Sustainability Consciousness

ABSTRACTThis paper is concerned with the game theoretic mechanisms of interaction between a load serving entity and several types of power consumers (with elastic and inelastic demand). The main focus is on the bounded rational and fully rational consumers, and respective utility functions are defined for them. The demand-side management (DSM) principles are used to analyze the load at different times of the day for different types of consumers. The proposed statement allows the formulation of coordinated prices in rates for different types of consumers, and optimization of demand: peak load decreases relative to a daily average one. The problem is reduced to a convex optimization problem that has a unique solution in the presented form. The obtained result is in the form of a separating equilibrium (when different consumers choose different rates), which brings the retail market equilibrium closer to the maximum public welfare.

Introduction Our objective was to search the literature for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products that are frequently used or specially designed around the specific needs of sport activities and athletes. A narrative literature search was performed using the online databases Pubmed and Google Scholar. The authors choose to differentiate between pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products not by following the definition of an “active” or “inert“ action on the skin but by restricting to products that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a health care professional. These products can be classified into five functional groups of cosmetic products with a potential biological effect to skin. 1. The use of aesthetic cosmetic products in sports is well established, especially in aesthetic sports such as gymnastics, ice skating, and synchronized swimming where an attractive appearance supports the self-confidence of the athlete. Not only the individual performance will benefit but also beauty and attractiveness can influence the scores given by the judges committee. 2. During a sport, the skin of an athlete is often exposed to harsh environmental conditions. In order to protect and to prevent damage to the skin, the cosmetic industry has developed special preventive and protective skin care products, meeting the requirements of the individual sportsperson. 3. Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products that exert a pharmaceutical therapeutic benefit without having a biological effect on living tissue. Cosmeceuticals are effective in the treatment of sport-related dermatological disorders and can be a useful adjunct to prescription medications. 4. Stimulating products especially those with a hyperaemising or cooling capacity are frequently used by athletes in the preparation for sport or to stimulate the body in order to enhance physical performance. 5. After physical activity, adequate personal hygiene is important in maintaining the body healthy and vital. Intensive showering after each training session requires a cosmetic cleansing formulation that supports the natural skin balance with regard to pH value, moisture content, and cleansing capacity.

Price as an Indicator of Quality: Implications for Utility and Demand Functions

This study compared data regarding industrial accidents and awareness level for beauty product safety for four main parts of beauty industry such as hair-care, nail-care, skin-care, and make-up. Major risk factors in beauty industry are dust, musculoskeletal disorders, and organic solvent of beauty product in order of percentage. The specific types of industrial accidents in beauty industry are mainly associated with musculoskeletal system such as cuts, sprain, and varicose vein. They are mainly compensated by personal budget. The awareness levels of chemical and heavy metal containment for beauty product by beauty industry employee were 77.2% and 59.1% respectively. Most employee confirmed only important items of labelling requirement of beauty product. Also, most employee did not understand MSDS(Materila Safety Data) for chemicals used in beauty industry. Only 38.1% of beauty industry employee has had safety education while most employee (73.6%) realized that they needed safety education. Also, safety education supervised by KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was the most preferred. This study would be good basis for safe and healthy working environment of beauty industry employee.

Microbiological quality control in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is crucial for consumer safety. Traditional culture-based detection methods, such as plating on selective media, are time-consuming and may lack sensitivity. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH), a molecular and culture-independent technique, enables rapid and precise microbial identification by targeting specific RNA or DNA sequences with fluorescent probes. In this study, a novel DNA-FISH probe was developed for the detection of Candida albicans in cosmetic formulations. The probe’s specificity was assessed in silico and experimentally using flow cytometry (flow-FISH) on C. albicans and non-target microorganisms, including Pichia kudriavzevii, commonly known as Candida krusei, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The probe exhibited 98.9% hybridization efficiency with C. albicans, yielding a fluorescence intensity (FI) of 25,000 (a.u.), while non-target yeasts demonstrated minimal hybridization (4.7%, 2.3%, and 1.9% for C. krusei, S. cerevisiae, and W. anomalus, respectively) and bacteria showed negligible FI. Additionally, the probe’s applicability was evaluated in a tonic formulation, where C. albicans’ hybridization efficiency was slightly reduced to 88.4%, suggesting that formulation components may influence probe performance. Nevertheless, the probe maintained high specificity and efficiency without formamide, a toxic reagent commonly used in FISH. These findings highlight the potential of FISH probes for rapid, accurate, and safe microbial detection, offering a valuable tool for microbiological quality control in the cosmetics industry.

