Givaudan partners with South Korean Bio FD&C to develop anti-aging active ingredients

27 Mar 2019 --- Flavors and fragrances manufacturer Givaudan has entered into a long-term partnership with South Korean beauty innovation company Bio FD&C. The collaboration aims to combine the R&D know-how of both companies for the creation of anti-aging cosmetic ingredients. As the demand for Korean beauty products grows in the west, US and European companies are taking note of the innovations hailing from this country, while expanding their reach in Asia also seems to hold potential.

The companies will also join forces on the commercial side, to further expand their respective businesses in South Korea, while Givaudan will support the commercialization of Bio FD&C’s portfolio globally. Givaudan also acquired a minority stake in Bio FD&C, but the financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

“The partnership with Bio FD&C also fits with our 2020 strategy to expand our capabilities in health and well-being for our Active Beauty business,” says Maurizio Volpi, President of Givaudan’s Fragrance Division. 

South Korea is one of the most innovative markets in cosmetics, in particular in skin care and it has been driving the trends in the beauty industry in recent years, explains Volpi. In this way, he continues, it is an important step for Givaudan to gain faster access to the South Korean market and to benefit from Bio FD&C’s innovation capabilities to develop the cosmetic ingredients of the future.

“This partnership fits into our vision in two main ways. First, it gives us access to additional biotechnology resources, which is an area of innovation, aligned with our core values of naturality and sustainability. Secondly, it continues our focus on Asia and ties us directly at the source of K-Beauty trends,” Pauline Martin, Global Communications & Events Manager, Givaudan Active Beauty, tells NutritionInsight.

Bio FD&C is specialized in the creation of anti-aging cosmetic ingredients and has developed a plant cell culture technology which has boosted its reputation in the booming South Korean beauty market. According to Givaudan, the collaboration will further enhance Givaudan’s skills in plant cell culture and phytopeptides technologies and will also advance its Active Beauty business’ expertise in biotechnology.

Givaudan’s beauty and cosmetics arm, Active Beauty, has an extensive portfolio of innovative active cosmetic ingredients with a range of benefits, such as anti-aging, self-tanning, soothing, hydrating and cooling. Givaudan says it employs cutting-edge technology to create high-performing molecules, functional agents and customized carrier systems.

“We will explore the Bio-FD&C’s portfolio with their support and select the best candidate ingredients for our customers. Based on the proven consumers’ benefits, we will deploy these ingredients on the market for hair beauty, scalp care, wellness, skin maintenance and body care,” Martin notes.

Biotechnology offers a tremendous number of solutions, according to Martin. “The sustainability dimension of products is crucial in the beauty industry. This partnership will reinforce our capabilities to offer natural solutions to our customers.”

“This collaboration aims to offer our customers innovative new ingredients for their brands, based on Bio-FD&C’s expertise in plant cell culture and phytopeptides. Among these developments, some might be aligned with the nutricosmetics trend, which is a segment on which Givaudan is already very much engaged through the recent acquisition of Naturex.”

Givaudan Active Beauty is going to present in this year’s In-Cosmetics Global event (April 1-3, Paris) a full new range of adaptogenic plants “echoing to the nutricosmetic market,” Martin says.

The Active Beauty branch was also boosted in the past by a partnership with Draco Natural Products, Inc. for the development of a proprietary line of bioactive botanical ingredients. The two companies jointly worked on the research and development of active botanical ingredients formulated using the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). These unique ingredients are primarily used for producing topical products to improve and enhance skin and hair health, according to Givaudan.

By Kristiana Lalou