Production expanded for sustainable cosmetic ingredient

NEGEV, Israel – Frutarom has expanded its new, environment-friendly algae plant in the Negev desert to answer increasing demands for Alguard, the company’s natural and sustainable “skin-active shield” ingredient derived from red microalgae polysaccharides. 

Alguard has unique physical and bioactive properties that allow it to create a structured, homogenous protective mesh that adheres to the skin surface.

“With Alguard being unique in the market, and the increasing interest in effective, natural and sustainable ingredients for cosmetics, we anticipate a substantial growth in Alguard sales in 2012,” says Anat Stern, product manager of cosmetic ingredients for FrutaromHealth. “We will be able to keep up with demand not just for our customers in Western Europe, the U.S. and Japan but also for cosmetic companies throughout Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe.”

The new plant is capable of producing more than 10 tons of purified polysaccharide solution per year — more than 30% production growth compared to the previous plant.

A unique, patented growth system, developed at Ben Gurion University, allows Frutarom to grow the algae in artificial seawater and utilise the unique desert climate to stimulate production of the protective polysaccharide. Nature's resources are neither exploited nor exhausted, since algae culture is sustained through a delicate and controlled growth process. The water-soluble polysaccharide is then collected and physically purified from the water surrounding the algae in order to obtain Alguard.

Production is not only completely natural; it actually contributes to the local ecosystem by exploiting CO2 and releasing oxygen during the growth process, making it a state-of-the-art sustainable system.

“Alguard is truly exceptional, both in its qualities and production process,” said Stern. “This is a good example of Frutarom’s ability to provide an all-natural, highly pure and sustainable product for the cosmetic marketplace.”

Similar to its protective effects on the algae, it protects the skin from oxidative stress as well as infljordan Release Dates