People, plants, products: 9 stats for cosmetics professionals from plant-based product report

The Plants Based Product Council released its 2022 consumer research this week, offering consumer insight into the interest in plant-based products in the United States.

“This year’s consumer research findings really underscore that the majority of American consumers are thinking about, buying and using plant-based products,”  Executive Director Jessica Bowman said in the study’s press release. “Awareness has been one of our biggest hurdles as an industry – this year’s findings show that we are overcoming that.”

Here are nine stats from the report that cosmetics professionals may find interesting.

1. 48% of consumers reported they buy plant-based products monthly, and 88% said they are likely to buy plant-based products in the next three months.
2. For the cosmetics and personal care category specifically, 85% of consumers reported being interested in purchasing plant-based products.
3. Out of 15 categories of consumer products, those surveyed had the second highest familiarity with plant-based personal care products, beat only buy paper products.
4. Environmental impact and quality ranked among the greatest motivations for consumers to buy plant-based products. 
5. In the sustainability category, consumers were most interested in if the product was recyclable, biodegradable and helps to protect the environment. Consumers reported being least interested in reducing the burden on recycling, using less petroleum and low energy required to produce the product.
6. 71% of consumers reported consciously thinking about products and packaging made from plant-based materials when they are shopping.
7. Of consumers who had purchased plant-based products in the past, 5 said they would not be interested in purchasing plant-based products again.
8. More than 60% of those surveyed reported they would be more interested in a company if they used products and materials made from plants.
9. 69% of consumers reported that they felt more favorability towards farmers and the agriculture industry once they knew the industry’s involvement in making plant-based materials and products possible.