Core driving force:
·Sustainability: Change from a 'bonus' to a' mandatory 'option.
·Personalization and Digitalization: The Integration of Online Experience and Offline Entity.
·Emotionalization and experience: Packaging serves as a carrier of "ritual sense" and "healing economy".
·Integration of Function and Technology: Packaging becomes smarter, more convenient, and more effective.
Five New Hotspots of Daily Chemical Beauty Packaging in 2026
Hotspot 1: Sustainability 3.0- From "Recyclable" to "Regenerative Recycling" and "Carbon Footprint Visualization"
This has gone beyond the initial stage of using recycled materials (PCR) and recyclable design, entering a new level of full lifecycle management. According to Smithers' report, the global sustainable packaging market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%, and the market size will exceed $400 billion by 2026. A survey shows that over 67% of global consumers consider "refillable" to be an important feature of packaging. The "Digital Watermark" project (such as HolyGrain 2.0) has entered the industrial trial phase and is expected to achieve large-scale application by 2025-2026, with the potential to improve packaging sorting accuracy to over 90%.
·Performance:
1. refillable/reusable system: The brand launches beautifully designed permanent outer packaging, and consumers only need to purchase replacement cores. This model is being popularized from high-end brands to mass brands.
2. Monomaterialization: In order to improve recycling efficiency and purity, packaging tends to use a single type of plastic (such as all PE or all PP) instead of difficult to separate composite materials.
3. Innovation of bio based materials: In addition to the common PLA (polylactic acid), packaging from algae, mushroom mycelium, and crop waste has begun to enter the commercial stage.
4. "Digital Watermark" and Intelligent Recycling: Almost invisible digital watermarks are printed on the packaging to help the high-speed cameras of recycling facilities accurately identify and classify, greatly improving the recycling rate.
5. Carbon footprint label: The packaging directly indicates the carbon footprint data of the entire process from raw materials, production to transportation, providing transparent choices for environmentally friendly consumers.
Intelligent and Connected Packaging - From "Anti Counterfeiting" to "Deep Interaction"
Packaging becomes a digital portal connecting brands and consumers. According to ABI Research, the shipment volume of NFC packaging in the beauty and personal care industry is expected to reach hundreds of millions by 2026. Google data shows that nearly 40% of shoppers are willing to spend more money on brands that offer AR experiences. The smart packaging market is expected to reach $45 billion by 2026, with beauty and personal care being one of the fastest-growing areas.
For daily beauty brands, the packaging strategy for 2026 should be a comprehensive solution that integrates sustainability commitments, digital touchpoints, emotional resonance, and human care. The packaging of daily chemical beauty products in 2026 is evolving from a static container to a dynamic, warm, and engaging "brand ambassador" that can deeply communicate with consumers and the environment.