Naturex takes palm oil-free demand as seriously as manufacturers
Palm oil and its derivatives are present in about 70 per cent of cosmetic products and are obtained from the flesh of the fruit of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and palm kernel oil is obtained by pressing oil from the kernel, or seed, of the fruit.
Big industry players such as L’Oréal, Unilever and Avon, among others, have all found themselves committing to sustainable palm oil as consumer demand for ethically and environmentally sound products increases; as awareness of its presence has increased and pressure grows to make the industry more sustainable.
Meet demand
Ingredient suppliers thus have to follow suit, and Avignon-headquartered Naturex has responded with its range of totally palm-free botanical extracts.
“Our entire range of liquid glycerin based botanical extracts is now 100 per cent palm-free,” says Stéphanie Puel, Business Unit Director for Personal Care at the company.
Since May this year, Naturex has replaced glycerin derived from palm with a new source of rapeseed-derived glycerin in all botanical extracts that it formulates for the personal care industry.
This rapeseed-derived glycerin is a by-product of green chemistry bio-fuels in Europe.
The ‘Magic of Africa’ collection of botanical extracts contains five plant extracts available in powder or liquid form: kigelia, hibiscus, green rooibos, kola nut, and green coffee.
The liquid form is formulated with rapeseed-derived glycerine and each of the collection’s natural ingredients is available as a standardized extract and can be tailored to meet all specific formulation requirements.
To see CosmeticsDesign-Europe speak to the man behind the ‘Magic of Africa’ concept, Medecine Hunter Chris Kilham, at in-cosmetics this year, click here.
Deforestation
Naturex says that deforestation fueled by the demand for palm oil has raised concerns in consumers’ minds, and this has meant that ingredient suppliers must now offer a sustainable option when it comes to formulating personal care products without palm oil.
“Naturex is committed to providing ingredients that are not associated with deforestation. In switching from palm-oil derivatives to other sources, Naturex has sought out a balanced solution built on two of its core strengths: technical skills and supply chain expertise.”
