ONE Group (Miessence) are proud participants
in a growing industry that prioritises health and sustainability.
As developers of the first comprehensive range of products to
be certified organic to food industry standards we are world
leaders of this growing trend.
The organic movement began at the same time as industrialised
agriculture. It evolved through the ’50s and ’60s
with the launch of such books as Silent
Spring by Rachel Carson, which exposed the toxic effects of
pesticides, through what is now termed bio-magnification. A process
whereby synthetic chemicals used in agriculture magnify (increase
in concentration) through the food-chain.
During the ’70s, the development of the organic
market was stimulated by growing consumer interest in health and
nutrition, as well as the increasing importance of preserving the
natural environment. More recently the movement has been given
significant impetus by events such as outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform
Encephalapathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease), and the controversy surrounding
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), which have motivated people
to search for healthy alternatives.
The organic industry has achieved compounded
growth of 23% pa for seven consecutive years, while
the natural and organic cosmetic sector grew by a massive 39%
in 2001 alone. Our range or products is the world’s first
and currently only fully certified organic skin and body care
products.
Recent market research has shown that consumer demand for organics
is growing rapidly worldwide.Through cutting-edge research and
development, we intend to progressively release dynamic, healthy,
first-to-market innovations in the organic sector.
Globally, sales in the personal care market, including natural
personal care, reached USD$122 billion in 2000 and are growing
1.6%. In the USA, the entire Health and Beauty Care market is
almost USD$40 billion and is expecting 3.4% annual growth.
In contrast, the trend towards natural ingredients is running
through every segment of personal care with sales in the USA
in this area, reaching USD$1.56 billion in 2001 and growing at
10%. This segment is expected to grow 6%-7% annually over the
next few years.
USA
Consumer sales of organic products in the US reached US$5.6 billion in 2000,
a rise of 19% from 1999. If organics sustains this annual growth (and there
is no indication it will not as sales in 2001 reached US$9.4 billion) the
organic segment will be worth between US$13 – US$18 billion by 2005.
EUROPE
Research across seven European countries found that organic spending would
nearly double over the next 5 years. By 2006, 58% of European consumers
will choose to use organic products. During 2000, 29 million people in
the UK said they had consumed organic food, a figure that represents almost
half the population. There are 142 million consumers of organic food in
Europe, showing that organic food has hit mainstream after many years in ‘alternative’ niche
markets.
The UK, which had organic sales of GBP 605 million in 2000 and
is expected to reach GBP 1 billion by 2003 will continue to be
the key market.
JAPAN
The Japanese are the largest per capita consumers of organics in the world
and are substantial importers of organic consumer products. Japan had a
national market value of US$1.5 billion in 1998 and has a current estimated
value of US$3.2 billion. The majority of organic products in Japan are
distributed through a ‘tei-kei’ arrangement, which is a type
of cooperative.
Market 2001 Retail sales
| MARKET 2001 |
RETAIL SALES |
CURRENT GROWTH RATE |
| USA |
US$9.4 billion |
19% |
| Europe |
US$9.2 billion |
22% (UK 2001, 40% growth to US$0.8 billion) |
| Oceania* |
US$9.0 billion |
21% (Japan 2001, 21% growth to US$3.2 billion) |
* North & South-East Asia, Australia & New Zealand
