About
Upcycled food is defined as "ones that use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive impact on the environment" (Upcycled Food Organization, May 2020).
As consumers strive to make purchases that are more eco-friendly, Cosmetics & Toiletries have highlighted that:
- 95% of consumers want to reduce food waste
- 60% of consumers want to buy more upcycled products
- The market size for upcycled products will reach $46 billion, with a 5% CAGR.
Upcycled Ingredients
Upcycled ingredients such as seeds, peels, flowers, fruit and other foods are often rejected by the food industry and can therefore be upcycled for use in cosmetic products. Commodity ingredients such as vegetable oils, butters, extracts and exfoliant seeds from fruits are more commonly used for skin care and hair care.
Specialties, on the other hand, are a more refined way of extracting from foods. For example, formulators can use banana leaves through enzymatic extraction to create Musa sapientum (banana) extract, which can then be used as a preservative booster /preservative. Likewise, a citrus peel, through enzymatic extraction, can create pectin for cosmetics formulations.
Upcycled Packaging
120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, bulked out by the use of complex lids, multi-layered boxes, and cellophane, much of which is non-recyclable, ending up in our landfills and oceans (Glamour, 2020).
Packaging Innovation Examples:
- Packaging made from mycelium - the vegetative root structure of a mushroom
- Grasspaper boxes and papers containing sun dried grass. The production of grasspaper uses up to 80% less energy than that of wood pulp, with dramatically reduced water requirements
- Upcycling takeaway cups, giving this post-consumer waste a second life, transforming it into papers and packaging
- Taking plastic packaging from ocean waste
Our Solutions
Surfachem have created an indulgent red maple purifying face mask, including:
- Corbion AlgaPūr™ HSHO Algae Oil - one of the most stable liquid bio-based oils on the market, this ingredient delivers versatility in eco-friendly formulations for skin and hair care.
- STEPAN MILD L3 - G MB - a viscosity builder, foam booster, emulsifier and emollient that can be used in a variety of Personal Care and Cosmetics formulations
- TEGO® PEP 4-17 - a peptide sequence based on skin's own structure. This preservative-free solution shows superior collagen, hyaluronic acid and fibronectin boosting activity.
Waste No More - Turn Trash Into Treasure From Evonik
As consumers want their products to ‘do more’, formulators can respond by selecting active ingredients that begin as by-products or second generation feedstocks. In partnership, Surfachem and Evonik offers a wide portfolio of upcycled ingredients and by-products.
Upcycled Fragrances - Givaudan
Givaudan play a pioneering role in bringing upcycling to fragrance, breathing new life into ‘useless’ and ‘unwanted’ materials. These uniquely beautiful scents allow formulators to take their own individual journey towards a more sustainable future.
Have You Tried?
| Ingredient | Source | Type | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEGO® Natural Citrus | Citrus Reticulata | Upcycled Ingredient | Antioxidative effects for radiant and harmonised skin appearance |
| TEGO® Natural Mangifera | Mangifera indica (mango) leaves | Upcycled Ingredient | Superfruit with strong antioxidative properties to delay skin aging |
| TEGO® Natural Betaine | Sugar Beet Molasses | By-product Processing | Natural amino acid delivering strong moisturisation properties |
| TEGO® Sterol KCS | Renewable Sheep Wool | By-product Processing | Cholesterol derivative re-enforces the natural skin barrier |
| TEGO® Sterol 7-DHC | Renewable Sheep Wool | By-product Processing | Vitamin D3 precursor elevates skin's protective power |
