Home Care Topics
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CLEAN. BEAUTIFUL. INTEGRAL TO THE SYSTEM.
CLEAN. BEAUTIFUL. INTEGRAL TO THE SYSTEM.
The considerable contribution of the beauty and home care industry to Germany’s economy and society
Beauty and household care provide structure and boost well-being and self-esteem, especially in uncertain times. The importance of the industry for Germany, with domestic and export sales of €34.6 billion, is sometimes underestimated: it is much more than just a consumer sector. With a comprehensive product portfolio, it accompanies millions of people every day, creates quality of life and secures over 500,000 jobs along the value chain. Through research and development, more than 1,000 SMEs and around 60 large companies are continuously driving innovation, from vegan formulations and low-water, resource-saving recipes to recyclable packaging solutions. The industry is making Germany fit for the future but is struggling with high regulatory pressure. In doing so, it combines economic strength with social benefits – and acts as a stabilising factor in challenging times.
The study report is available here.
Sources:
Study Clean. Beautiful. Integral to the system - The considerable contribution of the beauty and home care industry to Germany’s economy and society, May 2025.
The analysis, which was carried out independently by management consultants Roland Berger GmbH on behalf of IKW, is based on current industry figures, relevant specialist studies and the results of a survey conducted in April 2025 among the member companies of the Industrieverband Körperpflege- und Waschmittel e. V. (IKW). A good quarter of IKW members took part in the survey - primarily executives and management. This quantitative foundation is supplemented by Roland Berger's in-depth, cross-industry expertise, which provides valuable impetus for strategies and recommendations for action