Responsible Beauty: How P&G is Using Guar

P&G Beauty is joining with Solvay and TechnoServe India in the Sustainable Guar Initiative (SGI), an industry-leading effort designed to accelerate sustainable growth of guar at scale, empower more women farmers, and further improve the livelihoods of smallholder guar bean farmers in India. Click here to learn more about the partnership.

This natural material is one of P&G Beauty’s priority ingredients for sustainable sourcing.

But what exactly is guar?

What is guar?
The guar, or cluster bean, is an annual legume and the source of guar gum. It is also known as gavar, gawar, or guvar bean. Originating in the western and northwestern sectors of India, guar has been cultivated for thousands of years.

Where does guar come from?
About 80% of world production of guar comes from Rajasthan, India. Approximately 15% from Pakistan, and the remainder from a couple of other countries.

What is guar gum used for?
Guar gum has many functions for human and animal nutrition. Due to its many properties such as thickening, emulsifying, stabilizing, binding, and gelling properties, it has applications in multiple industries, such as food, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, and cosmetics.

How is guar used in beauty products?
Guar gum is a natural polymer that is derived to provide conditioning and softening benefits in beauty products like shampoos and body washes. In shampoos, it targets and helps repair the damaged areas of hair, restoring softness and manageability. It also plays an important role in helping to distribute anti-dandruff active ingredients on the scalp to prevent dandruff. In the case of body wash, it helps moisturizing actives stay on the skin to help restore and maintain a healthy moisture balance.

Click here to learn how we’re responsibly sourcing guar and other ingredients.

Click here to read about our Responsible Sourcing Expectations for Materials of Natural Origin.

P&G Responsible Beauty is not a separate thing we do on the side—it’s how we do business every day around the world. Learn more.