The company booth is a hum of activity as long-standing customers and prospective new clients learn one-on-one what the new portfolio is all about.
“Consumers, retailers, and brands are increasingly focused on the environmental impact of their products, and we believe that SustOleo provides a significant step forward not just for meeting consumer preferences but also in improving the world around us,” Fana Makonnen, technical marketing manager for Inolex says in the company press release about the new ingredients.
Regional variation
US and EU – based companies are the most enthusiastic about the alternative ingredients, Makonnen tells Cosmetics Design, and Australian companies aren’t far behind. But, as she goes on to explain, multinational cosmetics and personal care manufacturers that formulate for markets around the globe are also keen to find viable, sustainable alternatives to palm oil and palm oil – derived ingredients.
Smaller companies could do well with alternatives also, believes Makonnen. Natural brands and those aiming to reach consumers passionate about environmental sustainability could leverage ingredients like those Inolex just launched to deliver on promises that go beyond RSPO claims.
Ingredients
The company’s palm-free alternative portfolio (marketed under the tagline, Exit The Palm Industry Now) comprises 8 ingredients. There are two fluid emollients in the collection: SustOleo MCT and SustOleo DCS; three texturizers: SustOleo TSB, SustOleo BG, and SustOleo BA; as well as three emulsifiers, known as SustOleo GMS, SustOleo GMS-SE, and SustOleo 1822.
“With a robust and sustainable supply chain, reliable origins, and reasonable costs,” the company belives that this portfolio “provides a unique solution for the increasingly environmentally-conscious personal care industry,” according to the press release. SustOleo GMS-SE is made from olive derivatives, for instance.
In formulation
For the in-cosmetics launch, Inolex developed several prototypes—all palm-free formulations, and many completely natural. There’s a water-based lotion with lots of slip, a brush-in-bottle cuticle softener, color product with good pigment dispersion, and a harder matte lipstick.
The company also created a very on-trend cleansing oil. And the ingredients were all developed within Ecocert guidelines and qualification is in the works.