Industry Insights

Industry Insights

Explore insights from industry experts across topics like regulatory news, formulation best practices, market innovations and opportunities, and more. Want to contribute? Learn how you can share your expertise.

LATEST INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

The Rise of Biodegradable Plastics: What It Means for Injection Molders

By David Spielhagen July 29, 2026

Sustainable materials are reshaping the plastics industry, and biodegradable polymers are becoming more widely used … Continued

High Pigment Volume Concentrates, More Color in Every Drop

By Wally Kesler July 29, 2026

Pigment concentrates play a valuable role in coatings formulations for all applications. From Point-of-Sale colorants … Continued

Aerial view of dark green forest road and white electric car Natural landscape and elevated roads Adventure travel and transportation and environmental protection concept

Multifunctional Additives Under Regulatory Pressure

By Staff July 29, 2026

Lubricant and metalworking fluid formulators are entering a period in which additive choice is no … Continued

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS ARCHIVE

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varnished wood floor in a room that is prepared for wall painting

The Surfaces We Touch Every Day: Why Paints and Coatings Last

By Dr. CC- Carolyn Carta | February 13, 2026

Introducing a new series, Hidden in Plain Sight: The Materials That Shape Everyday Safety By: Dr. CC- Carolyn Carta, M.S., Ph.D., CEO & Principal Scientist CArtLab Solutions. A wall looks worse after you try to clean it. A railing rusts … Continued

What is UL 746?

By Rajan Thangaraj | February 5, 2026

Additional Languages: Korean, Deutsch, Japanese, Chinese What is UL 746? It’s an important question—whether you’re new to the plastics industry, planning to launch products worldwide, or simply curious to learn more about the tests behind the standards your materials are certified to. Understanding … Continued

Proactive Hygiene: A Formulator’s Guide to Stable Probiotic Cleaners

By Staff | February 4, 2026

This feature provides HI&I chemists with a complete roadmap for developing probiotic cleaners. We explore the transition from biocidal action to “bio-management,” the enzymatic performance of specific Bacillus strains, critical formulation stability strategies, and the regulatory boundaries necessary for market … Continued

Cupcakes - learn about anti-caking agent silicon dioxide in the Prospector Knowledge Center.

Mastering Free-Flow: A Guide to Anti-Caking Strategies for Food & Beverage

By Staff | February 4, 2026

This technical guide explores the mechanisms of moisture-induced caking and the strategic use of anhydrous compounds to ensure powder stability. We examine the functional properties of common agents, emerging clean-label alternatives, and critical regulatory limits for 2026 formulations. The Science … Continued

AI and the Future of Coatings Formulation

By Marc Hirsch | January 28, 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing coatings formulations by optimizing product development, enhancing sustainability, and improving performance predictions. In looking at AI, it reminded me a lot of combinatorial chemistry from the likes of Accelerys (BIOVIA), Chemspeed … Continued

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Personal Care & Cosmetics

Sunscreen Formulation: Navigating the Intersection of Photobiology, Aesthetics, and Modern Regulations

By Staff | July 15, 2026

In the competitive landscape of personal care, sunscreen formulation remains one of the most challenging and technically demanding categories. As we move into 2026, the industry is shifting away from seasonal messaging toward “year-round intelligent photoprotection”. Today’s formulators must balance the rigorous physics of … Continued

Phenoxyethanol: Why It Remains a Formulator’s Go-To Preservative

By Staff | July 1, 2026

As personal care formulations become increasingly sophisticated, preservation remains one of the most critical, and frequently scrutinized aspects of product development. Consumers expect products that are safe, stable, and resistant to microbial contamination, while brands seek preservative systems that are … Continued

Next-Generation Emollient Technology

By Staff | June 17, 2026

For decades, the standard playbook for a cosmetic formulator balancing an emulsion’s oil phase relied heavily on a predictable cascading lipid model: mineral oils, petrolatum, and synthetic silicones (like cyclopentasiloxane or dimethicone) blended perfectly to achieve the desired playtime, rub-out, … Continued

