Impacts of COVID-19 on the natural ingredients for cosmetics market

Not a homogenous impact within the cosmetics industry: The coronavirus pandemic has forced nearly one-third of the world’s population into lockdown. During this time, consumer demand for cosmetics has decreased in general. However, if you take a closer look within the segments some are booming! While decorative cosmetics experienced a dip in demand, essential oils, hygiene and skin care segments are thriving as consumers try to improve their immunity. But what are the impacts of the COVID-19 on the natural ingredients for cosmetics market? In Europe, where the COVID 19 outbreak has made most of the victims in March [Read more]

2021-11-25T07:10:13+00:00June 18th, 2020|

ProFound Team

ProFound team The ProFound team consists of experts and advisers in development. We regularly collaborate with freelance consultants and trainees when and where required. Much of the work is done through teamwork, which optimises creative inputs and ensures the continuity of the tasks at hand. Feel free to connect with us! Bert-Jan Ottens is the founder of ProFound – Advisers In Development and Senior Adviser. He is also the founder of Blue Rhino (rural finance) and Green Rhino Kenya (‘Healthy Green Choice’). He has a background in international economic development, and policy and management studies [Read more]

2024-03-27T16:09:22+00:00June 17th, 2020|

Workshop with farmers and traders in Myanmar to find alternative cardamom markets

Cardamom producers in Myanmar are facing challenges in accessing markets. Their main market is China, but, in recent years, prices have been dropping significantly. ProFound is supporting these producers and traders to find alternative markets. For that purpose, our consultant Jolanda van Hal travelled to Myanmar to prepare them for participation at international trade fairs. Preparing cardamom traders for trade fair participation Jolanda gave a training to the Multi-Stakeholder Platform created by SNV in the project “Improving the incomes and nutrition outcomes of rural poor in Northern Kayin State”. This training focused on different aspects related to trade fairs [Read more]

2020-03-20T15:26:12+00:00March 20th, 2020|

Biofach 2020 – Organic Africa Pavilion

During BioFach 2020, the Organic Africa Pavilion hosted 22 companies and organisations representing more than 17 African countries. We are very happy that our exhibitors evaluated two thirds of our their business leads as important. In addition, ProFound has been very busy during the fair, and not only at the Organic Africa Pavilion. “I have been to BioFach before just as a visitor, but I have to say that this is 20 times better because totally unexpected people can find you.”  Hilary Sommerlatte, Arbor Oils of Africa, exhibitor from Kenya / Frankincense oil A lot of interest for African products [Read more]

2020-03-04T16:23:52+00:00February 26th, 2020|

Towards Fairwild certified Jatamansi; ProFound’s participation in the project

ProFound’s consultant Jolanda van Hal just returned from a mission to Nepal for the project “Succeeding with CITES: Sustainable and equitable Jatamansi trade from Nepal”. A good time to reflect on activities and developments in the past months. As a reminder: In this project funded by the Darwin Initiative, we are working with ANSAB, the Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources and TRAFFIC International. One of the project aims is to produce FairWild certified Jatamansi by the end of 2020.  Pre-audit assessment for the Jatamansi harvesting In order to see how far the project still has to go [Read more]

2021-11-25T07:13:40+00:00February 6th, 2020|

Building capacities of business support organisations in Southeast Asia

Last year, in our work for the Regional BioTrade programme from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation we focused on building capacities of business support organisations in Southeast Asia. Our consultant Jolanda van Hal travelled to Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam in October and December last year. She worked with these business support organisations to develop their market access service portfolio. They have strong ambitions and ProFound is helping them to reach those. Myanmar Tea Association's ambitions: Take the example of the buisness support organisation such as the Myanmar Tea Association. Their aim is to put Myanmar on the map as a quality [Read more]

2020-01-17T12:58:50+00:00January 16th, 2020|

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