POLARIS Awarded for Innovation in Chemistry for Sustainable Development

The innovative technology worked out by the POLARIS R&D teams consists of sensibly combining two techniques: enzymatic chemistry (enzymatic enrichment) and the short path distillation process.

7/11/2011 --- The French Minister of Industry, Energy and numerical Economy Mr. Eric Besson, the Union of Chemical industries (UIC) and the French Federation for the sciences of Chemistry (FFC) have awarded the technological and scientific Pierre Potier Price on the “Innovation in Chemistry in favour of sustainable development” for the 6th time.

POLARIS has just received the Trophy of the 2011 Pierre Potier Price for the innovation in chemistry in favour of sustainable development for its works in the field of enzymatic chemistry coupled with molecular distillation. This price was awarded on July 7th, 2011, at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry.

For more than 10 years, POLARIS has developed a global offer of enrichment of health actives by enzymatic way for nutraceuticals, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The innovative technology worked out by the POLARIS R&D teams consists of sensibly combining two techniques: the enzymatic chemistry (enzymatic enrichment) and the short path distillation process.

The main innovative features of this invention are related to the principles of green chemistry by using soft, environment-friendly conditions, without generating waste. This enzymatic chemistry does not require the use of polluting solvents and allows the recycling of enzymes.

The combination of both technological tools consequently allows obtaining a set of lipid substances with very high added value and answers an ecological means (green chemistry) to make a product of economic interest, and strengthens POLARIS internal sustainable development policy. The health ingredient worked out through this innovative technique is a borage oil concentrated in 40% gamma linolenic acid (GLA) under TG or EE forms, a health active particularly adapted to be blended into formulations of food supplements with inflammatory aim or into cosmetic formulations for skin health.

‘Of course this experience will apply to other specialities which represent a strategic interest for our customers or partners’ underlines Mr Lozachmeur, POLARIS CEO. About the Pierre Potier Price Created in 2006 in partnership with the French Federation of the sciences of chemistry, the Pierre Potier price aim is to highlight the initiatives of the chemical industry in favour of sustainable development and to favour the development of an eco-responsible approach in this sector.

The Pierre Potier price was named to remember the major contribution of the said chemist-biologist Pierre Potier in the discoveries of new medicines issued from vegetables. Died in 2006, Pierre Potier was indeed at the origin of two major discoveries in the treatment of cancers: Taxotere and Navelbine, two molecules nowadays used all over the world. These discoveries made this French chemist one of the most famous inventors of the academic world.

Since 1994 Polaris teams have developed and launched on the market several innovations to improve quality, stability and formulations of marine origin omega 3, and other oils with high nutritional value.