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Welsh SME is developing a range of dehydrated, ethically sourced, PETA approved vegan cosmetics. Seeking a technical partnership with commercial potential to identify water soluble, vegan-based polymer films suitable for cosmetic encapsulation.

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology request
POD Reference
TRGB20250129003
Term of Validity
29 January 2025 - 29 January 2026
Company's Country
  • United Kingdom
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
Already established in the ethical cosmetic sector, this Welsh SME has formulated a range of concentrated, dehydrated cosmetics to minimise each product’s carbon footprint.

The company is requesting a technical partnership with polymer film supplier to identify and validate vegan-based polymer films for encapsulation of cosmetic powders.
Full Description
The concept of waterless cosmetics, is gaining in popularity as demonstrated by increased sales of traditional bars of soap. Creating concentrated products with more active ingredients not only reduces water usage during manufacturing but also lowers carbon footprint due to lower product weight and the associated decrease in excess packaging waste.

Whilst this Welsh SME already markets ethical cosmetic bars plus liquid formulations in reusable glass bottles, they have developed a range of cosmetic powder concentrates that require encapsulation before rehydration by the end-user.

Traditional petroleum based polymers such as PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), deliver the required encapsulation and re-solubility characteristics in warm water but are not compatible with the company’s ethical and eco-conscious strategy.

Company requests a technical partnership with an EU company to identify, evaluate and eventually supply vegan-based polymer films for powder encapsulation. The aim is to launch a range of ethical, dehydrated cosmetics across the EU in 2025/26.
Stage of Development
  • Available for demonstration
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
IPR description
Technical and manufacturing expertise in vegan-based polymer films. Colourless or as close to colourless as possible polymer films that could be utilised to encapsulate powders, plus dissolve completely in warm water to form a clear colourless solution, without leaving any film residue.

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
Seeking company partner that has in-house or subcontracted production capabilities and is able to collaborate on identifying and testing vegan-based alternatives to traditional polymer encapsulation films.

Specific Area of Activity of the Partner
- Design of sustainable, vegan-based polymer film that exhibits encapsulation properties.
- Production of vegan-based encapsulation alternatives to PVP.
- Ideally suppliers specialising in ecological and socially responsible polymer film production.

Tasks to be performed by the partner sought:
- Design, optimisation and production of vegan-based polymer film which will be assessed for cosmetic powder encapsulation and rehydration performance.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME 50 - 249
  • SME <=10
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 02007014 - Plastics, Polymers
  • 06006004 - Biopolymers
Market keywords
  • 07004002 - Health and beauty aids
Targeted countries
  • All countries