Organic Soap Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Form (Solid and Liquid), By Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Specialty Stores, Online Channels, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

The global organic soap market size stood at USD 2.15 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 2.29 billion in 2023 to USD 3.55 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period of 2023-2030. Asia Pacific dominated the organic soap market with a market share of 32213.95% in 2022.

Organic soaps contain skin moisturizing and nourishing property-based formulas, glycerol, and other natural compounds derived from plant-based sources. These scented products also contain aroma-therapeutic fragrances that help users revitalize the mind and calm the body's senses. The growing popularity of scented soap bars and shampoos is favoring the demand for such products. For instance, Pangea Organics, a hygiene products maker, offers luxury-scented liquid hand soaps to meet consumer demand for such products across the U.S.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Increased Importance of Hand Hygiene during COVID-19 Pandemic Propelled Market Growth

During the multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, vegan soaps and eco-friendly shower gels have been considered essential daily products among households. The rise in the trend of bulk purchasing of daily essential products among households and increased usage of soaps to maintain hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic boosted the market growth. As per the data published by the CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2020, soap products worth USD 436.59 million were imported into Germany to fulfill the local consumption needs of such products.

Furthermore, governments’ continual hand hygiene-related promotional efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus infection increased the consumer demand for personal hygiene products during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) launched ‘Hand Hygiene for All,’ a responsive initiative to combat the spread of COVID-19-related infections and promote the importance of hand hygiene internationally.

Organic Soap Market Trends

Increasing Adoption of Organic Soaps Offering Functional Skincare Benefits to Favor Market Growth

Manufacturers are producing natural products that are enriched with the extracts obtained from aloe vera and unripe fruits. These extracts contain α-tomatine, glycoalkaloid, and many other ingredients that better deliver functional benefits of anti-ageing, antiseptic and antioxidants to the users’ skin. The increasing consumer preference for organic soaps enriched with the aforementioned skincare benefits is favoring the market growth.

Organic Soap Market Growth Factors

Manufacturers’ Efforts Toward Producing Organic Products to Drive Market Growth

Consumers prefer soaps that are clean, reef friendly, chemical-free, and have sustainable formulas for their handwashing and bathing needs. Nowadays, manufacturers produce hand soaps of organic and natural ingredients to provide a sustainable personal hygiene solution to their customers. Initiatives by these companies are expected to drive the product demand internationally. For instance, in June 2022, Sanosan, a German baby care brand, initiated product launches of a sustainably made baby care soap in the Indian market. The mild soap contains ingredients derived from natural sources, active substances of hydrolyzed milk protein, and organic olive oil. The product aids in providing a natural skin protection function to the users.

Shifting Preference Toward Organic Products to Fuel Market Growth

Shifting consumer preference from conventional personal hygiene products to organic, cruelty-free, and preservative-free products is mainly accelerating the demand for organic soaps globally. For instance, Dr. Brooners, a U.S.-based manufacturer of such products, reported a 0.8% increase in its net revenues and reached USD 170.3 million in the financial year 2023. The rise in the company’s net revenues is attributed to the significant consumer demand for organic products in the U.S.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Increasing Usage of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Liquid Hand Gels and Bars May Restrain Market Growth

Increasing consumer demand for do-it-yourself (DIY) handmade soap bars and shampoos is limiting the consumption of branded products and restraining the market growth internationally. Furthermore, the higher cost of luxury personal hygiene products is lowering product demand among middle-income consumer groups globally.

Organic Soap Market Segmentation Analysis

By Form Analysis

Solid Segment Leads Owing to Growing Consumer Demand for Soap Bars

The global organic soap market analysis can be conducted based on various product forms, such as solid and liquid. Significant consumer demand for the bar and powder forms of bath soaps results in a solid segment holding a major market share. In addition, increasing consumer demand for the soap bars infused with shea butter, cocoa butter, and essential oils is supporting the segmental growth.

Liquid soaps contain a considerable amount of moisturizers and tend to dry less compared to solid soaps. Rising consumer demand for hand liquid gels & foams to keep their hands hydrated and moisturized is accelerating the liquid segmental growth. 

By Distribution Channel Analysis

Hospitality Settings’ Preference for Buying Bulk Orders of Liquid Hand Wash Products to Spur the Specialty Stores Segment Growth

Based on distribution channel, the market is segmented into hypermarkets & supermarkets, specialty stores, online channels, and others.

