2026
10
A Year of Innovation in Fabric Care 2026
2026-07-30T10:02:38+00:00
REP6B7BC885_366D_4E5C_BBC8_85366D7E5C52
2195
195148
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Report
en_GB
As lifestyles become more diverse, brands need to cater to a wider range of usage occasions through quick-use solutions and enhanced odour-neutralising performance. Yasemin Holtemayer, Senior Research Analyst - Household…
Global
Laundry and Fabric Care
simple

A Year of Innovation in Fabric Care 2026

As lifestyles become more diverse, brands need to cater to a wider range of usage occasions through quick-use solutions and enhanced odour-neutralising performance.

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  1. INTRODUCTION

    • What we have seen
    • Our pick of the most innovative launches in this review
    • Other innovative launches
  2. ODOUR CONTROL BECOMES A BIGGER GLOBAL PRIORITY

    • Odours pose a challenge for fabric care internationally
    • Perfumes are the blanket solution for odours, but they fail to meet demand
    • Odour-neutralising claims are growing incrementally
    • Graph 1: fabric care launches carrying odour-neutralising claims, 2021-26
    • Odour-neutralising claims drive the next wave of innovation
    • Reposition antibacterial claims for odour-neutralising benefits
    • Downy Rinse & Refresh addresses odour concerns
  3. BIODEGRADABILITY CLAIMS RETREAT FROM RECENT PEAKS

    • Biodegradability claims are a stand-in for safety
    • Biodegradability claims fall amid regulatory pressures
    • Henkel is leading the biodegradability evolution
    • Graph 2: fabric care launches carrying biodegradable claims, by the top 10 ultimate companies, 2025-26
    • The next chapter for biodegradability is in other formats
    • Graph 3: fabric care launches carrying biodegradable claims, by product format, 2021-26
    • Brands turn to biodegradability to demonstrate value
    • Ecover’s dishwasher tablets skip the wrappers
  4. TIME-SAVING BENEFITS UNLOCK NEW PRODUCT POSITIONING

    • Convenience has untapped potential
    • Time/speed claims are growing as brands seek differentiation
    • Graph 4: fabric care launches carrying time/speed claims, 2021-26
    • North America falls behind on time-saving claims
    • Move time-saving claims beyond laundry detergents
    • Graph 5: fabric care launches carrying time/speed claims, by sub-categories, 2025-26
    • Speedy stain-removal abilities are on the rise
    • Dr. Beckmann tackles stains in 15 minutes
Download Report Summary

"As lifestyles become more diverse, brands need to cater to a wider range of usage occasions through quick-use solutions and enhanced odour-neutralising performance."

Yasemin Holtemayer, Senior Research Analyst - Household Care

Yasemin Holtemayer, Senior Research Analyst - Household Care

Explore the latest innovation in fabric care in 2026 with Mintel’s global innovation report. The report identifies the major launch activities, pivotal consumer attitudes and most important product development of the year across regions EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.

Key innovation trends in the fabric care market are analysed and succinctly presented alongside Mintel’s consumer data and insights. So you can understand changing consumer demands and identify future growth opportunities.

This report also presents Mintel’s analysts’ pick of the most innovative launches in the global fabric care market. Understanding innovation in fabric care has never been so easy.

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