Weekly Digest: Friend of the Sea certified sunblock, industrial scale microalgae investments by eparella

27 Apr 2018 --- This week has hosted the release of a Friend of the Sea certified sunblock that claims to release minimal levels of harmful chemicals into the ocean. It was smiles all around for UK lobby group, Action on Salt, as they received official praises for their 2017 research campaign which unveiled striking levels of sugar in breakfast cereals. Regarding production developments, Nestlé moves forward with a US$152.4 million investment in consumer healthcare factories in China, and Austrian microalgae specialist, eparella, have raised their production levels to industrial scale with a technological investment, which will churn out an annual output of up to 100 tonnes of dry algae biomass. 

Friend of the Sea certified salmon, tuna and…sunblock?
Safe-Sea sunscreen, certified by sustainable seafood certification, Friend of the Sea, enters the market from Isreali company, Nidaria Technologies. Many sunblocks typically contain Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; Oxybenzone) – to protect against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light – however, according to recent studies, the ingredient contributes to coral bleaching and reefs deformation. Even tiny doses can affect DNA and disrupt corals reproduction and growth.
 
The Safe-Sea sunscreen products line has undergone water resistance tests, with results demonstrating that 97 percent of the sunblock remained on the skin even after 80 minutes in the water, meaning, less harmful chemicals were released to the ocean. Furthermore, in vivo testing of fish and anemones behavior in water exposed to Safe-Sea for 24 hours demonstrated that the sunscreen is safe to aquatic organisms. 

“Friend of the sea certification can be achieved by other sunscreens releasing less than 5 percent of their chemicals to the water after 80 minutes in the water,” adds Paola Bray, founder and director of Friend of the Sea. Safe-Sea can be purchased over Europe, the US and Asia.

Action on Salt wins award for quality campaign 
It was smiles all round for UK lobby group – Action on Salt – as they received accolades for their published research on the sugar content of breakfast cereals, from 2017. Queen Mary University of London awarded the campaign the title, “Best Published Research Campaign.” At the time of its release, the report received a swath of media attention, with its striking findings surprising readers.

The campaign detailed a fall in salt levels over 10 years in popular breakfast cereals, but it also uncovered steadily high levels of sugar. The campaign hoped to have implications in pressuring food manufacturers to adopt the successful salt reduction programs by setting sugar reduction targets. Indeed, 2018 has seen a considerable focus on sugar, with the UK introducing a sugar tax on soft drinks and Ireland following suit. Kellogg’s have also fortified their cereals with vitamin D in an effort to expand its nutritional reach.

Microalgae game raised: €18 million technology investment by eparella
In industrial news, microalgae specialist eparella GmbH, a subsidiary of ecoduna AG, have raised their production level to industrial scale with the installation of its photobioreactor (PBR) technology. When reaching its maximum capacity, which is planned for the year 2021, an output volume of up to 300 tonnes of biomass can be generated. At its current development stage, the facility delivers an annual output of up to 100 tonnes of dry algae biomass. 

The installation makes the Austrian company a global technology leader, “our patented and sustainable technology enables us to produce high-quality algae powder while, at the same time, saving valuable resources. Our industry’s production mimics nature itself, with oxygen being the only waste product,” says Silvia Fluch, COO of ecoduna.

The core technological competencies of the company include a vertical and pump-free production process, continuous growth and harvesting process, closed system and controlled production parameters that allow the highest possible purity and quality and an integration of technological and biological know how on an industrial scale.

Nestlé China growth: US$152.4 million investment in consumer healthcare
Further in production news, Nestlé inaugurated two new factories in the China Medical City in Taizhou, to produce their Health Science and Skin Health range. The factories add to Nestlé’s existing production set up and underscores the company’s confidence in the future prospects of the Chinese market. The move also solidifies consumer healthcare as an additional growth platform for the global giant.

“Nestlé is fully committed to continue to invest to support sustainable growth in China. By bringing the manufacturing capabilities of Nestlé Health Science and Nestlé Skin Health to China, we are in a stronger position to enhance Nestlé’s product offering and meet consumer expectations,” says Magdi Batato, Executive Vice President, Head of Operations for Nestlé S.A.

By Laxmi Haigh