Solvay unwraps Naternal bio-polymers, advancing circular hair and skin solutions
20 Jun 2023 --- Naturally-derived polymer formulator Solvay has launched its Naternal range of bio-based biodegradable polymers for hair and skin care solutions. The company markets the range as the embodiment of “regenerative beauty.”
The “responsible” brand Naternal strives for a circular approach to beauty that takes the whole value chain into account, including stakeholders, farming communities, brands and consumers.
Naternal features biodegradable beauty care polymers from guar and other natural feedstocks to enable future innovations that address current consumer expectations and upcoming regulations.
In 2022, the company began expanding its Jaguar range of biodegradable guar-based polymers with two new functional polymers for skin and hair care. Jaguar NAT SGI and Jaguar Excel polymers will give its partners access to new formulations which address increasing global regulations and consumer demand for climate-friendly beauty products.
The polymers are suitable for use in shampoos, hair treatments, conditioners, styling gels, body washes and powder-to-liquid cleansers.
The ingredients from Naternal facilitate a “biodegradable by-design” approach. “The beauty industry is at the beginning of a green chemistry transformation with biodegradability standing as one of the most pressing challenges to tackle,” says Galder Cristobal, research and innovation director of home and personal care at Solvay. 
Naternal embodies a biodegradable by-design approach.
Investing in renewable materials
In the next few years, Solvay will add new solutions and chemistries with the help of its Renewable Materials and Biotechnology growth platform, which focuses on studying and creating sustainable solutions.
The company is also investing in a multipurpose microbiology laboratory with state-of-the-art biodegradation, human and environmental toxicity screening tools that will enable a safe design innovation process.
“Solvay’s commitment and constant responsible care mean our customers can confidently create their next generation of biodegradable hair and skin care products while considering the well-being of consumers and the planet,” says Jean-Guy Le-Helloco, VP of home & personal care at Solvay.
The objective of Solvay’s “Beauty for the Planet” initiative is to deliver more sustainable beauty ingredients that benefit consumers and the environment.
In addition, Solvay has introduced two biosurfactants: Mirasoft SL L60 and Mirasoft SL A60. These are touted to be 100% biobased and biodegradable surfactants and are manufactured through a cost-efficient fermentation process to be applied in cosmetics.
Edited by Inga de Jong
