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

Mascara Troubleshooting Guide: Diagnosing application, wear, stability, and package-interaction failures

By Staff September 16, 2026

Mascara performance emerges from the combined behavior of waxes, pigments, film formers, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, … Continued

Get More Out of Prospector® AI Search: Helpful Tips

By Staff September 14, 2026

The new Prospector AI Search experience, part of ULTRUS® software from UL Solutions, is built … Continued

Hydrophobic Coatings and Pigments: From Water Beading to Durable Protection

By Collaboration September 9, 2026

Hydrophobic coatings if formulated correctly can provide a plethora of advantages which may include self-cleaning, … Continued

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS ARCHIVE

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Mascara Troubleshooting Guide: Diagnosing application, wear, stability, and package-interaction failures

By Staff | September 16, 2026

Mascara performance emerges from the combined behavior of waxes, pigments, film formers, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, process conditions, and the applicator. This guide helps formulators move from a visible symptom to a focused, testable response. A disciplined troubleshooting sequence Define the … Continued

Get More Out of Prospector® AI Search: Helpful Tips

By Staff | September 14, 2026

The new Prospector AI Search experience, part of ULTRUS® software from UL Solutions, is built for formulators and chemists and leverages trusted Prospector data to help you get answers faster and explore new formulations with confidence. How Prospector AI Search … Continued

Hydrophobic Coatings and Pigments: From Water Beading to Durable Protection

By Collaboration | September 9, 2026

Hydrophobic coatings if formulated correctly can provide a plethora of advantages which may include self-cleaning, corrosion resistance, and exterior durability. Most industrial, marine and exterior applications, require a coating to do more than repel water as determined by contact angle. … Continued

EPA considers rule changes encouraging advanced recycling

By Bruce Geiselman | September 9, 2026

Written July 2026 The U.S. EPA is considering changing how plastics recycling plants that use pyrolysis technology are regulated under the Clean Air Act so they would no longer fall under the definition of municipal solid waste combustion units. “Revising … Continued

Formulating Cleaners with Antibacterial Coatings: Benefits, Challenges, and Commercial Opportunities

By Carmen Lerga | September 2, 2026

As hygiene expectations continue to rise across household, institutional, healthcare, and food processing markets, formulators are increasingly exploring ways to extend protection beyond the cleaning event itself. Antibacterial coating technologies incorporated into cleaners offer a potential solution by depositing a … Continued

Personal Care & Cosmetics

Mascara Troubleshooting Guide: Diagnosing application, wear, stability, and package-interaction failures

By Staff | September 16, 2026

Get More Out of Prospector® AI Search: Helpful Tips

By Staff | September 14, 2026

Effective Foaming in Emulsion-Based Skincare

By Staff | September 2, 2026

Foaming and emulsification are both driven by interfacial chemistry, yet the formulation requirements for each can sometimes compete. Emulsion-based cleansers must remain physically stable during storage while generating desirable foam during consumer use. Successful formulations are not created by maximizing … Continued

Regulatory Update: Europe Remains the Global Regulatory Driver

By Staff | August 19, 2026

For chemists and formulators, regulatory compliance is no longer a downstream activity. Across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Canada, regulators are shifting toward broader chemical class restrictions, increased supply chain transparency, digital product documentation, and sustainability-driven material selection. The practical … Continued

Beyond the Metric: Why Biotech and Regenerative Ingredients Both Belong in Your Formulations

By Barbara Olioso | August 5, 2026

Walk the halls of any major ingredients show right now — In-Cosmetics Global and Suppliers’ Day— and one word dominates the sustainability conversation: biotech. Precision fermentation and biosurfactant technologies are maturing fast, and for formulators the appeal is obvious. These … Continued

Plastics

EPA considers rule changes encouraging advanced recycling

By Bruce Geiselman | September 9, 2026

The Cliff Inside the Mold: What Undercuts Teach Us About Making Things

By Dr. CC- Carolyn Carta | August 26, 2026

Long before anyone spoke of injection molding, ancient Greek bronze casters were already fighting this battle. Building the clay or plaster molds used in indirect lost-wax casting, they divided each mold into as few sections as possible without damaging any … Continued

Voltage Vessels Envisions a More Circular Future

By Bob Grace | August 12, 2026

A Maui-based advanced materials company is turning Hawaiʻi’s harsh marine environment and supply-chain realities into the foundation for a circular composite materials platform centered on large-format additive manufacturing. Voltage Vessels LLC, founded in 2020 by Sam Young, recognizes the challenges … Continued

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

Paint & Coatings

Certified Green Claims Increase Value & Brand Recognition in Coatings

By Ron Lewarchik | November 21, 2014

Whether coatings are sold directly to consumers or business to business, UL’s study: Under the Lens: Claiming Green – The influence of green product claims on purchase intent and brand perception reveals that legitimate third-party, certified green claims contribute to … Continued

Sustainable Materials Increase Profitability for Coatings Companies

By Ron Lewarchik | October 10, 2014

Formulators can have an enormous impact on the profitability and growth of their respective companies by using sustainable materials in their paint formulations when a choice is available. A new report from UL Environment, “The Sustainable Edge™,” shows that companies pursuing a sustainability strategy experience … Continued

Resin Fundamentals and Their Effect on Coatings Performance

By Ron Lewarchik | September 19, 2014

A critical part of any coatings formulation is the contribution that the resin has to the ultimate performance attributes of the coating. In this article, we will define some key resin parameters and how they influence resin selection in light of … Continued

Skip the Squeegee – Coating May Make Car Washing a Thing of the Past

By Ron Lewarchik | September 5, 2014

Washing a car can be both time-consuming and expensive. But imagine a car finish that never needs to be sprayed, scrubbed and polished back to its original luster. The performance of a newly developed automotive finish may make this a reality. Nissan … Continued

Learn about pigment volume concentration in the Prospector Knowledge Center.

Effect of Pigment Volume Concentration on Coatings Properties – Part II

By Ron Lewarchik | August 15, 2014

Introduction In Part I of this article, expert Jochum Beetsma discussed the definition of PVC, including examples of PVC calculations and the PVC of various types of coatings. In Part II, we will discuss Critical Pigment Volume Concentration (CPVC), pigment … Continued

Cleaners

Formulating Cleaners with Antibacterial Coatings: Benefits, Challenges, and Commercial Opportunities

By Carmen Lerga | September 2, 2026

Regulatory Update: Europe Remains the Global Regulatory Driver

By Staff | August 19, 2026

Navigating the Next Wave of Cleaner Regulations: PFAS, Microplastics, and More

By Staff | August 5, 2026

Regulatory requirements are making big moves globally and it’s important that you know what is coming and how it may impact your day-to-day. Below is a check-in for where we are at midway through 2026 and what to plan for … Continued

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

Food, Beverage & Nutrition

What Eco-Friendly Actually Means for Food Ingredients

By Guest Author | September 2, 2026

By Laurie , RIBUS, Inc “Eco-friendly” gets used a lot in food and beverage marketing. It shows up on cereal boxes, protein bars, and drink labels, often without much explanation of what it actually means. Consumer demand for these claims … Continued

Regulatory Update: Europe Remains the Global Regulatory Driver

By Staff | August 19, 2026

What’s Replacing Gelatin? Trends and Formulation Tips for Plant-Based Food Development

By Staff | August 5, 2026

Consumer demand for vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, and clean-label products continues to reshape food innovation. While traditional gelatin remains a highly functional ingredient for creating elasticity, chew, foams, and melt-in-the-mouth textures, formulators are increasingly turning to plant-based alternatives to meet … Continued

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

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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