The Problem:
Consumers expect cosmetic products to be sustainable without compromising performance or skin feel. Yet many of the ingredients that give creams, lotions, and lip care products their smooth, pleasant texture are derived from fossil resources. Silicones are not biodegradable and are associated with a significant carbon footprint.
While natural alternatives are available, they do not always meet the performance requirements of the cosmetics industry. In addition, they compete with food production for valuable resources.
The Solution:
Evonik uses natural waste streams as feedstocks to produce Ecohance Soft BOL, an emollient that gives skin care products a smooth, pleasant feel. Its raw materials include oleic acid from olive oil production and bio-butanol generated by the Scottish company Celtic Renewables from unusable potatoes and residues from whisky distilleries. Using an enzymatic process powered entirely by renewable electricity, Evonik converts these materials into a sustainable ester oil. The functional ingredient provides a silky skin feel, helps distribute pigments more evenly, and improves the solubility of crystalline UV filters.
Potatoes that are unsuitable for food production can serve as a sustainable source of raw materials. They provide carbohydrates that microorganisms convert into butanol through a biotechnological process. Starch and sugars from the potatoes are used as an energy source for fermentation. In this way, waste can be transformed into valuable raw materials without consuming additional resources.