Evonik turns scotch whisky waste into cosmetic emollient with Celtic Renewables

Scottish green-tech company Celtic Renewables has partnered with Evonik to produce sustainable ingredients for cosmetics formulations, made from by-products of the scotch whisky industry. 

Evonik is using Celtic Renewables’ bio-butanol to create Ecohance Soft Bol, a sustainable emollient boasting a silky, luxurious skin feel. Celtic Renewables produces the bio-butanol entirely from waste materials at their Scottish biorefinery using locally sourced feedstocks, including whisky pot ale and rejected potatoes.

The partnership aligns with a growing push in the personal care industry toward more environmentally friendly product formulation. Alternatives derived from upcycled feedstocks are gaining traction as many companies shift away from fossil-based chemicals. 

“The cosmetics sector faces an immense challenge in reducing its Scope 3 emissions,” says Bettina Brierly, chief commercial officer at Celtic Renewables. “Currently, fossil-based chemicals are used in a range of cosmetic applications, with everything from face creams to lip gloss including them as active ingredients in the manufacturing process.”

Innova Market Insights data shows that sustainability remains a key trend in 2026, with consumers globally prioritizing clean labels and natural ingredients. According to the market researcher’s annual 2025 Beauty & Personal Care Survey, 39% of consumers say that sustainable beauty means naturally sourced ingredients.

“By switching to bio-based alternatives, emissions of everyday cosmetics can be cut by up to 60%, without consumers having to change their purchasing habits, and with very little impact on the manufacturing process,” explains Brierly.

She says that partnerships like the one Celtic Renewables has with Evonik are critical for accelerating the cosmetics industry’s transition to more sustainable innovation. “Those who are slow on the uptake of bio-based chemicals will be left struggling to transition.”

Eco-friendly emollient

The cosmetics industry is increasingly searching for ingredients that offer high performance and desirable sensoriality. Ecohance Soft Bol promises to deliver both, while boasting a two-pronged sustainability impact. It uses responsibly-sourced feedstocks and its production process claims to be eco-efficient. 

The oil is derived entirely from side and waste-stream materials and manufactured using a green chemistry process that Evonik says significantly reduces CO2 emissions. It is produced via the company’s enzymatic process, which is powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Celtic Renewables transforms by-products from Scotland’s whisky industry into bio-butanol.The emollient serves as a sensoriality-focused alternative to conventional or synthetic silicone emollients. It is said to provide strong pigment wetting and UV filter solubility, which allows it to maintain a silky texture in sun and color formulations.

“The butanol we get from Celtic Renewables fits perfectly with what we need. Our customers really appreciate the cosmetic emollient that we make with this raw material — we are able to achieve great sensory, texture, and touch,” says Wolfgang Goertz, VP of Cosmetic Solutions at Evonik. 

Upcycled beauty

As the personal care industry looks to produce more environmentally friendly formulations, upcycled ingredients have emerged as a sustainable way to reduce waste across multiple industries.

Innova Market Insights data suggests that product launches in the personal care sector featuring upcycled ingredients soared by 196% between April 2020 and March 2025.

According to the market researcher, half of global consumers said they actively seek out upcycled ingredients when shopping for beauty and personal care products, signaling a growing demand for sustainability-driven innovation.

Personal Care Insights previously spoke with Sophie Roelants, COO at AmphiStar, who told us that the company’s biosurfactants, produced from upcycled feedstocks, offer at least 50% lower overall environmental impact than non-upcycled and traditional surfactants.

Another example is Eurofragance’s Olivante, an upcycled fragrance ingredient manufactured from olive byproducts. The company claims to operate a green process, which was designed to ensure its management and use of the olive pulp by-products do not have any additional environmental footprint. 

Personal Care Insights also previously reported on two studies utilizing beer waste by-products, such as hops and yeast, which showed potential as bioactive ingredients for dermatological and cosmetic formulations.