Unilever bows to consumer pressure to bring back original Pears formulation

Following a global internet campaign Hindustan Unilever has confirmed in the press that it will readjust the new product formulation of its Pears Traditional Soap product, in favour of the original offering.

The decision came after a group formed on the popular internet networking site Facebook to highlight their concern that the new formula had changed considerably from the original one and that it now has a much stronger scent. The campaign, ‘Bring back the original Pears soap’ also highlighted how the new product was less environmentally friendly due to the extra packaging it used as the soap now comes in a cellophane wrapper as well as the outer packaging.

Unilever has stated that a boost in sales proves that many consumers favour the new product, however the company has also said that they will adapt the new formulation with a scent more in keeping with the traditional soap.

The reasons behind the reformulation in the first instance was due to modifications of the manufacturing process, which also allowed the company to add better moisturisation qualities into the soap, while the process is also said to be less energy intensive.

Accusations that the new packaging of the soap no longer carried the product claims ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘non-comedogenic’ were also upheld, with Unilever confirming that these claims will now be restored on all future packaging.