{"id":164988,"date":"2025-07-03T07:35:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T05:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=164988"},"modified":"2025-06-27T15:56:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T13:56:16","slug":"cellugy-secures-e81m-to-eradicate-microplastics-in-personal-care-products-with-biobased-alternative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/cellugy-secures-e81m-to-eradicate-microplastics-in-personal-care-products-with-biobased-alternative\/","title":{"rendered":"Cellugy secures \u20ac8,1M to eradicate microplastics in personal care products with biobased alternative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\u00a9 Cellugy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Danish biotech company Cellugy\u2019s BIOCARE4LIFE project has received significant EU funding to accelerate production scale-up towards commercialization for Cellugy\u2019s biofabricated materials platform, EcoFLEXY. The platform’s debut product, EcoFLEXY Rheo, is the world\u2019s first high-performance rheology modifier that is fully biobased, biodegradable, and competitively priced, offering the personal care industry an alternative to microplastics and fossil-based ingredients, without compromising texture or skin feel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\u00a9 European Union<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Cellugy<\/u><\/a>, a Danish industrial biotechnology startup developing innovative, biobased solutions to replace fossil-based materials in the personal care sector, has secured \u20ac8,1M to support scaling up the production of its biofabricated cellulose-based rheology modifier material, EcoFLEXY. The new funding comes in the form of a grant from the LIFE Programme, the European Union\u2019s funding instrument for projects supporting environment and climate action.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EcoFLEXY is designed to replace fossil-based carbomers, known as harmful microplastics, significantly reducing environmental pollution and the use of hazardous chemicals in the cosmetics sector. It delivers superior product performance and adaptable sensorial properties, along with scalable, operationally efficient manufacturing to meet the needs of a fast-evolving beauty industry focused on sustainability and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The release of microplastics from personal care products is a growing concern, as studies indicate that products such as facial scrubs and liquid soaps contribute to environmental pollution<\/u><\/a>. Recent research<\/u><\/a> also suggests that microplastics can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, raising questions about their potential impacts on human health. Rheology modifiers, for example, are essential to virtually every personal care product, from skincare and colour cosmetics to deodorants and oral care. However, nearly 70% of the \u20ac2.8B global rheology modifier (RM) market remains dependent on fossil-based carbomers and acrylates, which are classified under the EU\u2019s REACH regulation due to their persistent and toxic nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the BIOCARE4LIFE project, EcoFLEXY is positioned to prevent the release of 259 tons of microplastics annually by project completion, scaling dramatically to 1,289 tons per year by 2034, equivalent to removing millions of contaminated beauty products from the market each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The timing of the project is crucial, as reports suggest the beauty industry could stand to lose around \u20ac12 billion (US$13 billion)<\/u><\/a> due to the EU microplastics ban and US restrictions on PFAS, also known as \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d But the challenge is more than just a sustainability-related issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cAn alternative material that simply aims to be more sustainable is not enough; the critical challenge is about delivering bio-based solutions that actually outperform petrochemicals in performance parameters like texture, functionality, and user experience, while also being scalable and operationally efficient,\u201d\u00a0explains\u00a0Dr. Isabel Alvarez-Martos, CEO and co-founder at Cellugy.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201dGood intentions won’t drive industry change; we need higher-quality alternatives like EcoFLEXY that make it easier, not harder, for brands to choose sustainability.\u00a0Only when bio-based materials match or exceed the performance and economics of traditional ingredients will we see the transformation needed to protect both human health and our planet.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

