Curious to discover how to better eco-design your cosmetics ?

In order to preserve the environment, the 3R are based on 3 complementary pillars. They allow for better waste management. Indeed, waste is a scourge for many industries, with a potential increase of 70%¹ by 2050. Originally, packaging were the first responsible for this increase in waste, particularly in cosmetics. This is why solutions have been developed: from recycled packaging to a total absence of packaging (bulk). The consideration of waste was then extended to the loss of raw materials, solvents or even energy during the creation of formulas or ingredients. This is how Seppic wanted to give its vision of the 3R, by proposing concepts and formulation solutions aligned with this principle.

The first R, for Reduce, supports the development of formulations using processes or technologies designed to release little waste. Seppic is participating in the reduction of its waste with two formulation innovations:

• Adapted formulas: little or no water, few preservatives and a limited carbon footprint when transporting lighter or more concentrated products, all thanks to innovative cosmetic formulas.
• The cold process: ingredients allowing to obtain formulas without heating, saving time and energy.

Then comes Reuse, which consists in using by-products from other industries, usually unusable, to revalue them in a cosmetic product. Seppic has decided to reuse these waste in order to make effective and eco-responsible ingredients: 

• SEPIFINE™BB: an upcycled natural texturizing powder, derived from the mesocarp of babassu nut, usually discarded during the harvesting of oil (co-product).

Finally, Recycle, by developing processes that allow waste from manufacturing to be valorized, either for the same purpose or for a new one. Seppic encourages this approach with three types of ingredients: 

• the MONTANOV™ range: emulsifiers, with an exemplary naturalness profile, with a recycling by bio-methanization of residual biomasses. They are then revalorized in another industry. 
• SEPIMAX™ ZEN: a versatile polymer with an optimized manufacturing process allowing an optimized recycling of its solvents. 
• Ingredients derived from algae: CODIAVELANE™BG BF, ANTILEUKINE™6 or ASPAR'AGE™ are active ingredients manufactured from algae. The algae residues after extraction for the manufacturing of the ingredients, are valorized as a renewable energy source through a methanization process. 

The 3R evolve year after year, with a progressive addition of new Rs. We can mention, for example: Rethink, which consists in thinking about our actions and their impact on the environment, or Rot, emphasizing biodegradability with compost. Innovation fuels the cosmetics industry, supporting market trends.

_{¹ Zerra & Co, 2022}