Royal DSM has begun personal care customer sampling of the world’s first fully bio-based Vitamin A.
DSM is initially producing bio-based Vitamin A for the personal care market where there is an established and increasing consumer demand for high-performance, renewable cosmetic ingredients.
Application testing is now underway with the first selected customers and representative material is available for sampling ahead of a commercial-scale production and a full launch in early 2023.
Pioneering research by DSM has led to a new scientific breakthrough whereby it is now possible to produce Vitamin A using a specially developed strain of yeast that converts a renewable carbon source into Vitamin A.
The nature-inspired process has since been refined and proven to be scalable thanks to a global collaboration across six DSM facilities (Lexington and Columbia, US; Delft, Netherlands; Grenzach, Germany; Kaiseraugst and Sisseln, Switzerland).
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for good health, including benefiting the immune and digestive systems.
It is also one of the most potent anti-aging compounds used widely in treatments to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and to increase collagen production.
Ronald Gebhard, DSM’s VP Biosciences & Process Innovation, said: “We realized we had something revolutionary at hand when we first isolated Vitamin A out of a bio-broth with a profile consistent to our existing process.
“Our new fully bio-based process relies on commonly available renewable raw materials and results in a lower carbon footprint and less waste while still delivering the industry-beating quality expected of DSM.”
Parand Salmassinia, DSM’s VP Personal Care & Aroma, added: “Vitamin A is one of the most in-demand and trusted cosmetic ingredients on the market and we will now be able to offer an alternative with significant environmental advantages.
“Our innovation will help DSM’s customers lead their product categories in sustainability, offering a considerable contribution to their climate change actions and net zero goals. We are seeing an overwhelmingly positive response and look forward to commercializing this innovation in the personal care industry starting next year”.