EcoFLEXY offers superior performance and previously unachievable functionalities compared to existing biobased ingredients, such as xanthan and cellulose gums, while eliminating the handling challenges associated with plant-nanocellulose alternatives. The biofabricated cellulose material delivers enhanced stability, compatibility, and sensoriality, critical factors for cosmetics manufacturers who cannot compromise on product quality while meeting growing sustainability demands. This bridges the gap between the performance of fossil-based modifiers and the environmental benefits of natural materials, enabling the creation of effective and eco-friendly personal care formulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BIOCARE4LIFE project will drive EcoFLEXY’s scale-up process through the work of a specialist consortium of experts in biotechnology, sustainability, and data management: The Footprint Firm<\/u><\/a> (TFF), a consultancy company focused on circular economy solutions and environmental impact validation, and Sci2sci<\/u><\/a>, a Berlin-based startup specialising in data management, machine learning, and AI-driven process optimisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The project signals real progress toward more sustainable manufacturing in the personal care sector,”\u00a0said\u00a0Will Nunn, Manager at The Footprint Firm<\/strong>.\u00a0“Our role is to validate the environmental impact and ensure the best alignment with circular economy principles. The project\u2019s combination of technical innovation and sustainability validation positions EcoFLEXY very strongly for market adoption and supports the EU\u2019s broader transition to a more resource-efficient economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScaling a biotech solution is never simple, but it\u2019s where the real value lies,\u201d\u00a0Angelina Lesnikova,\u00a0Sci2sci CEO<\/strong> adds.\u00a0\u201cOur role is to optimize every layer of production, from fermentation parameters to supply chain predictability, so that EcoFLEXY can compete with petrochemical alternatives not just on environmental benefits, but on cost and performance metrics that matter to manufacturers. Together we have the potential to make sustainable chemistry economically irresistible as well as environmentally essential.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The \u20ac8.1 million investment will fund critical scaling activities, process optimization, and commercial validation over a four-year period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“This grant provides the resources we need to transform our vision into reality. Within three to five years, we expect to be generating significant revenue while delivering a measurable environmental impact. Our end goal is sweeping petrochemicals from an industry worth billions, and we now have the backing and the partnerships to make it happen,\u201d\u00a0Alvarez-Martos\u00a0<\/strong>concludes.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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About Cellugy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cellugy is a pioneering industrial biotechnology company transforming how materials are made, starting with the elimination of petrochemicals in everyday products. Based in S\u00f8borg, Denmark, Cellugy leverages a proprietary fermentation platform, EcoFLEXY\u2122, to produce high-performing, biodegradable cellulose materials crafted by nature and refined by science. Engineered from bacteria and designed with the principles of Green Chemistry, our solutions offer a safe, sustainable alternative to fossil-based ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 2018, Cellugy has spent seven years rigorously advancing its science to meet the performance demands of industry, beginning with cosmetics and personal care, where EcoFLEXY is poised to replace microplastics and redefine formulation standards. Along the way, we\u2019ve earned recognition as one of Europe\u2019s top 10 plastic-alternative startups, secured \u20ac7M in funding from leading investors, and built a dynamic team of 13 talents from 10 nationalities. At Cellugy, we\u2019re not just replacing harmful ingredients, we\u2019re redefining what\u2019s possible with biology. Learn more at www.cellugy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cFunded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Danish biotech company Cellugy\u2019s BIOCARE4LIFE project has received significant EU funding to accelerate production scale-up towards commercialization for Cellugy\u2019s biofabricated materials platform, EcoFLEXY. The platform’s debut product, EcoFLEXY Rheo, is the world\u2019s first high-performance rheology modifier that is fully biobased, biodegradable, and competitively priced, offering the personal care industry an alternative to microplastics and fossil-based […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":165031,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"Danish industrial biotechnology start-up has secured \u20ac8,1M to support scaling up the production of its biofabricated cellulose-based rheology modifier material, EcoFLEXY","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[5796,12228,10954,13064,5528],"supplier":[24237,5585,15215,26590],"class_list":["post-164988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-biotechnology","tag-cosmetics","tag-microplastics","tag-personalcare","tag-sustainability","supplier-cellugy","supplier-european-union","supplier-footprint","supplier-sci2sci-vectorcat-data-catalog-ai-agents-for-biotech-pharma"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164988"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=164988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}