Robertet invests in Aethera Biotech for plant-based cosmetic ingredients

Robertet has announced a strategic investment in Aethera Biotech to expand its biotechnology activities and strengthen its portfolio of cosmetic active ingredients. 

The two companies have been in partnership for nearly two years, during which time they developed natural cosmetic ingredients and extracts using Aethera’s biotechnology plant cell platform CROP (Controlled Release of Optimized Plants).

The investment now creates a joint venture that combines Aethera’s platform and ingredient production capabilities with Robertet’s commercial scale and client network. The amount invested was not disclosed.

Robertet says the move supports the company’s “Augmented Naturality” strategy, which uses advanced technology to turn natural raw materials into sustainable, high-value cosmetic ingredients.

The partnership represents Robertet’s first direct step into biotech and marks a new direction for innovation within the group.

“This joint venture reflects our conviction that biotech will play an increasingly important role in

the development of high-value, sustainable solutions. It supports our ambition to reinforce our leadership in naturals while opening new pathways for innovation and growth for our customers,” says Jérôme Bruhat, CEO of Robertet.

The company plans to complete the investment in two phases over a three-year period. It hopes that the collaboration will enable Robertet to strengthen its Health & Beauty division and support long-term growth by creating new biotech-driven cosmetic ingredients.

Stabilizing the green stream

Sourcing natural raw ingredients for cosmetics is typically heavily dependent on climate conditions, agricultural cycles, and geopolitical supply. If there are weather or political disruptions, for example, sourcing these materials can become expensive and inconsistent.

Aethera aims to help stabilize supply through its biotech platform, built around its proprietary CROP technology. The technology reproduces natural plant mechanisms to produce plant extracts in a controlled environment, eliminating some of the traditional barriers to sourcing.

The process also reduces the environmental impact of producing cosmetic ingredients compared with traditional crop cultivation and extraction methods.

According to Robertet, the joint venture will integrate Aethera Biotech’s scientific capabilities and industrial platform into its broader innovation activities in cosmetic actives.

The companies expect the partnership to accelerate innovation in skin science and expand the development of plant-based ingredients for cosmetic applications.

“Aethera Biotech’s CROP technology offers a unique and complementary approach to developing natural extracts and active cosmetic ingredients, enabling us to address growing market demand while accelerating innovation in skin science, a key pillar of our Health & Beauty roadmap,” says Olivier Maubert, head of the Health & Beauty division at Robertet.