The 2022 Awards were unveiled yesterday at the in cosmetics show in Paris.
These awards celebrate the latest ingredient innovations that combine pioneering science and product features in a way that demonstrates substantial benefits to manufacturers and end users.
Ingredient companies large and small turned out in droves for this year's awards, with a record 180 entries in four categories: active ingredient, functional ingredient, green ingredient and the Rising Star award. 47 entries were shortlisted, and a panel of industry experts was tasked with selecting the winners, the full list of which is shown below.
Active ingredient
IFF - Lucas Meyer Cosmetics won the gold medal in the Innovation Zone Award for its Wastar Pink Berry. It is designed as an upcycled botanical extract rich in biflavonoids to soothe irritated scalps. By leveraging the pink berry byproducts left over after the extraction of IFF fragrance compounds, Wastar Pink Berry meets the upcycling trend as it combines sustainable sourcing in Madagascar and high efficacy while limiting its manufacturing impact on the environment.
Winning the silver award, DSM Nutritional Products Europe was recognized for its vitamin B12 cryst, while Gattefossé won bronze for its "new DNA guardian", Solastemis.
Functional ingredient
Lubrizol Life Science won gold for its PemuPur Start polymer. A unique, naturally derived polymer emulsifier offering excellent stabilization capabilities at a low level of use while providing a fresh, fast-breaking feel. At the same time, CFF GmbH & Co KG won the silver award for its natural and environmentally friendly raw material Sensocel, and Ashland won the bronze award for its biocellulose natrathix - a biodegradable rheology modifier of natural origin.
Green ingredient
The Green Ingredient Award, in partnership with Ecovia Intelligence, recognizes ingredients that make a proven significant environmental or social difference in the area of sustainability. Nafigate Corporation won the 2022 title for its Biopolymer Hydal PHA - polyhydroxybutyrate, a recycling ingredient and biopolymer. Based on green chemistry and zero waste manufacturing, this new functional ingredient is biocompatible, non-toxic and fully biodegradable. It forms the basis for new formulations as a polymeric matrix.
Also recognized in the green ingredients category, Mibelle Biochemistry won the silver award for its MelanoGray hair greying essence, sustainably obtained by upcycling the pulp of unique organic Chios mandarin peels. Lipoid Kosmetik AG won the bronze award for its PhytoCollagen - an all-natural, Cosmos-certified plant-based alternative to animal collagen with similar cosmetic benefits.
Rising star
The final award of the day, which recognizes first and second year exhibitors, saw Tagra Biotechnologies take home the coveted Rising Star Award. As a world-renowned producer of innovative microencapsulated active compounds, UV filters and pigments, the company's technology results in stable, effective and attractive formulations for cosmetic use. Its innovative microencapsulation technology allows customers to easily develop innovative formulations and products. It was recognized by judges for the range it offers, as well as for its innovation, convenience, number of sectors it can fit into and the solution orientation of its product range.