Formulating for the “Skin-Intellectual”: Salicylic Acid

By Staff | June 3, 2026

In the modern personal care landscape, the “Skin-Intellectual” consumer has moved beyond simply looking for “acne-fighting” labels. They demand sophisticated textures, multifunctional benefits, and clinical transparency. For formulators and chemists, the challenge is no longer just dissolving Salicylic Acid (SA); … Continued

Polyquaternium Surfactants: The Conditioning Backbone of High Performance Personal Care Formulation

By Carmen Lerga | May 6, 2026

Polyquaterniums continue to be some of the most effective and reliable conditioning polymers in modern hair care and skin care formulation, and their role in delivering sensory performance, deposition and overall consumer satisfaction remains unmatched. Their permanent cationic charge, diverse … Continued

Plastics

The Rise of Biodegradable Plastics: What It Means for Injection Molders

By David Spielhagen | July 29, 2026

Sustainable materials are reshaping the plastics industry, and biodegradable polymers are becoming more widely used across Europe. For injection molders, this shift brings both opportunity and complexity. As regulatory pressure increases and demand for eco‑friendly products grows, molding companies need … Continued

Polyester Plastics: Properties, Applications and Material Selection Considerations

By Andy Pye | July 29, 2026

Polyester is a specific type of synthetic polymer. To be classified as a polyester, a polymer must contain the ester functional group (-COO-) in its main molecular chain. The commonly used engineering thermoplastics PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) and PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) … Continued

Water Bottles, Phone Cases, and Power Tools: Why Plastic Names Don’t Tell the Whole Story

By Dr. CC- Carolyn Carta | July 8, 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Materials That Shape Everyday Safety Series Plastic names are often treated like answers. A reusable food container says “PP.” A water bottle says “HDPE.” A phone case advertises “PC” or “Lexan.” To most consumers, and … Continued

What Is Plastic Compounding and How Does It Affect the European Market Today?

By David Spielhagen | July 8, 2026

Plastic compounding involves blending base polymers with additives, fillers, reinforcements or colorants to create materials with targeted mechanical, thermal or aesthetic properties. As industries focus on lightweighting, performance and sustainability, compounded plastics Understanding how compounding influences material performance and availability … Continued

Boosting Recycled Content –– From Stretch Film to Toddler Bikes

By Bob Grace | June 24, 2026

Resin manufacturers today are striving to boost the recycled content in their materials while continuing to meet their customers’ stringent performance demands. Doing so helps those product makers to lower their carbon footprint and improve their environmental profile while converting … Continued

Paint & Coatings

High Pigment Volume Concentrates, More Color in Every Drop

By Wally Kesler | July 29, 2026

Pigment concentrates play a valuable role in coatings formulations for all applications. From Point-of-Sale colorants that allow thousands of color choices at your neighborhood paint store, to industrial pigment dispersions used to precisely and efficiently match factory-applied coatings. Each pigment … Continued

How to Prevent Sedimentation & Settling During Storage?

By Jochum Beetsma | July 8, 2026

Most paints and inks contain solid particles, mostly pigments and/or fillers. Two instability problems, flocculation (the spontaneous gluing together of separated particles because of particle-to-particle attraction)1,2 and sedimentation (the sinking of particles because of gravity), can occur with solid particles … Continued

Why White Paint Is One of the Most Engineered Materials in Your Home

By Dr. CC- Carolyn Carta | June 24, 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Materials That Shape Everyday Safety Series Why White Matters Walk into almost any home, office, school, hospital, or apartment building and you will find one of the most engineered materials in modern life. White paint. … Continued

Understanding Coating Defects: Identification, Root Cause Analysis, and Corrective Action in Industrial Coating Systems

By Ron Lewarchik | June 10, 2026

This article builds on earlier coating defect discussions published through UL Prospector Knowledge Center – Overcoming Paint Film Defects: Causes and Remedies and expands further into practical industrial troubleshooting, analytical investigations, and process-related corrective actions observed during real production and … Continued

Managing Material Changes Under DBL: How to Support Stability and Approval in Production

