Packaging, Colour and Materials 2021

At Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2019, we presented a new ground-breaking installation in partnership with Cosmopack exploring the future of sustainability, colour and innovative materials.
 

Combining the expertise from our global colour, materials and beauty teams we have created a one-of-a-kind new installation showcasing the future colours and innovative materials for beauty packaging in 2021.  This project, created across WGSN’s content and marketing teams explores the 12 key colours forecasted by our global experts to be the essential tones for the season and 7 must-have material innovations and trends for the beauty packaging sector. Our seven trends included: Back to Basics, Tactile Touch, Digital Design, Bio-transparency, Modular Blocking, Conscious Craft and Sensorial Radiance.

The colour palette is split into two sections – one featuring unrefined natural tones, and the other with unmistakably artificial hues inspired by digital culture. This featured one of our key colours from our S/S 20 forecast and evolving on from the soft pastels, such as Millennial Pink, which has been extremely popular, Neo Mint will continue as an important tone in 2021. Displayed on 12 large flags hanging from the ceiling of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna featuring both the corresponding Coloro Code and Pantone Code. A key theme of Cosmoprof 2019 is Sustainability (read more about our Sustainability: Now & Next panel here), which was incorporated into the colour selection, choosing colours that can be produced with less harm to the environment as well as colours that have trans-seasonal appeal. The pairing of offbeat colours will drive newness as consumers grow more confident and adventurous with colours.

The packaging trends also shine a light on sustainable packaging: as resources become scarcer and focus shifts towards circular economies, there will be a growing focus on new design thinking for solid materials, driven by resourcefulness and invention. Brands should transform food waste into new material sources or repurpose local natural materials to create crafted designs that are deeply rooted in sustainability. As consumer demand for packaging with zero-waste rises, using alternative natural materials that are biodegradable, compostable and renewable will become even more important.

To see more of our beauty trends, check out our latest white paper Gen Z: Building New Beauty.