HPC – it’s all in the (traced and transparent) ingredientsToday’s home and personal care (HPC) encompasses a wide range of products that include shampoo, soaps, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and so forth. Like its other counterparts within the CPG (consumer packaged goods) industry, HPC also requires supply chain traceability to verify the origin, movement, and handling of raw materials, components, and finished products. Photo by Hana Brannigan via www.pexels.com The Environmental Working Group (EWG) emphasises that consumers are increasingly seeking traceability and transparency regarding the ingredients and sourcing practices of personal care products, which allow them to make informed purchasing decisions. It is an all-important trend that has become prevalent across the globe including Western Africa which features a diverse range of HPC manufacturers and resultant products that are tailored to consumer preferences and market dynamics. In fact, according to the recent Global Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Market Insights and Forecast to 2028, Nigeria is cited as one of the leading contributors of the CPG market in the Middle East Africa region. Consumer safety is paramountThe tracking and tracing of HPC plays a fundamental role in ensuring consumer safety, regulatory compliance, transparency, sustainability, and risk management. It is also those HPC companies that prioritise traceability and tracking that will solidify their customer relations, and brand reputation and differentiate themselves in a highly competitive marketplace. The tracking and tracing of the HPC supply chain offers the following important benefits:
There are a number of compelling solutions that provide end-to-end traceability and transparency across the HPC supply chain. The traceability allows track and trace the products as they move along the supply chain, providing data about their history, location, suppliers, etc. The transparency ensures full visibility of every information related to the product, proving their origin and highlighting information about ingredients, allergens, physical characteristics and other key attributes. About the authorOlufunsho Ariyo, consumer package goods lead, West Africa at Schneider Electric |