South Africa transforms local biodiversity into a competitive global asset at in-cosmetics Global 2026
Paris, France, 17 April 2026 – South Africa has strengthened its position as a premier, reliable supplier of ingredients to the global cosmetics industry, successfully bridging the gap between its unique biodiversity and the high-performance demands of international market. Essential and vegetable oil ingredients such as Helichrysum, Rose geranium, Baobab, Kalahari melon and Marula attracted strong interest from international formulators and importers, who are increasingly seeking sustainable, traceable, and high-performance raw materials, including functional solutions.
The Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) in South Africa, implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), helps unlock the export potential of South Africa’s essential and vegetable oils. It supports producers in accessing European markets by helping them demonstrate the high quality of their oils through the use of recognized standards, accredited testing, certification, and compliance with national and international regulations. Exhibitors confirmed that the ability to provide evidence of the quality of the product to gain market access is non-negotiable. In addition, the introduction of the ℮-mark, by the GQSP, to the industry which shows that a product has been packed under a legally compliant quantity control system, meeting global metrology standards, is gaining traction.
Prominent discussions during the trade show included ethical sourcing, transparency, and human rights in wild-harvested ingredients further highlighted the sector’s commitment to responsible and inclusive growth
The South African pavilion, consisting of 15 enterprises exhibiting natural and active ingredients as well as finished cosmetic products originating from South Africa, were successfully hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), with support from the Cosmetic Export Council of South Africa (CECOSA), WESGRO- the tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for the Western Cape province, and the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) with participation of UNIDO. The coordinated efforts enabled South African companies to engage meaningfully with global buyers to supply premium plant extracts and oils aligned with global demand for clean, ethical, effective and unique cosmetic ingredients.
GQSP in South Africa and SIPPO will be hosting a joint webinar on 21st May 2026 as part of a market intelligence update to ensure that the industry remains updated on evolving EU regulations as well as emerging market trends/opportunities and buyer expectations. GQSP and SIPPO are part of the SECO-funded biotrade portfolio in South Africa.
For more information, please contact Bernard Bau, GQSP-SA Project Manager, B.Bau [at] unido.org
