These days its ‘go green or go home’ for many cosmetics brands and consumers. This meant that there was a plethora of sustainable ingredients innovations launched at the In-Cosmetics Global 2025 show.
Many companies also eco-designed their exhibition stands, including French company Laboratoires Expanscience, which won the Sustainable Stand Award at the event’s official awards ceremony.
We’ve rounded up some of the most exciting sustainable ingredients we spotted…
Upcycled & renewable silk peptides
Evolved by Nature’s Activated Silk™ peptides are naturally derived, made with upcycled and renewable resources, and clinically proven.
The life sciences company makes custom bioactive peptides using its Activated Silk biotechnology platform “to replace toxic, petrochemical-derived ingredients commonly found in beauty products,” it says.
Biodegradable wax-based opacifier dispersion
BASF Lamesoft OP Plus is a wax-based opacifier dispersion for high opacity and additional care benefits in rinse-off products. The business said it is readily biodegradable and serves as a substitute for synthetic, acrylate-based ingredients.
Eco-designed fragrance
French independent perfume composition house, Technicoflor launched a new collection of eco-designed fragrances
E.N.R.G.Y. features seven eco-socio-designed fragrances that were formulated with Flor-Index, the firm’s eco-design tool that allows it to assess the environmental and societal impact of perfume formulas.
The collection features unusual combinations, such as a hair serum with “a unique botanical alchemy between broccoli and fig leaves on an aromatic heart.”
Sophorolipid from fermentation and planet-friendly processes
Salsol chemicals’ CARINEX SL is a sophorolipid – a natural compound produced by fermentation and planet-friendly processes. This offers an eco-friendly, natural, multifunctional personal care solution for skin care.
Upcycled olive squalane
Sophim has created an olive squalane, Phytosqualan, which is a natural-sourced emollient obtained from upcycled olive oil from the food industry.
The ingredient offers soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-stretch marks, anti-ageing, anti-wrinkle and antioxidant benefits to name a few.
Upcycled seaweed-based emulsifier
Carbonwave has developed SeaBalance, the world’s first seaweed-based emulsifier for personal care products that’s made from upcycled Sargassum seaweed.
Patented natural origin tripeptide from green chemistry
DSM-Firmenich has launched SYN-COLL CB: a patented natural origin tripeptide produced according to green chemistry. It’s readily biodegradable and 99% natural.
The ingredient helps to slow the skin ageing process by mimicking the body’s own mechanism for boosting collagen and protecting against degradation.
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As one of the world’s leading producers of biodegradable ingredients of natural origin, Jungbunzlauer showcased a range of innovations in the Sustainability Zone, including xanthan gum, a natural and vegan stabiliser and thickener, as well as Citrofol citrate esters, a bio-based UV filter solvent. It also showcased lactic acid and zinc lactate, serving as natural preservative and glucono-delta-lactone for acidification and pH control.
Sustainable rainforest ingredient
Evonik’s Oleobiota is a tannin-rich active for oily and combination skin that comes from the leaves of Ñangapirí, a plant native to the Misiones rainforest in Argentina.
The ingredient is created as part of a project with the sustainability initiative Huellas para un Futuro Foundation.
In skin care formulations it has a sebonormalising and mattifying action that modulates the oily microenvironments of the skin and scalp, balancing the microbiota.
Upcycled aluminium for antiperspirants
Elementis’ REACH AZP 908 LC is an an aluminium active for antiperspirant products that uses high-quality upcycled aluminium to reduce the carbon footprint and enhance sustainability profiles.
Biotech-based microalgae
Natura-Tec Marine SeaDew EPS is a “super marine sugar” derived from microalgae, offering hydration, protection and regeneration for the skin.
It uses a unique sustainable biotechnology based on circular production using green energy, with a positive carbon footprint while creating nutrients for skin care.
Sustainable oat peptide
EcoPep is a natural and sustainable oat peptide that has been “scientifically proven to revitalise hair from the scalp.”
It is been produced through enzyme-based biotechnological process, a patent-pending method “that ensures high purity and potency with minimal environmental impact,” according to the company.
Plant-based, biodegradable glitter
Sparxell has created 100% plant-based, biodegradable colour pigments, sequins and glitters for colour cosmetics. Made from renewable cellulose that is one hundred per cent nature positive, this replaces synthetic materials, reduce, greenhouse gas emissions and stops reliance on microplastics.
Multi-origin squalane
Syensqo Dermalcare® VG Squalane is a 100% plant-based emollient sourced from canola, sunflower, and olive.
The company said that the multi-origin approach “ensures supply security while delivering the same properties and luxurious skin feel as traditional olive squalane.”
Sweet water algae for ‘inflammaging’
Sourced from sweet water algae, Sharon Personal Care by Eternis has launched Pantrofina Klamath, which the company says is: “scientifically proven to protect against inflammaging and photoaging,” as well as being a sustainable offering.
Upcycled tomato oil
Australian company Native Extracts has unveiled its Red Velvet Oil, which is made from upcycled tomatoes.
The business said it converts over 5,000 tonnes of surplus tomato seeds and food processing waste biomass into this cold-pressed oil each year, which it dubbed “an eco-responsible source of lycopene, phytosterols and fatty acids.”
The company claims its benefits include: anti-aging, barrier function, sunscreen, after-sun care and ingestible beauty-from-within products.