Fenchem has launched an extensive portfolio of plant-based active ingredients based on commonly used herbs and plants such as green tea, rosemary, gingko and grape extract.
The newly expanded botanical active portfolio taps into market leading growth in the niche category for active ingredients as a whole, indeed a recent Kline report states that the category is currently growing a 8 per cent per annum, faster than any other active ingredient category.
The new portfolio is also focused on key areas of growth for cosmetic and personal care products, particularly for the ever popular anti-ageing category, and to a lesser extent skin lightening.
Tapping into nature's science
Scientists and researchers claim that botanical actives are nature’s way of tackling various skin conditions and problems, often at a cellular level, thanks to anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Fenchem’s range includes G-Tea, based on polyphenols and their powerful anti-oxidant properties that protect against UV damage; as well as Grapurit Grape Seed extract, which is also characterised by polyphenols, providing skin lightening, anti-aging and sun care properties.
Other ingredients include EssenRose Rosemary extract, which uses organic rosemary and is available in both water-soluble and fat-soluble forms as a strong anti-oxidant, while Gingkone is an extract of gingko that is said to provide powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
The company says that all of the ingredients in the botanical active range are 100 per cent natural, while a number of the ingredients are in the process of being certified as organic – an area that will be of increasing focus for the company as the portfolio expands.
Building on skin whitening presence
Fenchem also recently launched a new skin whitening technology to tap into the growing global market for this type of product.
Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring polyphenol derived from the gallnut, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years.
The company uses an excretion from the gallnut produced as a by-product from the larvae of gall insects such as the gall wasp. Historically this extract has been produced for Chinese medicines by cultivating it on oak trees.
The company says it is targeting growth for skin whitening products outside the key markets of Japan and the US with its Ellagic acid ingredient.
At the end of last year Frenchem said it will continue its expansion into cosmetics ingredients, having announced a 35 per cent increase in its annual revenue.
The industry-leading growth came off the back of its expansion into the cosmetics field this year, when the company stated it was building on cross-over ingredients for its food and nutritional division.
The company says that, in contrast with many businesses in the manufacturing supply segment, it is currently in the process of expanding its production and personnel to help meet increased demand, which is also being fed by an expansion of its pet food ingredients.