LANXESS Bets on Biodegradable Silicone Alternatives at Europe's Biggest Cosmetics Congress

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, alongside Scopeblue versions of established preservatives designed to reduce carbon footprint or increase the use of sustainable raw materials.

The developments illustrate a broader shift in specialty personal-care chemistry: formulators increasingly want ingredients that combine performance, regulatory suitability, sustainability, and reliable commercial supply.

Cosmelin Targets the Silicone Alternative Market

Silicones are widely used in cosmetics because they provide properties such as slip, spreadability, smoothness, and shine.

LANXESS is positioning Cosmelin as an alternative for manufacturers looking to achieve similar sensory performance while moving toward more biodegradable formulations.

The specialty esters are designed for:

• Skin care

• Hair care

• Sunscreens

• Decorative cosmetics

• Silicone-containing formulations

• Silicone-free formulations

LANXESS describes the Cosmelin range as readily biodegradable and says the esters can provide strong compatibility with both silicone and organic ingredients.

This gives formulators an additional option when balancing consumer expectations for sensory quality with sustainability objectives.

Scopeblue Brings Sustainability Into Preservatives

LANXESS is also presenting Purox S Scopeblue and Kalaguard Scopeblue as more sustainable versions of established preservative solutions.

The company's Scopeblue framework identifies products that either have a product carbon footprint at least 50% lower than conventional alternatives or contain at least 50% sustainable raw materials, subject to the company's defined criteria.

Purox S is a nature-identical, readily biodegradable sodium benzoate used to inhibit microbial growth in cosmetics and personal-care products. LANXESS says the Scopeblue version uses renewable energy and renewable raw materials through a mass-balance approach.

The development is significant because preservatives are used at relatively low concentrations, yet they remain essential for protecting formulations against microbial contamination and maintaining product quality.

Sustainability Is Moving Into Formulation Economics

The LANXESS strategy demonstrates that sustainability is increasingly being integrated directly into formulation decisions.

Cosmetic manufacturers are looking for ingredients that can provide:

• Strong formulation performance

• Improved environmental profiles

• Lower product carbon footprints

• Renewable or circular feedstocks

• Reliable regulatory documentation

• Consistent commercial supply

• Consumer-friendly sustainability claims

LANXESS says its personal-care portfolio includes preservatives, multifunctional ingredients, emollients, fragrances, and other formulation components, supported by technical, microbiological, and regulatory expertise.

Emollients Add Another Layer of Formulation Flexibility

LANXESS is also highlighting its high-purity emollient portfolio, including Purolan IDD, Purolan IHD, and Adimoll DB, alongside the multifunctional Purolan PD-LO.

These ingredients are positioned for skin-care, hair-care, and broader personal-care applications, with functions including sensory modification, texture optimization, and formulation flexibility.

Purolan PD-LO also acts as a humectant and antimicrobial booster, allowing it to support primary preservative systems.

The Broader Market Shift

The Cosmelin and Scopeblue developments reflect several broader trends in specialty cosmetics chemistry.

1. Silicone Alternatives

Formulators are exploring alternatives that can deliver desirable sensory properties while offering different environmental profiles.

2. Lower-Carbon Ingredients

Carbon-footprint data is becoming increasingly relevant to ingredient selection and sustainability reporting.

3. Bio-Based Feedstocks

Renewable and mass-balance raw materials are becoming more visible within specialty chemical portfolios.

4. Performance Plus Sustainability

Cosmetic brands increasingly expect sustainability improvements without sacrificing product performance.

5. Regulatory Readiness

Ingredient suppliers must provide stronger technical and regulatory support as sustainability and product claims become more closely scrutinized.

Competitive Intelligence

Cosmetics and personal-care companies should monitor several indicators when evaluating specialty ingredient suppliers:

Product Innovation

Track new biodegradable esters, polymers, emollients, preservatives, and multifunctional ingredients.

Carbon Footprint

Compare product-level carbon-footprint data rather than relying only on broad corporate sustainability claims.

Feedstock Strategy

Monitor the use of renewable, recycled, and mass-balance raw materials.

Formulation Performance

Assess whether sustainable alternatives can match the sensory and technical performance of established ingredients.

Commercial Scale

Distinguish between laboratory-stage innovation and ingredients that are available at reliable commercial volumes.

Procurement Considerations

Procurement teams should evaluate sustainable cosmetic ingredients across both commercial and technical criteria.

Key considerations include:

• Product specifications

• Biodegradability data

• Carbon-footprint documentation

• Raw-material origin

• Sustainability certification

• Regulatory status

• Manufacturing capacity

• Supply continuity

• Formulation compatibility

• Technical support

A lower-carbon ingredient is commercially useful only if it can also meet the required performance, quality, regulatory, and supply requirements.

Looking Ahead

LANXESS's SEPAWA 2026 portfolio illustrates how specialty chemical companies are increasingly competing through a combination of performance, sustainability, and formulation expertise.

Cosmelin targets one of the industry's most visible formulation challenges: finding effective alternatives to conventional silicones. Scopeblue, meanwhile, demonstrates how established preservatives can be redesigned around lower-carbon production and sustainable feedstocks.

For cosmetics manufacturers and procurement teams, the competitive question is increasingly shifting from “Is this ingredient sustainable?” to “Can this ingredient deliver measurable sustainability benefits without compromising performance, regulatory compliance, or supply reliability?”

Suppliers that can answer all four requirements may gain an increasingly important advantage in the global personal-care ingredients market.

Key Takeaways

• LANXESS is introducing Cosmelin, a line of readily biodegradable specialty esters positioned as an alternative to conventional silicones.

• Cosmelin targets skin care, hair care, sunscreen, and decorative cosmetics.

• LANXESS is also presenting Scopeblue variants of established preservative products.

• Scopeblue products are designed around lower carbon footprints and/or sustainable raw materials under LANXESS's defined criteria.

• The developments show how sustainability is becoming increasingly integrated into cosmetic formulation decisions.

• Procurement teams should assess sustainability alongside performance, regulatory compliance, scalability, and supply reliability.

Sources

https://chemxplore.com/news/lanxess-sepawa-congress-preservatives