Biodegradable
products
One skin. One planet. One care.
Biodegradation is a natural process where certain materials are broken down by microorganisms over time. How far and how fast this happens depends on the properties of the material and the surrounding conditions.
When we develop our skincare formulas, biodegradability is one of the things we look at. We work to increase the use of biodegradable ingredients where it makes sense and assess formula biodegradability using OECD guidelines or other recognised methods.
To see why biodegradability matters, think about a rinse-off product like a shower gel. Every time you shower, a small amount of product is washed away with the rinse water. This wastewater is treated before it goes back into the environment, often using biological processes that rely on microorganisms to break down certain substances over time.
That’s why biodegradability is one of the aspects we consider when we develop our formulas. We work to increase the use of biodegradable ingredients where appropriate and continuously improve our formulations over time.
As part of this, NIVEA phased out polyethylene exfoliating particles (microbeads) from all exfoliating products by the end of 2015. Since the end of 2021, all NIVEA product formulations worldwide have been free from microplastic according to the UNEP definition of microplastics.
The discussion around microplastics has grown to include substances with very different properties. Some of these ingredients are polymers that are dissolved in water or present as a gel. They are sometimes called “liquid microplastics”, but this term is not scientifically accurate. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), these polymers are not included in its definition of microplastics.
In cosmetic formulas, polymers can have different roles, for example as thickeners, stabilisers or film formers. They can support product properties such as water resistance in sun care products or conditioning performance in shampoos.
All polymers used in NIVEA products have to meet our requirements for product safety and quality. We consider biodegradability as one aspect in our ongoing work to further develop our formulas.
Our shower gels are the main products in our range with biodegradable formulas. Many of your favourite products, like our iconic Waterlily & Oil shower gel, already have formulas that are 99% biodegradable.
We’re committed to giving you clear and transparent information about sustainability at NIVEA. If you’d like to know more about our commitments, targets and progress, you can visit the sustainability website of NIVEA’s parent company, Beiersdorf.