As a cosmetic ingredients manufacturer, Sophim chose since 1996 to adopt a circular approach and upcycling to produce its flagship ingredient, Phytosqualan®, a 100% olive squalane emollient.
A circular approach
Environmental concerns are on the rise in every industry. Every actor is now involved in building a more sustainable future for the next generations, and cosmetics also have a role to play.
The traditionnal economical pattern was for long linear in the food and cosmetic industry :
– Extraction and production of raw materials and agricultural ressources from scratch.
– Transformation to offer a finished product, producing an important amount of by-products.
– Consumption of the product, generating more waste.
This pattern is no longer adapted to our society. Particularly in cosmetics, both companies and consumers are in demand for more environment-friendly products and ingredients, produced in a circular approach.
Solutions exist for the cosmetic industry : 0 waste policies, recyclable packagings, waterless formulas…
Sophim, as a cosmetic ingredient supplier, offer Phytosqualan®, an upcycled emollient, produced from valorized food (olive oil) by-products.
The circular economy, which is part of Sophim’s DNA, goes against the linear approach and focuses on efficiency and sustainability at every stage of the production. It was natural to Sophim to use upcycled raw materials to reduce the environmental impact, to apply the green chemistry principles to our production processes, and to offer a biodegradable ingredient.
Upcycling : the future of cosmetics ?
Upcycling is often mistaken for recycling or downcycling. Recycling allows unnecessary products or waste to be transformed into similar or equivalent objects, and downcycling creates lower value objects. Whereas in upcycling, the product obtained in the end has a higher value than the initial material.
Upcycling then appears to be the solution to turn the by-products generated from the agro-food industry into qualitative and safe raw material for the cosmetic industry.
It is a solution that’s better for the planet as it helps to reduce the raw materials carbon footprint, as they do not come from new materials, but from already existing materials turned into a higher value resource.
But upcycling will also help to save money, which will benefit all of the actors from the cosmetic value chain :
– Food producers will add value to their income by valorizing their by-products (sales to cosmetic industry).
– Comestic companies can obtain, a higher quality ingredient at the same price, rather than a recycled one of equivalent value, or a linearly produced one, which costs more.
– Saved cost can be added back in the chain, for instance in Research and Development.
Sophim’s choice : Phytosqualan®
Sophim chose since 1996 to adopt a circular approach to produce its flagship ingredient : Phytosqualan®. Phytosqualan® is a 100% olive squalane, naturally sourced. We have designed a high quality emollient with excellent hydrating properties, respectful of the environment and of the customers’ health.
Phytosqualan® is produced from upcycled by-products from the alimentary olive-oil production. Those by-products offer very little interest for the food industry and were destined to destruction, but they have a high interest in cosmetics as they contain a good concentration in squalene.
Phytosqualan® is produced in the respect of the green chemistry principles, and is biodegradable.
Sophim also decided to extend this circular approach to other products, such as Insapolive, our olive squalene ingredient, or our Raspberry and Plum oil, both produced in France.
To be part of the solution, for more conscious and environment-friendly formulas, ingredients too have their importance. Choose upcycling, contact Sophim.
