is still limited by various drawbacks.
The study, which surveyed 2,251 women and was carried out via focus groups, found there is a growing interest for refillable beauty and personal care products: 59% of respondents said they have bought at least one refill in the last 12 months.
The average buyer profile that emerged is of a woman aged 19-44, with high income, living in a household of three or more people, and a very frequent buyer of cosmetics.
For 70% of respondents, reducing the products' environmental impact is the main motivation for purchasing refills, followed by savings (for 64% of respondents) and convenience (39%). In terms of formats, consumers prefer small-size, capped refills that can be poured into a re-usable container (44% of respondents), ahead of refills that must be inserted into the original container (38%).
Despite consumer interest, there are obstacles to a wider adoption of refillable products. The first (for 44% of respondents) is lack of in-store availability of refillable formats, followed by lack of knowledge about them (32%), the perceived complexity of the refilling act (19%), and health and safety concerns (14%). Also, refillable containers are still largely non-existent in product categories like make-up and toothpaste.
To further encourage the adoption of refillable products by consumers, cosmetics brands must therefore offer a range of formats: According to the study, the ideal capacity of a refill is from two to four times the initial product's capacity. Travel sizes are also much appreciated.
In addition, the financial savings expected by consumers are between 10% and 20%, irrespective of the refilling solution. The study underlined that consumers are also looking for clear information on environmental benefits. Finally, brands must make refills visible in-store, and place them at the heart of their product offering. They also need to raise awareness about this type of solution via ad hoc advertising.
Global beauty giant L'Oréal has done exactly that by launching the #JoinTheRefillMovement campaign, a global multi-brand effort across multiple product categories and distribution channels aimed at encouraging consumers to embrace refillable products. The campaign features Lancôme, Armani Beauty, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, Kiehl's, Mugler, Maison Margiela Fragrances, Prada Beauty, Valentino Beauty and L'Oréal Paris.
The group's retail partners will support the campaign in order to boost the visibility of L'Oréal beauty products and lines available in refillable versions. The campaign also focuses on the benefits of refills both for the planet and for consumers' wallets. 'For example, opting to purchase a 100ml refillable bottle of La Vie est Belle L'Elixir [perfume] instead of two 50ml bottles saves 73% glass, 66% plastic and 61% cardboard,' said L'Oréal.
*An initiative supported by Citeo as part of the EncoRE plus de réemploi (reuse even more) project, run by the Senseva agency.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local France
2 hours ago
- Local France
France shuts Israeli weapons booths at Paris Air Show
The decision added drama to the major aerospace industry event, which was already under the shadow of last week's deadly crash of Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Black walls were installed around the stands of five Israeli defence firms at the trade fair in Le Bourget, an airfield on the outskirts of Paris. The booths displayed "offensive weapons" that could be used in Gaza - in violation of agreements with Israeli authorities, a French government source told AFP. Advertisement The companies - Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Uvision, Elbit and Aeronautics - make drones and guided bombs and missiles. An Israeli exhibitor wrote a message in yellow chalk on one of the walls, saying the hidden defence systems "are protecting the state of Israel these days. The French government, in the name of discrimination is trying to hide them from you!" French Prime Minister François Bayrou defended the decision during a Monday press conference at the air show. "The French government's position was very simple: no offensive weapons at the arms exposition," he said. "Defensive weapons were perfectly acceptable," he added. Bayrou cited the ongoing conflict in Gaza as the rationale behind the ban. "Given the situation in Gaza... which is extremely serious from a humanitarian and security point of view, France was keen to make it clear that offensive weapons should not be present at this exposition," Bayrou said. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked by the "outrageous" closure of the pavilions and said the situation should be "immediately corrected". "Israeli companies have signed contracts with the organisers... it's like creating an Israeli ghetto," he said on French television channel LCI. The Israeli defence ministry said in a statement that the "outrageous and unprecedented decision reeks of policy-driven and commercial considerations". Advertisement "The French are hiding behind supposedly political considerations to exclude Israeli offensive weapons from an international exhibition - weapons that compete with French industries," it said. "This is particularly striking given Israeli technologies' impressive and precise performance in Iran." Israel launched surprise strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on Friday, killing top commanders and scientists, prompting Tehran to hit back with a barrage of missiles. The presence of Israeli firms at Le Bourget, though smaller than in the past, was already a source of tension before the start of the Paris Air Show, because of the conflict in Gaza. A French court last week rejected a bid by NGOs to ban Israeli companies from Le Bourget over concerns about "international crimes". Advertisement Local lawmakers from the Seine-Saint-Denis department hosting the event were absent during Bayrou's visit to the opening of the air show in protest over the Israeli presence. "Never has the world been so disrupted and destabilised," Bayrou said earlier at a roundtable event, urging nations to tackle challenges "together, not against each other". The row over Israel cast a shadow over a trade fair that is usually dominated by displays of the aerospace industry's latest flying wonders, and big orders for plane makers Airbus and Boeing. Airbus announced an order of 30 single-aisle A320neo jets and 10 A350F freighters by Saudi aircraft leasing firm AviLease. The European manufacturer also said Riyadh Air was buying 25 long-range, wide-body A350-1000 jets. But Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg last week cancelled plans to attend the biennial event, to focus on the investigation of the Air India crash. "Our focus is on supporting our customers, rather than announcing orders at this air show," a Boeing spokeswoman told AFP on Monday. The London-bound Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers and crew and another 38 on the ground. One passenger survived.
