Danish biotech Cellugy desires to switch microplastics in cosmetics

Danish biotech Cellugy has raised €8.1mn in EU funding to speed up manufacturing of a biodegradable materials designed to switch microplastics in cosmetics.

The grant, awarded below the EU’s LIFE Programme for environmental initiatives, will assist the commercialisation of EcoFLEXY, a cellulose-based materials to be used in private care merchandise akin to lotions, gels, and toothpaste. 

Cellugy claims EcoFLEXY is the primary materials of its form to match the efficiency of fossil-based carbomers, that are famed for his or her capability to provide cosmetics a easy, constant texture and an extended shelf life. Presently, carbomers dominate the worldwide cosmetics market regardless of hyperlinks to microplastic air pollution and human well being unwanted effects. 

“Another materials that merely goals to be extra sustainable just isn’t sufficient,” stated Dr Isabel Alvarez-Martos, CEO and co-founder of Cellugy. “The crucial problem is about delivering bio-based options that truly outperform petrochemicals… Good intentions gained’t drive business change.”

Cellugy estimates that its product might forestall 259 tonnes of microplastic air pollution yearly, scaling to over 1,200 tonnes by 2034, which it says is equal to eradicating tens of millions of contaminated magnificence merchandise from the market annually.

The funding may also assist course of optimisation and environmental validation, in partnership with Danish consultancy The Footprint Agency and Berlin-based AI firm Sci2sc, which develops AI brokers for biotech firms.

“Our function is to optimise each layer of manufacturing in order that EcoFLEXY can compete not simply on environmental advantages, however on price and efficiency metrics that matter to producers,” stated Angelina Lesnikova, Sci2sci’s CEO.

With regulatory stress in opposition to microplastics mounting in each the EU, Cellugy is positioning itself to fulfill the demand for extra sustainable supplies within the cosmetics sector. 

“Inside three to 5 years, we count on to be producing vital income whereas delivering a measurable environmental affect,” Alvarez-Martos stated.