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Abu Dhabi November 2008
Growth Opportunities in
Halal Products
Dr Mah Hussain-Gambles (PhD)
Founder & CEO – Saaf International Ltd
United Kingdom
E: [email protected]
W: www.saafpureskincare.com
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Overview
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Personal background
Challenges in creating the ‘world’s purest skincare’
Halal, the new eco-ethical accreditation
Market research/trends
Industry challenges
Summary
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Background
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Pharmacologist, specialising in Clinical Trials and Evidence Based
Medicine – Cancer
Formulation Chemist for Sanofi Pharma in the UK
Studied for Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine in the UK
Lifestyle change to Organic Food and Skincare
Confused by myriad of eco-ethical claims and ‘green-washing’
• Where is the evidence?
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Personal Quest
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To create the world’s purest skincare range
Evidence = Accreditations by Independent and Credible Organisations
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Cruelty Free – Naturewatch,
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Organic – Soil
BUAV
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Association
Animal Free – Vegetarian Society and Vegan Society
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GMO Free (Genetically Modified Organisms)??
Irradiation Free??
Alcohol Free??
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Eureka!
HALAL = GMO Free, Alcohol Free
and Irradiation Free
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Challenge 1
Poor Halal Standards in the UK
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Contacted most independent UK based Halal certification bodies - 2004
No system for Cosmetics
Could buy Halal certificates over the internet
No formal audit of the factory, only ingredients check
No experience or technical knowledge in chemistry and non-food
industry
CHICKENS = no Problem
COSMETICS = a lot of money & not a clue!
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Created UK’s first non-food Halal
certification body
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The Halal Food and Cosmetics Consultancy (HFCC) is a voluntary,
not for profit organisation
Consisting of a group of independent directors (specialising in Medicine,
Chemistry and the Pharmaceutical Industry) and Imam
No charge for independent specialist advice, small fee for annual audit to check
the factory is Halal compliant
Monies go to the upkeep of the mosque and providing educational classes for
women
Mission is to provide an objective and non-political consultancy service to food
related chemicals and cosmetic/toiletries industry, resulting in Halal Certification.
www.halalconsultancy.co.uk
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Challenge 2
Breaking down stereotypes about Halal
Many misconceptions about Halal in the West
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Cruelty to animals
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“For them, not for us” mentality
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“Product must contain meat” - Halal appears to be synonymous with meat
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“Non-Muslim White company trying to capitalise on a growing trend – not to be
trusted” – perceptions of Muslims
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Educate consumer about
what Halal is really about
and obtain accreditations
by third parties such as
Vegetarian Society, Vegan
Register, Cruelty Free
approval by Naturewatch
and British Union for the
Abolition of Vivisection
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Another Eureka Moment
Is Halal the Next eco-ethical Accreditation?
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Halal (Islam) = Kosher (Judaism)
Arabic for Permissible or Allowed
Opposite is Haram = Not allowed (drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, usury
etc)
HOWEVER
Principles of Halal are not restricted to food but touches all matters
that relate to life.
Including protecting the environment, humane treatment of animals,
ethical business and fairness in all transactions.
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
What is Eco-Ethical?
Eco-ethical lifestyle is the fastest growing market in the world
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Defining Eco-ethical?
- Cruelty Free (no testing of raw materials or finished products on
animals, no exploitation of animals to obtain raw materials)
- Caring for the Environment (recycling, reducing carbon footprint)
- Not Harming the Body (natural formulations, organically grown and
products which are free from harmful ingredients)
- Corporate Social Responsibility (fair trade, no exploitation of
people)
I will now explore these principles in an Islamic context…
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Cruelty Free
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Islam is a deeply compassionate religion, especially regarding animal welfare. In
God’s eyes, animals are equal to humans, and “He communicates with them
exactly as He does with humans”.
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Numerous verses in the Holy Koran refer to the sanctity of animal life and the
equal rights of an animal to have a peaceful life
“All creatures are like a family (Ayal) of God: and He loves the most those who
are the most beneficent to His family.”
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Muhammad's kindness to animals was remarkable for the social context of his
upbringing. The historian Montgomery Watt cites an instance of Muhammed
posting sentries to ensure that a female dog with newborn puppies was not
disturbed by his army travelling to Mecca in the year 630.
"There is no man who kills [even] a sparrow or anything smaller...but Allah
will question him about it [on the judgement day]," and "Whoever is kind to
the creatures of God is kind to himself."
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Caring for the Environment
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Islam teaches man to not only respect his neighbour but also mother nature
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More than 6,000 Quranic verses refer to nature and the relationship between
living organisms and their environment
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The earth's natural resources are available for our use, but these gifts come
from God with certain ethical restraints imposed on them
Eat and drink, but not to excess (20:81)
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We may use these resources to meet our needs, but only in a way that does
not upset ecological balance and does not compromise the ability of future
generations to meet their needs
- Limit Consumption
- Re-use and Recycle
Reference: www.ifees.org.uk
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Not Harmful to the Body
References in the Quran to food stuff harmful for human consumption, which
science can now prove to be true e.g:
- shellfish (as lowest in the marine food chain, they contain large
amounts of toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, arsenic etc)
- blood (may contain bio-toxins and ‘distress’ hormones)
- Alcohol (causes skin dehydration and is toxic, recent research shows that
even small amounts if consumed during early pregnancy, is harmful to the
foetus)
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Studies show that a large proportion of what we put on our skins, gets
absorbed into the blood stream
Synthetic and Petrochemical based cosmetics are harmful, not only to the
environment but also the human body
Global rise in skin sensitivities/allergies and more serious diseases such
as cancer
Halal accreditation ‘should’ ensure that the product does not contain any
ingredients deemed harmful to the body
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Corporate Social Responsibility
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A large number of Quranic references to economic, social and environmental
impact of running a business
Products/services, transactions, currencies and other business related activities
come under the judgements of Halal and Haram.
