Soap & Toilet Preparation Manufacturers NAICS 3256

Nov 27, 2025 - Pods Not a Significant Source of Microplastics Pollution

• A recent article posted to The New York Times’ product review website Wirecutter challenges the narrative that microplastics pollution can be tied to detergent pods. According to Wirecutter, there’s little credible scientific evidence proving pods are a significant source of microplastics or nanoplastics pollution. It explains that while the water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film used in detergent pods is technically a petroleum-based plastic, it dissolves fully in water and biodegrades under typical wastewater-treatment conditions, supporting the detergent industry’s defense of PVA film and reinforcing its contention that pod products are not as environmentally harmful as critics claim. Wirecutter’s review of detergent pods could reduce regulatory pressure on manufacturers by giving credence to their biodegradation claims. It also strengthens the public relations position for pod makers (and film-supplier companies like MonoSol), helping them counter “greenwashing” accusations.
• The Wall Street Journal in October reported on a booming trend in gourmand body-care scents, with desserts like doughnuts, cookies, cake, and pancakes surging in popularity. Personal care product manufacturers are partnering with food brands to create co-branded scent collections to grab consumers attention and appeal to their sense of nostalgia. Collaborations include brands such as Native (with Dunkin’), Dove (with Crumbl), and Bath & Body Works (with Milk Bar). Dove and Crumbl cookies have partnered to create Lemon Glaze body scrubs and Confetti Cake body washes, according to WSJ. While the trend has provoked strong differences of opinion among consumers, with some loving them and others hating them, it has generated plenty of buzz and an opportunity to stand out in the fragrance crowded market. Beyond personal care, there’s room for these gourmand aromas in candles, diffusers, and even savory-food inspired lines like burger-scented candles, according to WSJ.

• Makers of household and health and beauty products are facing increasing competition from private label brands, Chain Store Age reports. As retail prices remain high, consumers are gravitating toward private-label products, according to the latest Private Label Trends report from Numerator. Across 10 major product sectors, private-label products accounted for nearly a quarter of unit volume (24%). Sectors with the highest percentage of US households buying private label brand products include health & beauty (99.2%) and household products (98.9%). Aldi and Trader Joe’s rely most heavily on private brands, accounting for 76% and 75%, respectively, of their overall sales volume, while Sam’s Club, Costco, and Walmart see more than a quarter of their overall sales volume coming from private-labels. Numerator found that 41% of surveyed consumers purchase private label items to save money and 25% think they’re as good as name brands.
• Producer prices for soap, cleaners, and toilet preparation manufacturers hit another new high in August, rising 1.2% compared to a year ago, after rising 1.2% in the previous August-versus-August annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Manufacturers are hiking prices to preserve margins as tariffs raise their raw material costs. Employment by soap and toilet preparation manufacturers was flat year over year in July, while the average industry wage jumped 7.8% over the same period to $24.90 per hour, BLS data show. Retail prices for personal care products, as measured by the consumer price index, rose 1.1% YoY in August and 0.4% from July, BLS data show. Rising consumer prices are cutting into sales for makers of soaps and detergents, including industry bellwether Procter & Gamble.