Kensing unveils sustainable vitamin E from upcycled sunflowers

Kensing reveals the company is expanding its plant-based vitamin E offerings with the international launch of Sun E, following the acquisition of Advanced Organic Materials. Sun E is a non‑GMO, clean‑label tocopherol derived from sunflower seed by‑products. The company highlights that Sun E is designed to reduce waste and environmental impact.

Vitamin E is an essential, fat‑soluble nutrient that must be obtained from diet or supplementation. It functions as an antioxidant to protect cells from oxidative stress and supports skin, eye, and cardiovascular health. The European Food Safety Authority recognizes these benefits under EU Regulation No. 432/2012.

The vitamin has also been shown to contribute to women’s health across life stages, including pregnancy and menopause.

“Sun E is sourced exclusively from an upcycled side-stream of sunflower oil production,” says Serge Rogasik, CEO of Kensing. “We create tangible value by harnessing the full potential of a precious by-product of the food industry.”

“Our approach not only maximizes process efficiency but also significantly contributes to sustainability by ensuring nothing goes to waste. This pure and potent addition to Kensing’s vitamin E portfolio will strengthen the company’s position as a leading global producer of natural vitamin E.”

Sustainable vitamin E

Kensing spotlights that the offering uses upcycled materials from the edible oil industry, which are sourced from sunflower fields already in use for oil production. This means there is no additional land clearance or resource strain.

Additionally, Kensing emphasizes that it maintains four manufacturing and distribution sites in North America, Argentina, and Spain that are positioned to optimize proximity to major sunflower processors and key markets. This strategy reduces transportation emissions and supports a production redundancy system that secures uninterrupted raw‑material supply.

“Sunflowers are grown as a highly sustainable crop,” Rogasik explains. “They are naturally drought-resistant and require very little water thanks to their deep roots, which allow them to draw water from a depth of up to 1.5 meters.”

“They also require minimal fertilizers or pesticides and actually promote soil health, making them not only attractive as a crop, but truly planet friendly. Not a single square meter of land is planted for our activity.”

Focus on quality

Kensing underscores that sunflower crops are universally non‑GMO, which allows Sun E to carry Non‑GMO Project Verification. The ingredient is non‑allergenic, as it does not require specific allergen labeling. Moreover, since the extraction process preserves the native tocopherol structure, the offering boasts up to 90% purity of RRR‑α‑tocopherol, the most biologically active form of vitamin E.

The company also states that vitamin E from sunflower oil provides more than twice the biological activity of synthetic versions as synthetic formulations typically contain only 12.5% of the isomers naturally absorbed by the body and are excreted more rapidly, limiting tissue availability. Additionally, Kensing notes that synthetic vitamin E is often derived from petroleum or coal tar.

“Not all vitamin E forms are equal,” concludes Denis Bendejacq, vice president of global research and innovation at Kensing. “Biological activity is largely determined by the composition of tocopherols and their different isomers.”

“The RRR-α isomer is the most bioavailable, and sunflowers are naturally rich in this isoform. Our body naturally concentrates RRR-tocopherols via a set of stereospecific receptors.”