What do adhesives, fine fragrance, and AI-powered beauty advice have in common? They’re all being radically reimagined by a new class of innovators reshaping consumer experience from the inside out. In the Innovation Momentum 2025: The Global Top 100 report, three standout newcomers, Henkel, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), and L’Oréal, are proving that industries often seen as traditional or tactile are now driving the future of consumer goods innovation.
These aren’t just household names, they’re science and data powerhouses, embedding advanced R&D, sustainable chemistry, and artificial intelligence deep into the products we touch, taste, and trust every day. From AI-personalized skincare routines to recyclable adhesives and next-gen flavor molecules, their innovations don’t just serve markets, they anticipate them.
Let’s take a closer look at why these three companies made the cut and how they’re quietly leading the next era of industrial and consumer goods innovation.
Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, has been at the forefront of sustainable innovation in consumer goods. In 2024, Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies division received the FINAT Sustainability Award for its development of Aquence PS 3017 RE, a water-based acrylic adhesive designed to improve the recyclability of PET bottles by facilitating easier label removal.
Beyond packaging, Henkel is advancing sustainability in the mobility sector. The company is focusing on e-mobility solutions, developing adhesives and coatings that enhance battery safety and efficiency in electric vehicles. These innovations not only contribute to environmental goals but also align with the increasing demand for sustainable transportation solutions.
Using the LexisNexis PatentSight+ SDG-to-patent mapping tool, we created a visualization of the sustainability focus of Henkel and could see the major SDGs their technologies address. Figure 1 shows an overview.
Figure 1: Portfolio distribution of Henkel patents that are related to specific UNSDGs. The number represents the aggregate number of patent families attributed to each goal.
IFF, a leading innovator in the food, beverage, and personal care industries, continues to push the boundaries of flavor and fragrance creation. At the 2024 World Perfumery Congress, IFF unveiled new fragrance ingredients, including Ylanganate and natural oils from grapefruit and Persian lime, showcasing their commitment to combining natural elements with cutting-edge science.
In the food and beverage sector, IFF introduced IFF NEO™, a natural flavor collection free of citrus-derived components, catering to the growing demand for clean-label products. These innovations reinforce IFF’s role in sustainable consumer goods innovation, especially in taste and scent. The video below shows the sunburst chart in PatentSight+, useful in visualizing the breakdown of technologies in the IFF patent portfolio, and the share of individual technologies within it. This allows us to gain further understanding of their research directions and overall focus areas.
L’Oréal has solidified its position as a beauty tech leader by integrating artificial intelligence and personalization into its offerings. In collaboration with NVIDIA, L’Oréal is enhancing its AI capabilities to improve content creation and product recommendations. The partnership supports platforms like CreAItech, which generates photorealistic marketing visuals, and Noli, an AI-powered beauty marketplace providing personalized product suggestions based on individual customer data. Figure 2 shows the top technologies developed by L’Oréal in the fields of AI and Machine Learning.
Figure 2: The chart showcases L’Oréal’s patent portfolio in machine learning and AI. It breaks the portfolio down into specific sub-technologies. It compares the number of patents (portfolio size) with their Patent Asset Index value, reflecting both quantity and quality across the technologies.
Patent Asset Index here refers to the overall strength of patents in each technology area, measured using scientifically proven metrics for technology impact and total market potential. The chart depicts L’Oréal’s portfolio in CT Imaging, Ablation, Similarity, Remote Sensing etc. has significant strength as measured by Patent Asset Index, although the portfolio size is relatively low. This indicates that L’Oréal owns a few but possibly highly relevant patents for these technologies.
The inclusion of Henkel, IFF, and L’Oréal in the Innovation Momentum 2025 report underscores the importance of innovation in driving industry leadership. Each company exemplifies how integrating sustainability, technology, and consumer-centric approaches can lead to significant advancements in their respective sectors.
As industries continue to evolve, the ability to innovate and adapt remains crucial. These companies not only respond to current market demands but also anticipate future trends, positioning themselves as pioneers in consumer and industrial innovation. Their breakthroughs are setting new standards in global consumer goods innovation.
In fast-moving markets like these, benchmarking innovation isn’t optional; it’s essential.To make smart, high-impact decisions, you need reliable insight into where you stand and where your competitors are headed.
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The Innovation Momentum 2025: The Global Top 100 report celebrates the top 100 companies that are breaking boundaries and setting new benchmarks in technology and industry through visionary advancements.
