How to define an eco-conscious emulsion?
Eco-designing approach when formulating an emulsion will probably cause you to ask yourself many questions. In addition to adapt to the needs of the market (consumer awareness and demands) and to the products trends (in terms of formulas, claims, galenic), you will have to select ingredients according to various criterias:
- the biodegradability and ecotoxicity of ingredients for rinse-off formulas and suncare products, to reduce the impact of end-of-life products,
- the origin of ingredients to assess the environmental and social responsibility of the supply chain,
- the manufacturing process of the ingredient to support the ressources reduction such as energy or water, to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as well as the waste production,
- the added care benefits of the ingredients, to design efficient minimalist formulas,
- and of course, the naturality and the labels (fair trade, vegan, Cosmos, RSPO …) of the ingredients for better impact on sustainability or social impact.
Favoring renewable and sustainable sources and reducing the environmental footprint throughout the value chain are central to our innovation mission. Our researchers work every day to design and improve our products and integrate all environmental aspects. While green chemistry has encouraged the development of processes that are more respectful of people and the environment, Seppic adopted its 12 principles early on with, for example, our MONTANOV™ emulsifiers range, based on sugar chemistry. To formulate eco-conscious emulsions, this O/W emulsifiers range is the perfect formulator's ally.
First, manufactured in France, with renewable raw materials and according to the green chemistry pillars, our emulsifiers are since the beginning 100% natural origin content (according to ISO 16128 norm), COSMOS, NATRUE, and readily biodegradable (according to OECD 301 methodology). They fully meet today's customer's expectations for natural and sustainable formulas, through RSPO certification
To take our approach a step further, we recover the waste generated by the production of MONTANOV™. This glucoside sludge is treated by methanisation to produce biogas, which in turn is converted into electricity, and a digestate that is used as a natural fertiliser. In this way, 93% of this waste is recycled and CO2 emissions are reduced by 100 tonnes per year compared to a conventional process.