PurposeThe aim of the paper is to explore how Chinese consumers perceive the quality of cosmetics products and if the Chinese youth differs in the perception from older generations. The paper fills the current research gap in revealing which intrinsic and extrinsic parameters are the most and least associated with cosmetic products’ quality by young and older Chinese consumers. It also inquiries about how other selected factors (e.g. type of store, store’s trade name, the use of influencers, etc.) contribute to the perceived quality of cosmetic products.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were collected from 423 Chinese respondents by an online questionnaire in their native language. Statistical tests of independence, correlation and cluster analysis were applied to reveal the relationships between variables.FindingsThe highest number of statistically significant dependencies of meritorious variables was associated with age groups of young and older consumers, thus suggesting greater differences in quality perception between younger and older Chinese generations. The paper also confirms that intrinsic cues prevail over extrinsic when consumers evaluate the quality of cosmetic products.Practical implicationsThe results deepen the understanding of the current preferences of Chinese consumers of cosmetic products when assessing the quality of cosmetics and represent a solid basis for further research. Moreover, they may help companies from the cosmetics industry better comprehend how different categories of people determine cosmetic products’ quality.Originality/valueThe paper uses a large convenience sample of respondents from different Chinese regions and points to several differences between younger and older generations of Chinese consumers of cosmetics.

The rapidly expanding segment within the cosmetics and personal care industry represents a convergence of personal care and pharmaceutical sectors. Traditionally, animal testing has been utilized to ensure the safety and efficacy of cosmetic products for human use. However, in response to consumer demands, many prominent brands have transitioned to being cruelty-free, gaining widespread acceptance. The official members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, have implemented the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) as an agreement that aims to harmonize the regulations and standards for cosmetic products. However, the ACD does not provide specific legislation on animal testing. The directive defines cosmetics and specifies prohibited ingredients while allowing for permitted preservatives, UV filters, and colorants. This critical review focuses on the current state of animal testing for cosmetic products in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The review was carried out with a reference to research works released between 2015 to 2022 by searching using an electronic database and involved referencing various articles. Its primary objective is to review the current state of animal testing on cosmetic products and the alternative methods used to ensure that cosmetic products are in regulatory compliance.

Sending Out an SMS: The Impact of Automatically Enrolling Consumers Into Overdraft Alerts

Consumption variety and urban agglomeration

The diverse impacts of COVID-19 on electricity demand: The case of Chile

20대 대학생과 사회초년생의 재무스트레스 유형별 재무관리 소비자교육 요구도 (Study on the Characteristics of Financial Stress Types and the Demand for Consumer Education on Financial Management of University Students and Young Adults)

PurposeThe pursuit of healthy and high-quality organic food has gradually become a trend. However, some researchers do not believe that the quality of organic food is higher than general food. Consumers’ changed preference for different quality food will also affect the sales strategy of food producer. The purpose of this paper is to consider behavior-based pricing (BBP) and decision-making problems between organic and general food enterprises, based on consumers’ heterogeneity.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, two different types of consumers are considered: consumers without preference difference and consumers with an organic food preference. This paper sets up two two-stage hoteling differential pricing models in the duopoly market, including organic and general food enterprises. Then, the optimal loyal price and poaching price of the two types of enterprises are solved, and the influence of each parameter on the pricing, market and profit of the two enterprises is analyzed.FindingsThis paper finds that, with the increase of the initial market share, the pricing strategies of organic food enterprises change from a loyal price lower than the poaching price to a loyal price higher than the poaching price, whereas the general food producer has the opposite pricing strategy. Furthermore, the difference in consumption utility between the two food types has a positive influence on the price of organic food, and a negative influence on the price of general food. In contrast, the consumer share without preference difference has a negative effect on organic food prices and a positive impact on the price of general food.Originality/valueThe contribution is constructive as no prior research has focused on the BBP and decision-making problems between organic and general food, and it considers the two types of consumers. Besides, the results also provide guidelines for choosing marketing strategies for organic and general food enterprises.

