Amyris Launches Biosilica

Aprinnova Inc., an Amyris joint venture, is commercializing a plant-derived silica made from sugarcane ashes.
 
Silica is used widely in personal care and cosmetics, and is traditionally sourced from non-renewable sand dredging, which requires significant energy consumption and emits large amounts of C02. The new ingredient branded Biosilica can be used in foundations, creams, lotions and other applications as a sustainable alternative to traditional silica. In addition, it offers an alternative to microplastics which are being phased out of many cosmetic products.
 
This ingredient innovation was led by Amyris, a synthetic biotechnology company in the Clean Health and Beauty markets and a top supplier of sustainable and natural ingredients, in partnership with the Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (“UCP”) in Porto/AICEP Consortium Project. 
 
Biosilica is available for sampling in August with commercial scale volumes expected to begin in 2021 and allows brands to participate in the circular economy based on the concept that materials and products are never wasted, but always reused or recycled. Cosmetic brands can get on the list to request samples online through Aprinnova.
 
In consumer perception studies, both pressed powders and liquid foundations made with Biosilica demonstrated great skin performance when compared with formulations using industry benchmark silica, says the company. Biosilica has unique sphericity, high oil absorption, particle size and oil/water absorption ratio. These characteristics offer benefits such as sebum control, mattification, and anti-aging effects without drying the skin.
 
“The beauty industry is ready to lead sustainable innovations as it touches more lives each day than almost any other industry and produces millions of tons of waste from ingredient supply to product packaging,” said Amyris. “Consumer demand for safe, high performing, and sustainable ingredients has led the megatrend toward Clean Beauty. Biosilica sets a new standard for how science and technology can help brands meet this consumer demand for better and safer ingredients.”