Sustainable oleosomes for innovative applications

The vegetable oil stored within the oleosome structure provides emolliency to the skin once the oleosomes collapse upon physical application or drying, while the oleosin protein surrounding the outside of the sphere (being both hydrophilic as well as lipophilic) provides a high level of emulsification.1,2 Isolated, intact oleosomes are used as emulsifiers, emollients or as delivery systems in a wide range of personal care applications. Since the launch of the Hydresia oleosomes into the cosmetics world several years ago, sustainability has become of increasing importance to both consumers and producers. Market research has shown that consumers are more likely to choose brands they know are produced by companies whose products and processes are environmentally-friendly and sustainable.3 As a result, cosmetic marketers are increasingly addressing the sustainability trend and are finding that doing so frequently results in increased market share and cost savings. Definitions of sustainability often refer to the three pillars of social, environmental and economic sustainability.4 It is widely accepted that both society and the economy are constrained by environmental limits. In this article, we demonstrate how the use of vegetable oil bodies—oleosome technology – can help cosmetic marketers achieve their environmental sustainability objectives. Five categories are presented that support the use of Hydresia oleosomes as sustainable ingredients starting with isolation and production of the raw material, through preparation of the finished cosmetic product.

The ‘sustainability wheel’

We have all heard different terms and descriptions which generally fall under the sustainability category as well as the closely related environmental umbrella. Terms such as cradle-to-grave certification, lifecycle assessments and carbon footprinting are just some of the phrases we hear daily, but how can one consolidate the key aspects of these terms so sustainability throughout a product life cycle can be more easily identified? We took this challenge and developed what we have termed the “sustainability wheel”. While the categories outlined in the graphic can be generally applied to many sustainable processes, we have used Hydresia oleosomes as an example of how this model can be applied.