Why Natural Betaine is an Upcycled Powerhouse

In general, consumers show positive perception towards products prepared from upcycled waste. However, new product development data does not reflect this positive perception with only 1% of new skincare launches featuring an upcycled ingredient claim in 2023¹.

In an article published on Personal Care Global, Carole Gherardi, Market Segment Lead in Personal Care, highlight two key consumers’ concerns that might hinder the adoption of products featuring upcycled ingredient claims.

Efficacy

For both customers and consumers, the performance of these products is still paramount when it comes to their purchasing decisions. As such, they would expect upcycled ingredients to still deliver the same benefits as their counterpart ingredients. The challenge lies in balancing eco-consciousness with the high standards of product functionality that consumers have come to expect.

Certification & Standards

Although the concept of upcycling is gaining traction, the term ‘upcycling’ is not as familiar as the term ‘natural’. However, this landscape is changing. Emerging standards for upcycling are beginning to take shape, and will help consumers verify the quality and sustainability of products made with upcycled ingredients.

GENENCARE® OSMS BA natural Betaine is not only a sustainable solution but also a high-performance active that meets modern consumer expectations

Upcycling with Purpose

GENENCARE® OSMS BA natural Betaine is extracted from sugar beet molasses – a byproduct of sugar production – using IFF’s proprietary desugarization technology, enhancing resource efficiency without additional land use.

Proven Efficacy

Clinical studies show that Betaine improves skin moisturization, and helps strengthen the skin barrier by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Hair Care Benefits

Due to its affinity to keratin, Betaine can penetrate into hair cortex and deposit on hair surface and help protect and repair damaged sites.

Mild & Safe

Patch tests confirm that Betaine is non-irritating even at high concentrations, making it ideal for sensitive skin and scalp applications.

Certification

GENENCARE® OSMS BA is IFF’s natural Betaine that has been Upcycled Certified™, 100% natural (ISO 16128), and approved by Ecocert, Cosmos, and NATRUE.

1. Mintel. South Korean Skincare 2024: Market Trends ↩︎