Shiseido invests ¥1 billion in Chitose’s microalgae cosmetic project

11 Jul 2023 --- Multinational cosmetics company Shiseido has partnered with the biotechnology Group Chitose and has invested ¥1 billion (US$7.1 million) in the group’s Matsuri project. The project aims to establish a sustainable microalgae-based industry.

The strategic partnership focuses on R&D with Chitose Bio Evolution, which oversees the group. Chitose Group is an expert in large-scale photosynthetic production technologies.

Circular manufacturing
The focus on microalgae is based on the intention to “accelerate a circular business model” for manufacturing.

The development and mass production of algae-based ingredients can be leveraged for cosmetics and their packaging. It also holds the potential to be used in food-related industries in the future, suggests Shiseido.

The business move is part of the company’s mission to present “beauty innovations for a better world” by minimizing environmental impacts and in consideration of people.

Shiseido initially joined the Matsuri project in April of last year. With the partnership, Shiseido will work with the Chitose Group to build an environmentally conscious and circular business model by maximizing the potential of microalgae. This is prompted by an intention to prevent depleting natural resources. Algae are powered by the sun and use CO2 to create a variety of organic compounds.

Effective resource
Algae are powered by the sun and use CO2 to create a variety of organic compounds such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

“Furthermore, microalgae can be cultivated using land that is difficult to use for agriculture, such as deserts and wastelands,” shares Shiseido.

“Because microalgae boast high biomass production efficiency compared with land plants, it has the possibility of being a new resource that is not dependent on finite fossil resources.”

According to Matsuri, algae, compared to land plants, boasts a high biomass production efficiency. For instance, oil yield can be twice as much as palm oil.

Moreover, algae-based production of ingredients only requires a “small amount of water” – much less than agriculture or livestock farming. Using finite water is a social issue in farming, which can be mitigated through algal production, according to Matsuri. This is because algae can be cultivated anywhere where there is water and light.

Matsuri is managed by the Chitose Group and is described as a “big festival that creates a society based on algae.” To overcome greenwashing, Matsuri is committed to introducing “fair and honest projects” aimed at carbon neutrality. 

Microalgal R&D
The study of microorganisms has revolutionized how we think about skin care and beauty. Personal Care Insights explores the latest developments in this dynamic field.

Colgate-Palmolive’s brand tapped NASA research, launching an anti-aging serum that contains a biopolymer matrix embedded with microalgae.

Scientists have found that microbial biosurfactants have the potential to enhance cosmetics and are an “exciting area” of research with “important health implications.” Bio-actives from marine microbes and plant saponins have shown “great potential” as biosurfactants.

Researchers have found proof-of-concept for the cosmeceutical application of extracts from the yellow-green microalgae strain Trachydiscus minutus. Also, the signals and interactions between microalgae and bacteria have been found to produce multifunctional bioproducts compliant with current economic and low-carbon guidelines for environmental protection.

By Venya Patel