The specialty stores segment holds a major market share due to the significant consumer demand for luxury personal hygiene products at specialty stores. Furthermore, hospitality settings’ preference for buying bulk orders of premium-based, liquid hand wash products from specialty brand shops to provide a luxury personal care solution to their customers is favoring segmental growth.

The hypermarkets/supermarkets and online channels segments are expected to grow at a considerable rate during the forecast period due to their continual provision of discounted products and emerging consumers’ bulk purchasing trends globally.

The others segment, including mass retailers and direct marketing channels, are also poised to show a considerable growth trajectory during the forecast period owing to their diverse store network and ability to offer doorstep delivery of various products.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The global market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Asia Pacific market for organic soap was valued at USD 692.60 million in 2022. The region exhibited a major market share in 2022 due to the significant consumption of beauty and personal care products among households in China, Japan, and Australia. Furthermore, shifting consumer preference toward sustainable personal care products, including soaps, shampoos, and others, is accelerating the product demand in the region. For instance, TY Cosmetic, a Chinese organic skincare & soap products maker, sells around 160 million skincare products annually to meet significant consumer demand for such products in the country.

The rising prevalence of skin itching and other skin problems, coupled with shifting consumer preference toward using organic products, is mainly accelerating the product demand in the U.S. and Canada. As per the statistics published by the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance (CSPA), as of 2023, around 10-20% of Canadians are suffering from atopic dermatitis, skin itching, and infection in one form or another.

The increasing consumption and trading of imported soap products by the retail channels and hospitality facilities in Germany, the U.K., and Italy is mainly driving the European market growth.  According to the data published by the International Trade Centre’s Trade Map (ITC), in 2022, soaps and preparations worth around USD 31.51 billion were imported into the European Union (EU28).

The rising adoption of online shopping for personal care products and increasing consumer preference for naturally made products in Brazil and Argentina are mainly driving market growth in South America. According to the data published by the Brazilian Cosmetic, Toiletries and Perfumery Industry Association (Abihpec), from January to April 2023, sales of cosmetic, perfumery and toiletry products in Brazil increased by USD 29.2 million (30.9%) from a similar period in the previous year. Similarly, during the period, the association reported a 300% jump in natural cosmetics sales in Brazil.

Besides this, growing awareness regarding cleanliness and personal hygiene among the population in South Africa and UAE is mainly driving the Middle East & Africa market growth.

List of Key Organic Soap Market Companies

Key Players’ Focus on Conducting Strategic Investments to Cope with Market Competition

The key players focus on conducting rounds of strategic investments to increase their manufacturing capabilities, strengthen their supply chain base, and build a customer base internationally. These efforts will help key players such as Pangea Organics, Dr Brooners, Natura and Co Holding S.A., and others increase their presence in the market. For instance, in December 2022, Pangea Organics, a sustainably sourced beauty products maker, launched WeFunder, a public platform to allow companies to invest in Pangea’s plant-based skincare products’ manufacturing business.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Pangea Organics (U.S.)


• Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (U.S.)


• Natura & Co. Holdings S.A. (Brazil)


• L’OCCITANE INTERNATIONAL SA (France)


• Neal's Yard Remedies (U.K.)


• Osmia (U.S.)


• Truly's Natural Products (U.S.)


• Forest Essentials (India)


• Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve (U.S.)


• Stephenson Group (U.K.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• August 2023: Cocowell, an Osaka, Japan-based producer of a wide assortment of coconut-based products, established a collaboration agreement with 12 Filipino coconut farmer groups to enhance the production capacity of its coconut-based soap products.


• April 2023: Dr. Squatch, a men’s organic soap and personal care brand, partnered with SCI, a fastest-growing e-commerce company, to strengthen its supply chain capabilities and lower lead times in Canada.


• February 2023: The Handmade Soap Company, an Ireland-based body care and home fragrance products maker, launched a men’s range of organic and sustainable products, including hair & body wash, after-shave balm, bar soaps, and others.


• October 2021: Godrej Consumer Products Limited launched goodnessme, a certified range of premium baby care products made of organic ingredients in the Indian market. The range includes organic baby soap, oil, lotion, and multipurpose cream.


• June 2021: Buff City Soap, a plant-based soap maker, announced that it has raised funding from General Atlantic, a global equity firm, to increase its number of U.S.-based franchise stores from 26 to 100 within one and a half years.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects, such as leading companies, distribution channel, and key product form areas. Besides this, the market report offers insights into the current market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the aforementioned factors, the report on the global market has several factors that have effectively contributed to the market growth in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation