Sustainable beauty: COSSMA

Active ingredients and additives in cosmetic products do not always have to be obtained in an unsustainable way. Really sustainable economy can be demonstrated, for example, if emulsifiers are obtained from waste products from food production and the living and working conditions of the population in the countries of origin are positively influenced.

Sustainable practices are no longer a “nice-to-have”, they are a requirement. So, companies are assuming more and more of the responsibility for creating lasting change. For example, the focus can be placed on land use, climate change, water resources, farmer livelihoods, food security and nutrition. Today’s consumers do more research and are better informed when making beauty product choices. They want to know where their product comes from, how it is produced, what’s in it and to make sure it has been produced with respect for the welfare of people and the planet. At the same time, they won’t compromise on performance. Building a strong story behind their brands istherefore a key priority for personal care manufacturers, in order to maintain or regain consumers’ trust.

High standards

In order not to waste valuable raw materials, Cargill has developed a broad portfolio of plant-based personal care ingredients reaching from texturizers to emollients and sensory enhancers. This development builds on the consumer’s demand for clean beauty and transparent supply chains. In the portfolio are personal care ingredients that are used in a broad variety of beauty applications and products. A zero-waste texturizer and emulsion stabilizer1 is derived from left-over citrus peels from Argentina. The manufacturing process uses the side stream of food-grade lemon juice to extract the citrus peel fibre, eliminating unwanted food waste. The ingredient obtained is naturally cooling, can be used in multiple skincare applications and has a versatile texture range. What makes this innovative product truly remarkable is its ability to be a sustainable solution while maintaining a high-performance result.

Delivering on promises

Sustainable supply chain development is also an issue when it comes to avoid wasting resources. Cargill for example signed the Red Seaweed Promise. This program is specifically designed to address key sustainability challenges for the harvesting and cultivation of red seaweed, while enhancing producer livelihoods, supporting local communities and conserving marine and coastal biodiversity. Red seaweed can be used as a base for thickeners or gelling agents for beauty products. Seaweed producers and their communities should be enabled to achieve better incomes and living standards in a way that will accelerate progress towards a sustainable and transparent global seaweed supply chain. The Red Seaweed Promise is independently assessed and verified by Proforest – a world leader in supporting the sustainable management and sourcing of natural resources and smallholder development.

Farm-based program

Another product that delivers sustainable solutions to the beauty industry is a patented emulsifier². It is derived from waxy corn and can emulsify with a variety of oils. This product is supported by Cargill’s Waxy Corn Promise, which is a farmbased program that leverages strong partnerships with farmers and co-op

suppliers by addressing key sustainability challenges in the waxy corn growing regions, such as biodiversity and water quality. Externally verified and benchmarked against the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the Waxy Corn Promise delivers on consumers’ expectations for more sustainable ingredients. On this further path to a more sustainable world, it is important to offer better beauty solutions. Working with smart minds helps promote sustainable technologies and innovations that use the best plant resources. It is a journey that is evolving, and that Cargill is proud to be part of.