Mibelle introduces sustainable palm oil alternative from CO2
The newly developed CO2-derived fat offers an innovative, scalable alternative to safeguard rainforests and reduce dependence on traditional palm oil.
SWITZERLAND – Mibelle Group, in collaboration with partners LanzaTech and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), has pioneered a breakthrough sustainable palm oil alternative produced from captured CO2.
Using a novel two-stage fermentation process, this technology converts greenhouse gas CO2 directly into a fat blend that mimics the crucial properties and composition of traditional palm oil, making it suitable for cosmetics and other everyday product applications.
Unlike earlier bio-based alternatives, which rely on sugar fermentation and consume agricultural land and water, and are linked to rainforest degradation, this innovation is uniquely produced without the need for land, using very little water and energy.
The process starts with LanzaTech’s biotechnological conversion of CO2 into alcohol, akin to brewing beer but with CO2 replacing grain.
Subsequently, Fraunhofer’s specialized fermentation transforms the alcohol into fats using naturally occurring, non-genetically modified oil yeasts.
This resulting palm oil-free fat is natural, high-quality, nourishing, and endowed with skin care benefits that enhance skin feel and help protect the skin barrier.
It addresses significant environmental challenges caused by palm oil cultivation, including ongoing deforestation, habitat loss for many species, and substantial CO2 emissions resulting from rainforest clearance.
The cosmetics industry, while sourcing certified sustainable palm oil, faces increasing demand pressures that certified cultivation alone cannot meet.
The newly developed CO2-derived fat offers an innovative, scalable alternative to safeguard rainforests and reduce dependence on traditional palm oil.
Mibelle Group’s strategic lead of basic research and technical innovation, Susanne Heldmaier, emphasized the ingredient’s potential to foster reformulation efforts within the beauty sector, encouraging the shift towards lab-grown or byproduct-based alternatives.
The joint project is advancing from successful lab-scale trials towards kilogram-scale production, with fermentation processes being steadily scaled at Fraunhofer’s chemical-biotechnological center in Germany.
This advancement marks a significant step towards market readiness for a sustainable palm oil substitute that can contribute to protecting both skin health and the environment.
Peter Müller, CEO of Mibelle Group, describes the innovation as a milestone for the cosmetics industry, reflecting a strong commitment to planetary responsibility and supply chain resilience.
The technology aligns with new regulatory aims designed to prevent further rainforest destruction for palm oil cultivation, positioning this CO2-based fat as a promising solution for the future demand for sustainable fats across the industry.
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