Evolva Holding is collaborating with cosmetics firm L’Oréal to co-develop biosynthetic production routes for an undisclosed ingredient that the firms claim has broad applications in the cosmetics industry. The two companies are going to use Evolva’s fermentation technology platform to develop and optimize yeast strains for the sustainable production of the ingredient.
This collaboration will end in late 2016 but comes with an option to expand the ingredient focus. L’Oréal will pay Evolva research fees for the duration of the project, plus Evolva could also receive milestone payments for reaching research objectives.
Evolva claims its yeast and fermentation platform can produce valuable ingredients that normally industry would have a hard time accessing due to cost, sustainability, and other issues. Luc Aguilar, the global head of L’Oréal’s biotechnologies department, added in a statement that the firm believes this platform “could end in new cosmetic ingredients bringing a real breakthrough for our customers.”