In the heart of the primary Amazon rainforest lies a remarkably valuable treasure of Brazilian socio-biodiversity: copaiba oil. A key component of modern cosmetics formulations, its harvesting methods have evolved from dispersed individual practices to more sustainable, community-supported extraction systems. 

"By linking forest conservation, community development and consumer products, we see how companies can create tangible value, protect natural resources and support local communities at the same time."says Clariant.

Copaiba oil's journey leads to innovative cosmetic ingredients that respect its origins while meeting modern performance standards. Products such as copaiba oil from Beraca, CBA, Triple A Organic and ADA show how ingredients from the forest can be transformed into solutions for today's conscious consumers.

This is reflected in Clariant's broader focus on health- and sustainability-conscious consumers and brands, as the company innovates to provide organically sourced ingredients that combine efficacy and responsible sourcing to meet the growing demand for wellness, transparency and sustainability.

Clariant points out that what makes copaiba oil particularly valuable in cosmetics is its rich composition of compounds that soothe the skin and help reduce irritation, making it an ideal ingredient to meet the needs of sensitive skin in search of well-being. In this way, it meets growing consumer demand for natural, effective skin care solutions.

_{Photo: By Mauroguanandi - https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4641942}

Mibelle Group, LanzaTech and the Fraunhofer Institute IGB (interface and bioprocess engineering) have succeeded in obtaining a palm-oil-free fat from CO₂.

Because of oil palm's high yield, long shelf life and resistance to heat, the

Palm oil - an essential raw material for industry, thanks to the oil palm's high yield, long shelf life and resistance to heat - is harmful. Its cultivation leads to the deforestation of an ever-increasing proportion of tropical forests. This threatens many animal and plant species and releases large quantities of stored CO₂. 

Aware of this situation, the cosmetics industry mainly sources palm oil from certified crops. This approach guarantees that the raw material comes from sustainably managed sources. However, this solution cannot meet the industry's growing demand in the long term. Hence the search for alternatives.

Mibelle Group, LanzaTech and the Fraunhofer Institute IGB have succeeded, using modern biotechnology from CO₂, in obtaining a palm-oil-free fat. This innovative technology enables palm oil to be sustainably replaced in all products in which it is present.

A new technology

The combination of two successive fermentation processes transforms the greenhouse gas CO₂ into a palm-oil-free fat blend. The composition of this blend is so similar to that of palm oil that it will be able to replace tropical oils in many applications in the future, according to Mibelle Group, LanzaTech and the Fraunhofer Institute IGB.

Initially, the gas that would have been released in the form of CO₂ is transformed into alcohol by biotechnology using the gas fermentation process developed by LanzaTech. This process is comparable to that used to make beer, with CO₂ used here as a raw material instead of grain.

In the second fermentation process, largely developed by Fraunhofer IGB, the alcohol produced from CO₂ is converted into the desired fats by specialized oil yeasts. Only natural, non-genetically modified microorganisms are used in both fermentation processes.

The end product is a high-quality, all-purpose grease, 100 % palm-oil-free and entirely natural. According to its developers, it also has excellent nourishing properties, an important feature for cosmetic products.

"This innovation is the fruit of our long-standing partnership with LanzaTech and represents a major milestone for the cosmetics industry. Combined with the innovative strength of Fraunhofer IGB, it enables us to set new standards for the entire sector, and underlines our commitment to taking responsibility for the future of our planet while making supply chains more robust."says Peter Müller, CEO of the Mibelle Group.

From prototype to market 

Following successful laboratory trials at Fraunhofer IGB and promising application tests in Mibelle Group laboratories, the partners are now launching industrial-scale production of the palm-oil-like fat blend. To this end, the fermentation processes are gradually being transferred to a larger scale at the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical and Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna, a division of Fraunhofer IGB.

"After successful laboratory research, we were able to start developing the pilot process, enthuses Susanne Heldmaier, Head of Research and Technical Innovation at the Mibelle Group. This is an important step that will enable us to obtain the first quantities of a high-quality fat. This will enable us to develop cosmetics that not only protect our skin, but also help to protect the environment. In the future, with the support of our raw material suppliers, we hope to be able to convert more and more palm oil-based raw materials to this sustainable solution."

Five years ago, Mibelle Group had already launched a product recycled from CO₂, the CO₂ being able to be converted into ethanol thanks to the fermentation process developed with LanzaTech. A raw material used in large quantities to manufacture household cleaning products.

From the BeGrape range, Biombalance is a grape seed extract developed for the nutraceutical market from grapes selected and harvested in the Champagne region. 

A pioneer in polyphenols, the Berkem Group's R&D department continually invests in research and proprietary preclinical and clinical trials to fully exploit OPCs (Oligomeric proanthocyanidins), exploring their recognized benefits for human health.

In the latest scientific studies, rapid and lasting digestive comfort has been observed when Biombalance is taken as a dietary supplement, making it, according to Groupe Berkem, one of the world's leading dietary supplements, "the first and only grape seed extract with proven efficacy on intestinal health and quality of life."

"72 % of volunteers said they no longer needed to modify their diet to avoid discomfort. Biombalance supplementation really improves quality of life. This is a major breakthrough for the nutraceutical market".says Amandine Brochot, Scientific Manager in the Health, Beauty & Nutrition business unit at Groupe Berkem.

These results come on the heels of those on the prebiotic effect published in the scientific journal "Antioxidants".