A Biodegradable Silicone Alternative Debuts at SEPAWA

LANXESS Launches Cosmelin at SEPAWA Congress 2026

LANXESS is using the SEPAWA Congress 2026 to highlight a new generation of specialty chemicals for cosmetics and personal care, with a strong focus on sustainability and formulation performance. The company's showcase includes Cosmelin, a new line of readily biodegradable specialty esters positioned as an alternative to conventional silicones.

LANXESS will present its portfolio of preservatives and multifunctionals for personal care at the SEPAWA Congress in Berlin. The company is also introducing Cosmelin, a new line of readily biodegradable specialty esters positioned as high-performance alternatives to silicones in skin care, hair care, sunscreens and decorative cosmetics.

What Cosmelin Is and Why It Matters

Key highlights: LANXESS debuts preservative solutions for pet care market, introduces Cosmelin, readily biodegradable specialty esters positioned as an alternative to silicones for skin, hair, sunscreen and decorative cosmetics.

Conventional silicones like dimethicone, cyclomethicones (D4/D5) and silicone elastomers give slip, shine and sensory elegance but face regulatory and environmental pressure. D4/D5 are restricted under EU REACH due to persistence and bioaccumulation, and silicones are non-biodegradable, complicating natural and eco-label claims.

Performance Positioning: Drop-In Replacement

Cosmelin addresses demand for biodegradable specialty esters and greater flexibility around silicone-containing and silicone-free formulations. The esters are designed to mimic silicone sensorials: dry, non-greasy emolliency, light spreading, pigment wetting and SPF boosting without greasy residue.

Formulators at SEPAWA can test side-by-side: silicone-like slip and detangling in conditioners, soft focus in primers and foundations, and water resistance in sunscreens, but with readily biodegradable OECD 310 profile and COSMOS compatibility expected.

Scopeblue Sustainability Angle

Purox S and Kalaguard SB are offered in Scopeblue variants with at least 50% lower CO2 footprint or ≥50% sustainable raw materials via mass-balance approaches. The SEPAWA 2026 portfolio illustrates how specialty chemical suppliers are responding to several formulation requirements at same time, combining preservation, sensory and sustainability.

LANXESS at SEPAWA 2026: preservatives, Cosmelin esters and Scopeblue offerings shows supplier strategy to bundle biodegradable alternatives with low-carbon preservatives, answering both EU Green Deal and consumer demand for silicone-free.

Other Silicone Alternatives at SEPAWA

BASF launches high-performing and sustainable silicone alternatives: Cetiol Ultimate is 100% derived from renewable feedstocks, readily biodegradable and COSMOS approved; Cetiol 4 All is moderately biodegradable and complies with Nordic ecolabel. With Cetiol Ultimate and Cetiol 4 All, BASF offers manufacturers efficient alternatives to silicone oils that do not compromise on efficacy.

CHT Group showcased CHT-BeauSil ECO 903, a PEG-free silicone emulsifier and D5-free alternative to classic silicone crosspolymer gels, and Floratech previously launched Floramac 10, a natural, nonvolatile alternative to many silicones derived from macadamia, both biodegradable and noncomedogenic.

Why SEPAWA Is the Launchpad

SEPAWA Congress in Berlin, held October 14-16, 2026, is Europe's largest cosmetics and home care formulation show. LANXESS Develops Biodegradable Silicone Alternatives for Cosmetics headline signals shift: silicone replacement is now mainstream sustainability topic, not niche natural claim.

For brands facing retailer silicone-free lists and upcoming EU microplastic and siloxane restrictions, readily biodegradable esters like Cosmelin offer reformulation path without sacrificing texture that consumers associate with premium skin and hair care.

Working Source Links:

LANXESS at SEPAWA 2026: preservatives, Cosmelin esters and Scopeblue offerings - https://chemxplore.com/news/lanxess-sepawa-congress-preservatives

LANXESS Develops Biodegradable Silicone Alternatives for Cosmetics - SEPAWA Congress 2026 - https://www.chemicalsblog.com/en/blog/lanxess-bets-on-biodegradable-silicone-alternatives-at-europe-s-biggest-cosmetics-congress

LANXESS Showcases Preservatives and Bio-Based Cosmelin Esters at SEPAWA 2026 - https://www.chemicalsblog.com/en/blog/lanxess-showcases-preservatives-and-bio-based-cosmelin-esters-at-sepawa-2026

BASF launches high-performing and sustainable silicone alternatives - Cetiol Ultimate and Cetiol 4 All - https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/basf-launches-high-performing-and-sustainable-silicone-alternatives-147270

A botanical alternative to silicones from Floratech - Floramac 10 - https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/a-botanical-alternative-to-silicones-from-floratech-127247