Evonik has partnered with Celtic Renewables to introduce a lower-carbon solution for the cosmetics and personal care industry by utilizing bio-based butanol to manufacture ECOHANCE® Soft BOL, a sustainable emollient designed for a wide range of beauty and skincare applications. The collaboration combines Celtic Renewables’ innovative renewable feedstock technology with Evonik’s expertise in cosmetic formulations, creating ingredients that deliver both high product performance and improved environmental sustainability.
The bio-butanol supplied by Celtic Renewables is manufactured entirely from locally sourced waste-based feedstocks at its Scottish biorefinery. The company transforms by-products such as whisky pot ale and surplus or rejected potatoes into valuable renewable chemicals, demonstrating how agricultural and food-processing waste can be converted into high-value industrial ingredients through advanced biorefining technologies.
As consumer awareness of environmental issues continues to grow, the cosmetics and personal care industry is increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives to conventional fossil-based ingredients. Manufacturers are under mounting pressure to develop products that reduce environmental impact without compromising quality, performance, or consumer experience. Waste-derived raw materials not only lower carbon emissions but also provide compelling sustainability narratives that resonate with environmentally conscious consumers.
The partnership highlights how renewable feedstocks from sources such as whisky production, potato waste, and even olive oil by-products can be transformed into next-generation cosmetic ingredients. These familiar waste streams help create a stronger connection between consumers and sustainable products while maintaining scientific credibility through measurable environmental benefits.
According to Bettina Brierly, Chief Commercial Officer of Celtic Renewables, the cosmetics sector faces significant challenges in lowering Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions because many everyday beauty products still rely on fossil-derived chemicals during manufacturing. She noted that replacing these conventional chemicals with bio-based alternatives can reduce lifecycle emissions by as much as 60% without requiring changes in consumer purchasing habits or substantial modifications to existing production processes. She emphasized that strategic collaborations such as the one with Evonik are essential to accelerating the industry's transition toward more sustainable manufacturing practices, adding that companies adopting bio-based solutions early will be better positioned for the future.
Wolfgang Goertz, Vice President of Cosmetic Solutions at Evonik, stated that Celtic Renewables’ bio-butanol aligns perfectly with the company's raw material requirements. He added that the resulting emollient has been well received by customers for its superior sensory properties, texture, and overall product feel, demonstrating that sustainability and premium cosmetic performance can successfully coexist.
Beyond reducing carbon emissions, Evonik is also focused on improving transparency across its supply chain by providing greater visibility into the origin of raw materials and the sustainability journey of finished products. Building on the success of this collaboration, both companies are now exploring additional applications for Celtic Renewables’ bio-based chemicals across a broader portfolio of environmentally responsible cosmetic ingredients.
Impact of the News
The partnership is expected to strengthen demand for bio-based butanol, sustainable emollients, and renewable specialty chemicals used in cosmetics and personal care formulations. Increased adoption of waste-derived feedstocks could gradually reduce dependence on fossil-based butanol and petrochemical-derived emollients, encouraging greater investment in bio-based chemical production. For the chemical commodities tracked by ChemAnalyst, the immediate price impact is expected to remain limited because the collaboration is currently focused on specialty cosmetic applications rather than large-scale commodity markets. However, sustained commercialization and broader industry adoption could gradually support premiums for bio-based specialty chemicals while placing mild long-term competitive pressure on conventional fossil-based alternatives.
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