Unilever agrees to strategic investment in Solazyme for renewable oils
Unilever has joined a growing list of strategic investors that also include multi-billionaire businessman Richard Branson, to secure further development funds for the company’s renewable oils and bioproducts from microalgae.
The Unilever investment will be built into both its personal care and nutritional fields, and will see Solazyme’s renewable oil technology platform integrated within Unilever’s product portfolio.
The investment follows on from a two year working co-operation between the two companies, which to date has included a year long collaboration in which Solazyme’s renewable algae oils were tested in a range of Unilever products.
Part of Unilever's sustainability goals
“Our technology compliments Unilever’s aggressive drive and commitment to deliver sustainable high performance product to consumers globally,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO and co-founder of Solazyme.
Algae has been used in a broad range of personal care products for many years, but is increasingly being included in formulations on the back of growing interest in natural- and organic-based formulations.
Traditionally algae has been used as thickening agents, water-binding agents and antioxidants – the latter having characteristics that make it a very useful ingredient in a range of anti-aging formulations.
Unilever has been a particularly staunch supporter of sourcing sustainable ingredients.
Unilever and sustainable palm oil
In particular it has led the way in the sourcing of sustainable palm oil for food and personal care products, an initiative that has been spearheaded by CEO Paul Polman.
Speaking about the how the investment in Solazyme will help to further Unilever’s sustainability aims, Phil Giesler, innovation director at Unilever said:
“It will also help us to plan for how future developments in Solazyme’s technology platform will contribute to Unilever’s supply options and assist us in our sustainability vision.”