Emotional marketing in the cosmetics industry has gained significant traction as brands strive to connect with female consumers on a personal level. Recognizing that cosmetics are more than just products, brands increasingly foAcus on evoking emotions and building connections that resonate with consumers’ identities, values, and aspirations. By tapping into emotional drivers such as self-confidence, empowerment, and individual expression, cosmetics brands leverage storytelling, personalization, and value-driven messages to create bonds that transcend the traditional product experience. These strategies, by going beyond functional benefits, forge meaningful relationships that positively influence both brand loyalty and consumer preference. As brands grow in their understanding of consumer psychology1 , emotional marketing strategies have evolved from mere trend-following to becoming an integral part of brand identity and differentiation. In a highly competitive cosmetics market, emotional engagement becomes a key asset, distinguishing brands that merely offer quality products from those that offer experiences rooted in emotional satisfaction and alignment with personal values. For instance, storytelling allows brands to narrate their journey and core values—whether through ethical sourcing, sustainability efforts, or diversity and inclusion initiatives—which resonates deeply with consumers2 who prioritize similar values. Similarly, personalization caters to individual preferences, allowing consumers to feel seen and valued, thereby strengthening loyalty and increasing purchase intentions. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data from extensive surveys and qualitative insights from indepth interviews. This dual approach captures not only the broad trends in consumer responses but also the nuanced ways in which emotional marketing influences individual purchasing decisions. The quantitative analysis provides statistical insights into the correlation between emotional marketing and brand loyalty, while qualitative interviews shed light on personal consumer experiences and emotional connections with specific brands. Together, these methods form a holistic view of emotional marketing’s impact, particularly its role in shaping purchasing behaviors and brand preferences among female consumers in the cosmetics industry. Findings from this study reveal that emotional marketing significantly shapes purchasing decisions by enhancing consumer perceptions of brand authenticity, trustworthiness, and alignment with personal values. Female consumers, in particular, are drawn to brands that promote messages of self-love, empowerment, and ethical responsibility. The emotional connection fostered through such marketing initiatives translates to higher brand loyalty and preference, as consumers are more likely to remain loyal to brands that reflect their values and resonate with their self-image. Furthermore, these findings highlight the effectiveness of emotional marketing strategies, providing cosmetics brands with actionable insights into building consumer loyalty and strategically positioning themselves within a saturated market. This approach, focused on aligning with consumer emotions3 and values, offers a sustainable competitive advantage that promotes brand loyalty and encourages positive consumerbrand relationships.

The rising demand for halal products, especially within the cosmetics industry, has increased the need for cosmetic products to comply with Islamic laws. One of the challenges in achieving halal certification is the determination of the source of the active ingredients used in cosmetic products, such as enzymes. According to Islamic laws, enzymes derived from pigs or other animals that are not slaughtered are not considered halal. To ensure that the enzymes used in cosmetics are derived from halal sources, it is necessary to use enzymes generated from microorganisms through fermentation, provided that the raw materials and growth medium comply with Islamic laws. Additionally, halal cosmetics must meet regional and international standards, including the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa and the Malaysian Cosmetic and Personal Care Standards. This research provides a comprehensive review of the role of enzymes in selecting halal compliance cosmetic ingredients, focusing on the source of enzymes as a means of assessing the halalness of cosmetic products. It is essential to utilize halal enzymes such as those derived from plants to provide Muslim consumers with assurance when using cosmetic products.

ABSTRACTA risk assessment of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was conducted based upon its toxicological profile and exposure evaluation. Since 1935, BAC has been used in a wide variety of products such as disinfectants, preservatives, and sanitizers. It is well-established that BAC is not genotoxic nor does it display tumorigenic potential, but safety concerns have been raised in local usage such as for ocular and intranasal applications. The Foundation of Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute (KCII) reported that in a hair conditioner manufactured as a cosmetic or personal product in South Korea, BAC was present at concentrations of 0.5–2%. The systemic exposure dosage (SED) was determined using the above in-use concentrations and a risk assessment analysis was conducted. The Margin of Safety (MOS) values for hair conditioners were calculated to be between 621 and 2,483. The risk of certain personal and cosmetic products was also assessed based upon assumptions that BAC was present at the maximal level of regulation in South Korea and that the maximal amount was used. The MOS values for the body lotion were all above 100, regardless of the application site. Collectively, data indicate that there are no safety concerns regarding use of products that contain BAC under the current concentration restrictions, even when utilized at maximal permitted levels. However, a chronic dermal toxicity study on BAC and comprehensive dermal absorption evaluation needs to be conducted to provide a more accurate prediction of the potential health risks to humans.