By Staff | May 29, 2026

By David Spielhagen, senior engineering associate, Engineered Materials, UL Solutions Change is no longer the exception in today’s automotive industry. It is now the operating model. Material substitutions, growing use of recyclates, supplier changes, late design updates and evolving sustainability … Continued

Cleaners

Sugar-Derived vs. Petrochemical Surfactants

By Staff | July 1, 2026

As sustainability goals move from marketing claims to procurement requirements, formulators are facing increasing pressure to evaluate the origin, environmental profile, and performance of their surfactant systems. While petrochemical surfactants remain the backbone of many cleaning formulations due to their … Continued

How Formulators Can Engineer Successful Green Cleaning Products

By Carmen Lerga | June 3, 2026

Green and sustainable claims have become a major commercial driver in home care. Products making ESG related claims have outperformed conventional alternatives across multiple categories, and sustainability is now a primary innovation force in laundry and surface care.[i], [ii] Yet … Continued

Stability in the Age of Conscious Consumption: Aligning Shelf-Life Testing with Consumer Demands

By Staff | May 6, 2026

For the modern chemist, shelf-life testing is no longer just about ensuring a formula doesn’t separate; it’s about ensuring the product meets the rigorous, and often conflicting, expectations of today’s users. As consumers push for “cleaner,” more sustainable, and highly … Continued

The Future of Cleaning Is Concentrated and Waterless

By Carmen Lerga | April 1, 2026

Why the next generation of multi-purpose cleaners and disinfectants is reshaping the industry. A new generation of concentrated and waterless cleaners is reshaping the way brands think about performance, sustainability, and consumer trust. With three decades working at the intersection … Continued

The Green Wave: Navigating Bio-Based Surfactants in H&I Cleaning Formulations

By Staff | March 4, 2026

Bio-based surfactants – a class of cleaning agents derived from renewable biological resources rather than petrochemicals are surging across the industry. For chemists and formulators, understanding the nuances of these ingredients, emerging trends, and market dynamics is no longer a niche interest but a … Continued

Food, Beverage & Nutrition

Vegetable Proteins vs. Hydrolyzed Vegetable Proteins: Guide to Functionality, Flavor, and Market Opportunity

By Staff | July 1, 2026

As consumer demand for plant-based foods continues to evolve, food and beverage formulators are no longer focused solely on replacing animal proteins. Today’s formulation challenge is creating products that deliver the nutrition, taste, texture, and sensory experience consumers expect while … Continued

Regulatory Roundup: Food-Contact Standards Updated Around the Globe

By Staff | June 3, 2026

Across the globe regulatory bodies are implementing food-contact standards. Here are the latest updates: Japan Extends Transition Period for Food‑Contact Material Standards Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) revised the implementation rules for recently amended standards governing food contact utensils, containers, … Continued

The Survival Challenge: Formulating Probiotics and Prebiotics in Bakery Applications

By Staff | May 6, 2026

The “gut health” revolution has moved far beyond the dairy aisle. As consumers seek functional benefits in everyday snacks, bakers and food scientists are increasingly tasked with incorporating probiotics and prebiotics into everything from artisan breads to shelf-stable cookies. However, … Continued

Beyond Stability: The Role of Emulsifiers in Food Texture Enhancement

By Staff | April 1, 2026

For a food formulator, an emulsifier is often first viewed as a peacemaker—a molecule designed to keep oil and water from separating. However, in modern food science, the “functional” role of emulsifiers has evolved. They are no longer just stabilizers; … Continued

The Evolution of Food Thickeners and Additives

By Staff | March 4, 2026

For food and beverage formulators, the role of thickeners and additives has evolved far beyond simple viscosity control. As we move into 2026, the industry is balancing a complex trifecta: achieving high-performance functional attributes, adhering to an aggressive “Clean Label” movement, … Continued

Industry Insights

Explore insights from industry experts across topics like regulatory news, formulation best practices, market innovations and opportunities, and more. Want to contribute? Learn how you can share your expertise.

LATEST INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS ARCHIVE

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