Less waste, less impact on the environment, fewer costs, and fewer ingredients in the formula mean more value, more ethics, and more effectiveness. Essential and straightforward are the keywords of a sustainable approach: how do they fit into Biofarma Group? We asked our colleagues in R&D and Regulatory Affairs.
Develop formulations rich in assets with fewer excipients, which can give good results in the pilot industrialization phase, reducing the possibility of error in large-scale production and allowing the company to reduce time and the risk of additional costs. Sustainability is synonymous with organizational capacity and collaboration.
– “Formulating a product is only part of our goal: we develop projects, we give shape to ideas. Therefore, it is necessary to work synergistically with customers and team members to meet the deadlines, reducing rework and waste as much as possible – Sara Pezzetta, Strategic Project Leader of the Biofarma group, explains.
Sustainability starts with product design, which must be as effective as possible, and a well-thought-out choice of ingredients. – “We reward botanical ingredients with low environmental impact, but also those inspired by the traditions of past generations, using the most advanced knowledge to enhance what nature offers and providing sustainable solutions for the environment – continues Pezzetta.
We use ingredients of natural origin or deriving from recycling by minimizing the use of excipients, developing formulas that are compatible with green packaging materials, and, at the same time, improving the product’s performance are, therefore, the challenges that formulators have to face every day.
The choice of suppliers also plays a crucial role: – “We are looking for partners who can guarantee the origin of herbal extracts, provide ingredients of proven quality and share our ethical values. Even in the choice of packaging, where possible, we prefer the use of glass and multi-dose solutions, reducing packaging. In addition, much work is being done on labels, favoring concise but clear and complete information.”
Another essential aspect of developing skincare formulations is identifying the right supplier. “For not affecting transport costs raw materials come mainly from Italy and Europe. explains Valentina Scalfari, R&D formulator for the cosmetic sector explains. “We reward virtuous suppliers whose products do not harm the environment, local communities, animals, and those who know how to reuse the food industry’s waste. Think, for example, of coffee grounds that in cosmetics are precious ingredients for scrubs” -.
The theme of environmental sustainability, combined with the concept of natural beauty without artifacts, has led to an increase in the demand for clean, safe, and straightforward products. “Our green formulas are NATRUE certifiable. A high standard that defines the naturalness of cosmetic products, helping consumers recognize them, guarantee the use of 100% natural and non-GMO raw materials” -.
Among the most felt themes speaking about water protection that leads to the creation of very rich and concentrated formulas and solid products for cleaning, green also in the processing method that takes place in cold, with only mechanical forces. In this context, in addition to the proven solid shampoos and conditioners, new interesting perspectives open up: – “We are conducting a study on detergents with biodegradable raw materials. In Italy, the green market is a field still to be explored, often oriented by fashion and not by embedded principles. – specifies Scalfari – The new generations are the most sensitive and attentive. They represent the primary driver of consuming these products as a conscious choice “-.
In recent years, eco-sustainability has received increasing interest from public opinion and local authorities and companies, especially in the food sector. The latter showed a growth of about 10% in products with eco-sustainable packaging materials, while recycled materials marked an increase of 8% in the European market.
The same trend will also affect the food supplements market in the coming years, so companies are intensely interested in the eco-sustainable packaging concept.
Biofarma Group is already working on trying to respond to this need. – “The real problem is the search for primary packaging. With eco-sustainable materials alternative to plastic or aluminum, which can guarantee the maintenance of the specifications over time with a shelf life of the finished product equivalent to or slightly lower than the current one,” – explains Alessandro Taddei, Head of Regulatory Affairs of the Biofarma group, explains.
– “Let’s not forget that in many cases, the absence of industrialization of these new materials implies a strong increase in costs, limiting the possibility of presenting innovative eco-sustainable packaging alternatives to our customers. However, this does not exclude that in the short term, these obstacles can be overcome”.
