ÄIO and Tilk! launch serum featuring side-stream bio-fermented oil
The collaboration highlights how university research translates into consumer products through industry ties.
EUROPE – ÄIO, an Estonian biotech firm, has partnered with natural skincare brand Tilk! to launch the Skin Booster Bio-Fermented Serum, their first commercial product featuring ÄIO’s RedOil ingredient.
This serum marks a key milestone, shifting ÄIO’s fermentation technology from R&D to retail in Europe.
RedOil is rich in antioxidants, carotenoids, and essential fatty acids, delivering retinol-like skin renewal without irritation.
It supports skin barrier function, deep hydration, elasticity restoration, redness reduction, and resilience against environmental stressors.
Pille Lengi, CEO and formulator at Tilk, stated, “We’ve worked with many new ingredients, but what made ÄIO different was the combination of scientific credibility and real sustainability impact.”
“RedOil is not only effective on skin, but it represents a new way of thinking about cosmetics, using upcycled resources to create high-performance actives.”
The fermentation process uses low-value industrial by-products, slashing land (97% less), water (90% less), and time compared to traditional oils like palm or coconut.
This vegan, traceable alternative aligns with EU deforestation regulations and addresses supply chain instability in the cosmetics industry.
Bio-fermented oils are an emerging innovation in personal care, created through microbial fermentation of natural feedstocks to produce high-performance, sustainable ingredients.
They are now moving from R&D into commercial products, with applications in skincare, haircare, and cosmetics.
ÄIO, a 2022 spin-off from Tallinn University of Technology, provides RedOil—a lipid blend produced via precision fermentation of upcycled organic side-streams.
Tilk!, an Estonian natural skincare company, formulated the serum around this ingredient after years of testing.
This comes after ÄIO successfully secured a €1 million (USD 1.17 million) grant from the Estonian government-backed Applied Research Programme (RUP) mid-last year.
This was organized by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS) to accelerate its work on sustainable, vegan fats and oils for the cosmetics sector.
This financial support will be utilized in a three-year research project focused on advancing ÄIO’s unique fermentation process.
According to ÄIO, the grant, contributing to a total project budget of €1.8 million (USD 2.09 million), underscores significant governmental backing for this groundbreaking technology.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.