Eco-ethical interpretation could be:
- sharing wealth by donating a % of the profits to charities
- creating local jobs, community initiatives
- equal opportunities and not exploiting workers and children
- minimising carbon foot print when doing logistic planning
Reference: www.ifees.org.uk - www.csr.gov.uk
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Is Halal the Next eco-ethical Accreditation?
I believe it is…
…my personal mission is to break down any stereotypes in the
West about Halal and to promote Halal in a Eco-ethical light
in the East
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Technical stuff!
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Many personal care products are marketed as “alcohol-free”
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Important for people who wish to avoid the drying effect of alcohol on
the skin
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Important for Muslims seeking Halal products in which alcohol is not
permitted
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Several ingredients used in skincare can be confusing to the
layman/general public
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
“Alcohol Free” explained…
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Many alcohol-free skincare products would appear to non-scientists to
actually contain alcohols, such as PHENOXYETHANOL, CETYL
ALCOHOL, BENZYL ALCOHOL
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PHENOXYETHANOL sounds like an alcohol, it is actually a glycol
ether, and has different properties to alcohols. It is a thick liquid
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CETYL ALCOHOL is a hard wax like substance obtained from Palm Oil
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BENZYL ALCOHOL is a natural constituent of many essential oils
including Jasmine and Ylang Ylang
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
“Alcohol Free” explained…
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These ingredients are actually “ethanol-free”
The old term for ethanol was ethyl alcohol – hence the use of the word
“alcohol”
To the layman, beer, wines and spirits contain alcohol; to the scientist,
they contain ethanol
To the layman, alcohol is a single substance: to a scientist ‘Alcohol’
describes a whole group of substances with differing properties
Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol and Benzyl Alcohol are “alcoholfree” and acceptable as Halal ingredients
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Market Research
Global rise in demand for Halal
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The global market for Halal commodities is currently valued at USD 2 trillion
The Halal cosmetic market is currently worth an estimated USD 560 million
worldwide and growing
An estimated USD 150 billion worth of Halal merchandise is distributed through
the Emirate each year, with personal care items constituting a large proportion
of this figure
Halal fashion and cosmetics constitute a market worth Dh 2.06 billion in the UAE
alone
The UAE is set to capitalise on this booming trend for Halal cosmetics in view of
its position as a regional hub for the distribution of Halal commodities
Currently the market for beauty and grooming products as a whole in the Middle
East is growing at 12% per annum, and is valued at USD 2.1 billion
This growth is being mirrored by the demand for Halal Personal care products
References: www.halaljournal.com - www.ameinfo.com
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Market Research
The Global Halal consumer
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The global Muslim consumer base is estimated to be 1.8 billion spread over 100
countries
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Demand for Halal personal care products and pharmaceuticals is driven by
increased consumer knowledge of the ingredients used in the formulation of
such products and the way they are produced
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Conscientious consumers are specifically reaching out for Halal endorsed
products and are choosing to spend money on cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
to fit in with their religious and cultural requirements
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Women are the main decision makers for purchasing lifestyle products
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Typical Halal consumer is an educated middle to high social class female
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Market Research
Future product trends
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Cosmetics and Toiletries for women, men and children
Hair Dyes
Make up, nail varnishes, hair sprays etc
Perfumes
Personal hygiene products
Vitamin supplements
Pharmacy/over the counter products
Hand sanitisers
Household cleaners and room fresheners
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Industry Challenges…
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Halal is normally associated with meat and other foodstuff
and perceived cruelty to animals due to the process of slaughter
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Non-Muslims may see the Halal logo and think the product is
‘not for them’
Solution = Break down myths and re-define Halal as
Eco-Ethical
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Industry Challenges…
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Lack of credible accreditation bodies in the West (bogus certificates can
be bought over the internet without audits or checks on ingredients)
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Some Muslim countries such as Malaysia are ‘getting their acts
together’ but it may be difficult to contact or talk to someone in person
due to differing time zones and language barriers
Solution = Develop a single globally recognised
Halal standard
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Summarising Halal criteria
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Free from animal flesh (meat, fowl, fish or shellfish), meat or bone stock,
animal or carcass fats, gelatine etc.
Free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Free from Irradiated Raw Materials
Free from Aliphatic Alcohols (e.g ethanol, methanol, etc)
Separation of Halal raw materials and finished products from non-Halal
No cross contamination during the production process
Can’t use alcohol as a sanitiser for hands or for cleaning equipment
Packaging must not contain non-Halal products (e.g animal glue)
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Future Outlook
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Halal industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world
Halal certification can add another USP to your product
It can complement other accreditations to bring your product in line with
the trend of eco-ethical lifestyle products
Open up new global markets
However, certification bodies are not globally standardised
Non-Muslim companies may be open to exploitation by bogus ‘Halal
certifying’
Malaysian government are tackling this by the introduction of a global
Halal certification – JAKIM
But we are a long way off arriving at a global solution
Contact www.halalconsultancy.co.uk or your local Mosque for advice
on how to get your product certified
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved
Questions?
Dr Mah Hussain-Gambles
Founder & CEO - Saaf International Ltd
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 (0) 113 2265849
E: [email protected]
W: www.saafpureskincare.com
Copyright 2008 Saaf International. All rights reserved