Biofilms in Policy: Consumer Products and the Fight against Biofilms

Biofilms pose significant challenges across the consumer goods sector, from food safety to personal care and household cleaning products. Their impact spans product quality, shelf life, and hygiene standards, driving innovation in antimicrobial solutions and sustainable formulations. However, balancing effectiveness, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance under frameworks like the Biocidal Products Regulation remains a major hurdle.

This blog explores how biofilms influence product development, the role of policy in shaping industry practices, and why evolving regulations and consumer awareness are critical for a sustainable future.

Every other day you may find yourself strolling through the aisles of a supermarket or your preferred online store, picking up essentials like food or perhaps you are stocking up on your cleaning products or replenishing your personal hygiene and beauty items, or maybe you are treating yourself to a new appliance or the electric toothbrush you have been eyeing for a while.

All these consumer goods that we rely on for our daily lives and flow through the economy are known as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), which are the largest segment of consumer goods, Slow-Moving Consumer Goods (SMCGs), Consumer Packaged Goods (CPGs), Consumer Durables or Consumer Non-Durables [1]. The sector is vast, for example, the household and home care cleaning market in the UK alone reached £4bn in 2019 with an estimated 5% growth yearly [2, 3], highlighting its extensive economic and scientific significance.

Biofilms play a pivotal role in the development and efficacy of many of these consumer goods [2]. Biofilms are communities of living micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungi, that evolve and grow together.

In the manufacturing of consumer goods, especially in food and beverage production, biofilms can form on equipment and containers, leading to contamination. This contamination can compromise product safety and quality, potentially leading to spoilage and foodborne illnesses. Similarly, in the realm of personal care and household cleaning products, the ability to control or remove biofilms is often a key selling point, particularly in products like mouthwash, toothpaste, or (bathroom) cleaners. Biofilms can also affect the shelf life and stability of products. In personal care items, for example, the presence of biofilms can degrade the product, diminishing its effectiveness over time. Preservatives are therefore often added to formulations to prevent microbial growth and biofilm formation.

The challenge of biofilms has spurred innovation in the development of new biocidal and antimicrobial agents that are effective against biofilms yet safe for consumers and the environment. This is particularly relevant as consumer demand increases for products that are not only effective but also environmentally friendly. These eco-friendly components often struggle to match the efficacy of traditional ingredients, may inadvertently nourish microbial communities or may be harmful for the consumer [4]. The challenge lies in innovating products that not only meet effectiveness standards but also align with environmental sustainability goals. This often requires reformulating products to be self-preserving, such as by reducing water content or creating more concentrated formulas, thereby balancing efficacy with ecological responsibility.

Navigating the regulatory landscape, particularly under frameworks like the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR in Northern Ireland, UK BPR), poses another significant hurdle. These regulations require FMCG companies to demonstrate that new products achieve specific hygiene benefits, which often involves extensive and costly testing processes. For example, demonstrating the effectiveness of a new biocidal ingredient against biofilms rather than just suspended bacteria can be complex and resource-intensive, potentially stifling innovation due to the high costs and slow time-to-market for new products. This is especially an issue for Small-Medium Entreprises [5].

Moreover, there is a broader challenge in communicating the risks and realities of biofilms to the public [6]. Enhancing consumer awareness about biofilms in an engaged way is crucial, as is addressing misconceptions about antimicrobial products and their role in antimicrobial resistance. Public education efforts need to convey that not all biofilms are harmful and that antimicrobial products, when used correctly, can be part of effective hygiene practices without necessarily contributing to resistance.

The shift towards greater sustainability in the consumer product sector is not solely driven by market forces; it is also a directive actively shaped and supported by UK policy and policymaking. This strategic intervention underscores the government’s commitment to fostering an environmentally responsible marketplace. The UK government’s ambitious goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 requires a transformative approach in the manufacturing and consumption of consumer goods [7]. These could act as the engine forcing innovation and demanding collaboration across the entire supply chain. Policies, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan also encourage the reduction of carbon footprints across production cycles, promoting the use of renewable energy sources and sustainable materials and encouraging a pathway for the circular economy. This is also exemplified by the UK Plastic Pact, a collaborative initiative led by WRAP (the Waste & Resource Action Programme), which brings together 250 organisations and companies, most of which are part of the FMCG industry.

As policy, technology, and consumer awareness increasingly intersect, they create a system that not only promotes economic growth but also innovation. However, challenges arise when technological advancements outpace policy frameworks, as shown by the Biocidal Products Regulation. This regulation currently uses outdated metrics that struggle to adequately address the complexities of biofilm management. Such discrepancies highlight the necessity for policies to evolve in tandem with scientific developments. A successful transformation of the consumer goods sector, therefore, requires that policy frameworks continuously adapt, ensuring they remain aligned with the latest scientific insights and technological innovations. This dynamic updating of policies will support sustainable practices that benefit both the economy and the environment.

Sources

[1] Investopedia. “Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).” Accessed November 13, 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fastmoving-consumer-goods-fmcg.asp

[2] Cámara, M., Green, W., MacPhee, C.E. et al. Economic significance of biofilms: a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral challenge. npj Biofilms Microbiomes 8, 42 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-022-00306-y

[3] National Biofilm Innovation Centre. “Economic Impact of Biofilms: Household Homecare.” Accessed November 20, 2025. https://biofilms.ac.uk/economic-impact-of-biofilms

[4] Harding-Smith, Ellen et al. “Does Green Mean Clean? Volatile Organic Emissions from Regular versus Green Cleaning Products.” Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EM00439B

[5] SMEunited. “Position on Biocidal Products.” April 29, 2025. https://www.smeunited.eu/admin/storage/smeunited/20250429-smeunited-biocidalproducts-position.pdf Accessed November 20, 2025.

[6] Joanna Verran et al., “Hands On Biofilm! A Multidisciplinary Public Engagement Event Using Kombucha Tea Pellicle as an Accessible Example of Biofilm,” Biofilm 6 (December 15, 2023): 100169, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100169o

[7] House of Commons Library, “Research Briefings – CBP-9888,” last modified January 20, 2025, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9888

Biofilms in Policy: Consumer Products and the Fight against Biofilms

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