Weekly Roundup: Firmenich launches Dubai hub, Perfect Corp nabs AI Excellence award
25 Mar 2022 --- This week in personal care news, Firmenich launched its R&D center in Dubai Science Park. Perfect Corp received an AI Excellence award for its AgileHand technology. Big Green Smile got an investment from the Future Business Partnership. Shiseido granted a technology license to Toyo University. Meanwhile, Beverly Hills MD unveiled its new eye care collection.
Business moves
Firmenich recently inaugurated its “state-of-the-art” Creation & Development center in Dubai Science Park alongside a slew of foreign dignitaries and industry players. The opening of the 37,670 sq ft, AI-powered center expands the company’s ingredient and service offerings to customers in the personal care and F&B markets across the Middle East and Africa.
The warehouse can stock up to 40,000 products and features a robot capable of creating a fragrance sample in less than a minute from more than 240 ingredients. Firmenich’s Dubai facility is reportedly part of Firmenich’s future expansion plans. The inauguration was presided over by international dignitaries and Firmenich CEO Gilbert Ghostine.
Beverly Hills MD’s products promise anti-aging eye care.In other news, Big Green Smile, a large online retailer of environmentally sustainable household and personal care products for the European market, revealed a major investment from the Future Business Partnership. The funds are intended to support Big Green Smile’s growth plans across western Europe. The Future Business Partnership is a Europe-based consumer specialist impact investment fund. It was established to help conscious companies increase their market presence, with the aim of creating a more environmentally sustainable market landscape.
Releases and launches
Beverly Hills MD announced its Beverly Hills MD Flawless Eyes Collection for consumers’ under-eye, eyebrow and eyelash concerns. The line consists of the Thick + Full Brow Enhancing Serum, Total Recovery Night Eye Cream and Lash Enhancing Serum. The range contains ingredients such as myristoyl pentapeptide-17, milk protein, Sympeptide, apple extract, Redensyl and Capixy to promote a “younger, brighter” look with continued use.
L’Oréal revealed it had been awarded a PCD Innovation award for its Elsève 3D Pouch Elvive Color eco-refill created by Arcade Beauty, who optimized the packaging. The pouch is recyclable and saves on cost, notes the company. Arcade Beauty has subsequently produced a similar 500 ml 3D pouch for Kerastase. The launch promises to save 82% of plastic compared to traditional packaging.
Technology news
AI and AR technology company Perfect Corp was recently spotlighted as the winner of the 2022 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards for its AgileHand technology. The Business Intelligence Group organizes the awards. The award recognizes achievements by organizations, industry members and products that develop AI technologies. Perfect Corp’s AgileHand allows for realistic virtual try-ons, letting businesses fully digitize product assortments and allowing customers to experiment with different products before making their purchase.
Meanwhile, Shiseido granted a license to Japan-based Toyo University to use its technology listed in the WIPO GREEN database. The technology will be used by the university’s “Toyo Sustainable Development Goals Students Project – Sugomori Boisen Project” to develop sustainable cosmetics. So far, the students have successfully created a climate-friendly hand serum using Shiseido’s low-energy manufacturing technology. The university will continue developing cosmetics utilizing this technology as a part of its research and educational activities.
Edited by Olivia Nelson
