The short answer
The minimum order quantities imposed by manufacturers of cosmetic raw materials are based on a legitimate industrial logic (production costs, economies of scale). The market, however, has changed: the rise of independent brands, custom formulations, and environmental requirements creates a demand for smaller volumes. As a result, many players buy more than necessary, stock it, and then destroy the surplus. This discrepancy is what Cosmetic Innov Access describes in an interview published by the magazine Company Information (n°199), under the title "The right volume, the new equation of cosmetics."
What are the concrete consequences of MOQs on the cosmetic industry?
They fall into three categories.
Waste. For essential ingredients like preservatives, a manufacturer has no choice but to buy the minimum volume, even if they only use a fraction of it. The surplus often ends up destroyed, which negates some of the environmental efforts made upstream by producers (green chemistry, CSR initiatives, more responsible processes).
The barrier to innovation. Some brands refrain from testing an innovative ingredient because the required quantity is too large for a trial.
The standardization of ranges. To amortize a purchase that is too large, brands reuse the same raw material in several products, to the detriment of differentiation.
A complete compliance documentation
Each repackaged batch is accompanied by a certificate of analysis (CoA) issued by Cosmetic Innov Access, with dual traceability: the batch number from the manufacturer Seppic and the batch number from Cosmetic Innov Access created during repackaging. The material remains strictly identical to the original, and the client retains the regulatory file provided by Seppic (technical data sheet, safety data), to which the traceability from Cosmetic Innov Access is added. This complete traceability allows for the integration of documents directly into your Product Information File (PIF).
Why does the price per kilo not reflect the actual cost of a raw material?
The cost of a formula is generally calculated based on the price per kilo announced by the supplier. This calculation ignores what the minimum order actually costs. Simple example: a brand that only needs 1 kg of an ingredient sold in batches of 5 kg actually pays for the 4 excess kg, their storage, and possibly their destruction.
These hidden costs weigh heavily on young brands with limited cash flow, which often work with subcontracting laboratories and do not always see these supply constraints. Integrating them from the formulation phase gives a fairer cost price and secures the project.
To go further: How to reduce the true cost of your formulas when the supplier MOQ is too high?
At Cosmetic Innov Access: the right volume in practice
Cosmetic Innov Access, founded in 2024 by three co-founders, is the first distributor to offer MOQ optimization on industrial volumes. The principle: with the agreement of our partner suppliers, we repackage their raw materials into suitable formats, maintaining the product's commercial name and complete traceability. The client thus uses exactly the same material, from initial trials to industrial production.
Key figures:
- 169 kg → 20 kg : an example of a supplier order minimum reduced to a volume truly suited to the client's needs
- From 1 kg to industrial volume, depending on the project's stage
- 100 orders processed, 725 kg delivered, 5.4 tons of raw materials saved from destruction
- 88 % reduction in raw material waste
- 100 % traceability : repackaging done in EFfCI GMP certified laboratory
Two models depending on the partner:
- With Seppic and Lessonia, Cosmetic Innov Access optimizes order minimums: we support clients in the initial phases of their projects, then they order directly from Seppic or Lessonia once industrial volumes are reached.
- With Green Line Ingredients, of which Cosmetic Innov Access is the exclusive distributor in France, we support clients from the first kilo to production volumes.
The price per kilo of a repackaged material is slightly higher, due to the repackaging. The overall cost, however, is often more advantageous: no overstocking, no storage fees, no destruction of excess.
Why does this model also work for suppliers?
The model of Cosmetic Innov Access relies exclusively on partnerships with suppliers. In return for their trust, Green Line Ingredients, Seppic, and Lessonia can direct clients whose needs are below their minimums to Cosmetic Innov Access. Suppliers benefit from stock rotation without additional losses and access to a market (young brands, laboratories) that would not have been able to purchase their ingredients otherwise. Clients can conduct pilots or initial productions without extra costs, and then naturally continue with the supplier as their volumes increase.
How will the market for cosmetic raw materials evolve?
Two years ago, the discussion about MOQs was still difficult to convey. Today, market players are measuring their economic and environmental consequences. The next step is to concretely adopt these new modes of operation, especially as sourcing has become more unstable due to geopolitical tensions and logistical disruptions. The ambition of Cosmetic Innov Access is to bring more suppliers together around this approach, for more resilient supply chains.
Key takeaways
The right volume is not a compromise: it is the most rational way to buy a raw material when you don't need a ton. Do you have a formulation project blocked by a minimum order? Let's talk about it.
Source: "The right volume, the new equation of cosmetics," Informations Entreprise No. 199, pp. 276-277. Read the article