Upcycling

In addition to traditional approaches to sustainability, like recyclable packaging and waterless formats, many companies are supplementing sustainability initiatives by incorporating upcycled ingredients into their portfolios.
Upcycled ingredients are byproducts of another material’s production process. Leftover materials that would otherwise be discarded can be repurposed to create a new ingredient that helps reduce overall waste and contributes to the sustainability profile of the end product.

Discover our examples of upcycled ingredients

Oranges growing on tree orchard, Mugla, Turkey
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Supplier: Koster Keunen
Product: Orange Wax
Applications: Emollient in all types of formulations
Markets: Hair care, skin care, sun care
Available Regions: North America
INCI: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange Peel Wax)
Sustainability performance: An emollient and moisturizer with an excellent skin feel derived out of orange peels, a leftover from orange juice production. Therefore, giving waste, a second life and contributing to a circular economy.
#upcycling# circularProducts #circularEconomy
Facial serum, care cosmetics, facial and body treatments, anti-aging lotion, glass jar with pipette
Supplier: Ashland
Product: santalwood™ biofunctional
Applications: Active for skin and hair with graceful aging benefits
Markets: Hair care, skin care
Available Regions: United States
INCI: Octyldodecanol, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Wood Extract
Sustainability performance: Santalwood™ is an upcycled, natural extract that is produced using discarded wood chips from the fragrance and essential oil industry. This unique biofunctional was inspired by forest therapy and has been clinically tested on skin olfactory signature of aging, skin regeneration, firmness, elasticity, wrinkles, and luminosity. Santalwood™ also helps mitigate the impact of indoor and outdoor air pollution for improved skin appearance.
#upcycled #circularProducts #circularEconomy
Hawaiian pineapples fresh results background, Sweet, sour and juicy taste.Have a lot of fiber,vitamins C and minerals.Fruits or healthcare concept.
Supplier: Active Concepts
Product: 12503 AC Pina Colloida
Applications: Film former and pigment dispersant

Markets:
Skin care, hair care, sun care
Available: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Türkiye, South Africa
INCI: Water, Saccharomyces, Hydrolyzed Pineapple Fruit, Crown Extract Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus Ferment
Sustainability performance: The innovative film-forming pineapple biopolymer developed by Active Concepts is derived from pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) which would go to waste otherwise. 12503 AC Pina Colloida forms a protective shield for skin and hair against environmental factors, particularly in the context of rising global temperatures. It has superior film-forming properties, texture enhancement, and moisture retention properties and is biodegradable. Making it an eco-friendly alternative to petrochemical based ingredient.
#upcycled #circularProducts #circularEconomy #COSMOS #Vegan
Supplier: Agrana
Product: Purabeet®
Applications: Emollient in various cosmetic formulations

Markets: Color Cosmetic, hair care, skin care, sun care
Available regions: Latin America
INCI: Betaine
Sustainability performance: PuraBeet® is 100 % plant-based, natural, high-quality, multifunctional and crystalline betaine. It is derived from certified GMO-free sugar beet molasses, which is a site stream from commercial sugar production. Due to one of betaine’s main qualities – osmoregulatory properties at a cellular level – natural betaine is an essential quality upgrade for effective hair and skin care products.
#upcycling #naturallyDerived #biobased
A girl in a beige dress holds a pipette with a drop of serum in her hands. Horizontal.
Supplier: Brenntag
Product: CosVivet Grape Seed Oil
Applications: Skin care, hair care, massage products
Markets: Hair care, skin care
Available: In EMEA
INCI: Vitis Vinifera (Grape) seed Oil
Sustainability performance: Produced from upcycled grape seeds, this light, fast-absorbing oil combines powerful antioxidant protection with skin-regenerating and moisturizing benefits.
#upcycling #circularproducts #naturalingredients
side view of a young woman enjoying a jade roller facial massage while sitting up in bed in the morning on her skin care routine.
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Supplier: Ashland
Product: liftyl™ biofunctional premium rosewood extract
Applications: Creams, lotions, gels, masks, SPF
Markets: Beauty and personal care
Available: USA
INCI: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Aniba Rosodora (Rosewood) Wood Extract
Sustainability performance: Ashland innovation laboratories used upcycled rosewood chips, reducing waste and promoting circularity. Extraction process use Supercritical CO₂ extraction, a solvent-free and environmentally friendly method that minimizes chemical waste and energy use. Lastly, ingredient was developed using AI-assisted formulation to optimize efficacy and reduce unnecessary resource use.
#upcycled #vegan #natural #cosmos #inclusive
Facial, bathroom or happy couple with mask for skincare, cosmetics and detox treatment. Relax, face and man with love, smile or woman in morning routine at home for dermatology, wellness and beauty
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Supplier: Sinerga
Product: CAROBSOOTHE
Applications: Anti-inflammaging and soft-aging skincare (masks, creams, gels, serums), soothing and hydrating creams, after suns products
Markets: Skin care
Available: India, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand
INCI: Ceratonia Siliqua Fruit Extract
Sustainability performance: 100% natural ingredient derived from the pulp of carob pods, following upcycling beauty. It targets the main mechanisms of inflammaging with an innovative approach. This activity, along with its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, results in an overall improvement of skin health, which is more hydrated, elastic and glowing, and at the same time with no redness and dyschromia.
#upcycled #Soothing #NaturalExtractFromIndustrialFoodWaste

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