COVID-19 - Dealing with the Crisis and New Opportunities

Gabriele Wolf, CEO
woresan GmbH

What lessons do we learn from the corona crisis?

The world has come closer together - there are no longer just North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, we all live on the same globe. Every country is affected by COVID-19 - some more - others less. Each country has its own methods of dealing with this crisis, with more or less success. We believe each country will have to learn its own lessons to be able to face such pandemics in the future.

We only have one thing in common - we should be more careful and look at what we can do to strengthen our resistance.  

What impact do cancellations of major international trade fairs have? 

The trade fairs in Barcelona, ​​Shanghai, New York, and many other networking opportunities are missing. The personal contact has shifted from the direct level to other forms of communication: Video conferencing is a big theme.

We find that many customers and interested parties are grateful for the efficiency of a video conference. The travel time for personal appointments can then be used more effectively. 

How will woresan cope with the COVID-19 crisis? 

Because of the high-safety standards that were set up before the crisis, woresan is running production now just as it did before Corona. Longer delivery times triggered by the haulage firms are taken into account for purchases and distribution, and the goods are now shipped earlier.

The (relatively) short transport routes and the direct contact between the suppliers and  woresan quality control has prevented quality and delivery problems. woresan sources its organic raw materials and substrates exclusively from local suppliers. Short transport routes also ensure less CO2 pollution of the environment.

woresan focuses on an ecological orientation of the company in connection with technological innovations to a process that has been known about for 6000 years. It was important to optimize this process which uses almost 100% of the processed substrates and a cocktail of active ingredients to best effect. 

The fermentation-

We only work with long-term fermentation. With the help of different lactobacilli strains and our patented process technology, the 'EcoSystemic' fermentation process was developed, guaranteeing a stable end-product with maximum effectiveness.

For this, the expansion of manufacturing technology was started in 2019. Investments in techniques, an increase in personnel and automation will continue in 2020.

woresan manufactures patented bio-ferments that offer the skin microbiome the best conditions it needs to develop at its optimum. Each active ingredient is a complex of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, and much more – and of course this is certified according to NATRUE and EcoCert, Cosmos Standard. 

Does this also particularly explain the recent high demand for ferments?  

The buying behaviour of the industry will, in my opinion, be different in every country that has its own experience with COVID-19.

A country that has gambled and lost the trust of its citizens due to environmental or industrial scandals may place more value on products from safe, trustworthy countries with a good Industrial record such as Germany. “Made in Germany” counts here. Another country may have a problem with 'just in time' delivery from other parts of the world.  Here raw materials will come increasingly from their own regions, or storage capacity will have to be expanded.  

Alternatively, the regionality of the raw materials will become more important.  Sustainable raw materials and active ingredients that have been refined by fermentation are increasingly used.  

The cosmetic user is increasingly interested in what is contained in the products that he or she uses. Alongside the natural ingredients, is the ingredient information presented in the INCI not only readable but also understandable for the end consumer?  This is a question also for the manufacturers... 

Since there has been a better understanding of CO2 emissions, it makes little sense for manufacturers to gather ingredients from the most distant regions of the world just to make the product more a exotic and better seller. One of our customers needs, in addition to water and WORESANA®, only 3 other ingredients to produce one of the most successful nail fungus and athlete's foot products that has been selling internationally for over 10 years. Another produces an acne treatment product with similarly low INCI.

Some producers leave it up to their users how much active ingredient they need for skin treatment. They offer very successful boosters. Among others, boosters made from 100% fermented active ingredients are very popular.  

What trends do you expect in the aftermath of the pandemic?  

Success in dealing with the pandemic will be crucial for global companies in the future regarding the supply chains and production partners.

We assume that consumers are increasingly asking for natural care and medical products, and this demand will become a standard for producers.

The increased focus of one's self is an important issue ... you treat yourself and your skin to something 'better'. Higher quality products with good ecological balance will become more in demand after Corona, something which has already been confirmed by our customers. For this reason, ingredients which don’t waste plant material nor water through the growing or extraction process will be favoured.   

Raw materials that present a natural cocktail of valuable ingredients which our skin can absorb without additional 'strengtheners' will become the focus. We are certain – and this is something that the marketing departments of the manufacturers will have to adjust to and design for in their campaigns in the future.

The knowledge of our skin microbiomes and the natural skin bacteria that we need for healthy skin will influence the cosmetics industry more, as everyone during the pandemic has close experience of what side effects too much disinfection has left.