Fashion Network
2 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Vivatech: Innovations to remember from the 2025 edition
The Parisian innovation event Viva Technology has changed significantly since its launch in 2016. Robots, drones, and vehicles, once omnipresent, have gradually faded away, as have metaverses. This has paved the way for personalization solutions, soft mobility, and sustainable approaches, which provides an overview of. At the center of the show were the pavilions of French giants LVMH and L'Oréal Paris. The former, which presented its awards on Thursday, June 12, showcased its Machine Zero tool for detecting impurities in cashmere, as well as the Reflex Logistic augmented reality business management tool used by Dior. The Rigsters product digitization tool, developed by OKCC, was also on display, along with its bottle-decorating robotic arm. On the Bulgari side, the Dev4side product authentication tool was featured, alongside a virtual pinball machine and a Sephora vending machine. The L'Oréal pavilion was no less busy, where visitors could try a variety of services, such as the Noli personality diagnosis tool launched a year ago, a Hyperlook Studio providing make-up advice, La Roche-Posay 's dermatological suggestion device, and Lancôme 's "nano-surfacer". Beauty Genius enabled visitors to experiment with the creation of personalized campaigns using artificial intelligence (via AI from Adobe, Omi, or Google). However, Cosmo International was the most intriguing, with its process for capturing the real scent of flowers without the use of chemicals, as explained by Valentino 's Private Talk fragrance over the past year. Not far away, at the Meta stand (notably, Facebook and Instagram), the ambitions of metaverses invading both private and professional life have fizzled out. Yet, crowds kept flocking to try the camera glasses developed with Ray-Ban. There was another pair of eyeglasses that drew attention on the Elcyo stand. With a crystallized lens that analyze gaze trajectory, these glasses adjust sharpness in real-time. Engo offered augmented-reality eyewear for sports activities. Linné Paysage presented Bionocta, a light devoid of harmful blue waves, which won a gold medal at the Concours Lépine, created by the artistic directors of the Texworld trade shows. On the sound front, Skyted offered a headset that enables listeners to understand you almost in a whisper, even amidst a hubbub. Enough to interest major retailers. Likewise, the virtual showcase concept from AWS, courtesy of Amazon, allowed customers to virtually try on a look through projection on a glass screen. France's Holoprods offered screens that create the illusion of a hologram projected into the air, which can be interacted with. Fashion and beauty In clothing, Ashirase offered a directional guidance system integrated into shoes, operating through vibration, particularly designed for the visually impaired. In the same vein, Vibra's haptic feedback screens facilitate interaction with software. Even more intriguing was the Sensora headset, which measures in real-time the emotional impact of a product, campaign, or experience (visitors were offered macaroons, as an example). The Vrai tool can detect counterfeit goods, as demonstrated with two Lacoste polo shirts (one of which is fake). Optikan analyzes material structures, from wool to cardboard and wood. Still on materials, VivaTech was an opportunity to discover EFpolymer, a 100% organic, biodegradable polymer with superabsorbent properties. The same goes for United silk, whose process extends silk's applications to food and cosmetics packaging, and even medical tools. Italy's Damo presented its certification tool for the fashion industry. While Metown showcased its 3D product scanning tool, GenAI continued to broaden the possibilities of 3D printing. In beauty, Nocibé showcased its luminous brands and facial and skull helmets, while Evelab Insight explained its facial analysis device used by Shiseido, Body Shop, and Estée Lauder. Transport and logistics In logistics, Pony's sailing transport solutions were on display, while GBMS specialized in container security analysis. Appload acts as an intermediary between companies and shippers. Okular Logistics focused on heavy-duty corporate moves, while Optioryx optimized warehoused flows. DPD (La Poste) presented its rolling robot for deliveries, as well as a tricycle dedicated to fresh produce. Soft mobility was indeed present at every corner of the show. Besides Newt's futuristic autonomous minibus, bike carriers from Pelican, South Africa's Mellowvans, and Maillon Mobility were on offer. The Strasbourg-based company Karbikes provided a variation of this type of vehicle, while the ultra-low consumption U Live car garners attention.
Fashion Network
2 hours ago
- Fashion Network
France's industry council urges EU preference in public procurement
France's National Industry Council (CNI) is pushing for a new procurement strategy that favors European-made products. In a set of proposals presented to the government on June 13, the council outlined three key measures to accelerate reindustrialization and boost competitiveness across the European Union. Backed by all three council divisions, the proposals build on a report by economist and former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, outlining strategies to enhance Europe's industrial competitiveness. One key measure recommends giving purchasing priority to products based on their place of origin, rather than the nationality of the supplying company. Industry leaders also call for restricting public tenders to countries outside the EU that do not offer reciprocal market access—a move they say is necessary 'to restore balance.' The council suggests expanding this preference beyond public contracts. It argues that similar criteria should apply to the distribution of EU funding, public subsidies, and regulatory frameworks—particularly those influencing demand for industrial products through standards and compliance measures. Another proposal calls for mandatory origin labeling on all imported products sold within the European Union. The recommendation aligns with a 2025 report by Yves Jégo, president of the Origine France Garantie initiative, advocating for greater product sourcing transparency. French industry leaders have long pushed for legal mechanisms to prioritize domestic suppliers in public procurement. The fashion and luxury sectors, in particular, have consistently raised the issue through their Strategic Committee, urging government support for local manufacturing. While current EU regulations limit the scope for national preference policies, the council aims to reposition its proposals under a broader European framework—one that could gain traction in Brussels and strengthen regional industry without breaching single-market rules.
