In 2025, cosmetics and private care product producers proceed to face rising strain to cut back carbon emissions and meet evolving regulatory and client expectations. One main problem is addressing Scope 3 emissions, which may account for as much as 90% of an organization’s carbon footprint, in keeping with a 2022 report by McKinsey & Firm.
In response, progressive ingredient options like endurocal calcium carbonate (ECC) are rising as crucial instruments for lowering environmental affect with out sacrificing product efficiency.
In accordance with the corporate, launched by CarbonFree, a company specializing in carbon seize expertise, endurocal is the world’s first zero-carbon mineral. Not like standard calcium carbonate, usually mined from pure sources, endurocal is created from recycled carbon dioxide captured straight from industrial emissions via CarbonFree’s patented SkyCycle course of.
The result’s a net-zero carbon footprint ingredient with superior brightness, whiteness, and efficiency properties tailor-made for formulations in cosmetics, private care, and different industries.
On this CosmeticsDesign Q&A, Martin Keighley, CEO of CarbonFree, explains how endurocal presents cosmetics formulators an progressive, cost-competitive answer to cut back their carbon footprint whereas bettering product high quality.
CDU: Are you able to elaborate on how endurocal distinguishes itself from different calcium carbonate merchandise in the marketplace, significantly for cosmetics and private care formulations?
Martin Keighley (MK): endurocal calcium carbonate (ECC) is made out of recycled carbon. Extra particularly from carbon dioxide straight captured from level supply emitters that’s then reacted with calcium chloride.
The calcium chloride is made onsite with in-process produced hydrochloric acid and calcium recycled from inert materials that has not been used earlier than in paints, plastics, healthcare and cosmetics or private care functions. The method permits for management of particle measurement and particle measurement distribution (PSD) in addition to brightness.
Beauty and private care formulators will be capable of reap the benefits of superior brightness to standard calcium carbonate sources, each artificial and pure.
CDU: What are the important thing advantages of utilizing endurocal for cosmetics producers, and the way does it enhance the efficiency of conventional PCC or GCC in formulations?
MK: ECC has a greater whiteness and shade than standard Precipitated Calcium Carbonates (PCCs) or Floor Calcium Carbonate (GCCs). It will permit for decrease use of optical brighteners and different whitening brokers within the formulations.
CDU: How does endurocal align with present trade traits prioritizing sustainability, resembling lowering Scope 3 emissions?
MK: ECC being derived from recycled supplies permits C&PC formulators to decrease their Scope 3 emissions in a straight accountable method. The method to make ECC, makes use of CarbonFree’s patented SkyCycle expertise which has a adverse carbon footprint as modeled by a extremely regarded third get together guide group, Trinity Consultants, Inc.
Nevertheless, the ECC is being marketed at the moment as net-zero carbon calcium carbonate, the primary of its variety on the earth. Using ECC straight in formulations will decrease Scope 3 emissions for purchasers and formulators.
CDU: What’s the potential affect of adopting endurocal on the carbon footprint of cosmetics corporations? Are there quantifiable advantages you’ll be able to share?
MK: For every substituted quantity of calcium carbonate, whether or not PCC or GCC, there’s a direct advantage of lowering the carbon footprint to zero for that quantity substituted. For instance, PCC’s carbon footprint is anyplace from 1.0 to 0.78 100-Yr International Warming Potential (GWP) or one other manner, 1.0 to 0.78 metric ton CO2e/metric ton PCC.
ECC successfully takes that worth to 0 as marketed at the moment. One other advantage of the SkyCycle course of is that the output is an inert powder, and the quantity of CO2 captured is well accounted for by easy mass stability.
Chemistry turns into the accountant.
CDU: Are you able to share extra particulars concerning the SkyCycle course of used to supply endurocal? How does this expertise contribute to the product’s zero-carbon footprint?
MK: The SkyCycle course of is a chemical cycle that makes use of magnesium at its core. As CO2 reacts with magnesium hydroxide it creates magnesium bicarbonate.
The magnesium bicarbonate reacts with calcium chloride to precipitate out calcium carbonate – the endurocal. What’s left is magnesium chloride.
There the method would cease. Nevertheless, if you happen to warmth the magnesium chloride you’ll be able to generate magnesium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid.
The magnesium hydroxide we noticed earlier than is used within the begin to the response and the hydrochloride acid is both offered or used to dissolve calcium out of waste supplies to generate the calcium chloride used beforehand within the course of.
As a result of the method makes use of CO2 that may in any other case be waste to the ambiance, mixed with utilization of on-site waste calcium supply it may be demonstrated as a adverse carbon-footprint course of.
CDU: For cosmetics functions, what benefits does endurocal present by way of absorption, texture, and opacity in comparison with different choices?
MK: We now have noticed important hydrophobicity and oil absorption for ECC. This could profit construction construct in addition to texture enhancement.
Having a really excessive whiteness can result in larger opacity as nicely.
CDU: How does the excessive purity and customizable particle measurement of endurocal allow innovation in creating private care merchandise like powders, lotions, and lotions?
MK: ECC has no detectable crystalline silica in its composition, actually it has no silica detected. ECC can be made to pharmaceutical grade, so its purity may be very excessive.
The particle measurement has been demonstrated to be within the low micron vary with only a few fines or oversize.
CDU: What suggestions have you ever acquired from cosmetics and private care formulators relating to endurocal’s efficiency of their merchandise?
MK: Whereas we have now not but acquired particular suggestions from formulators within the cosmetics and private care industries, we’re optimistic given the extremely constructive responses from different software sectors. Many have praised endurocal for its enhancements in product high quality, together with improved texture and absorption, in addition to its environmental advantages.
CDU: Value generally is a important issue for producers. How does endurocal evaluate in price to conventional calcium carbonate merchandise, and what price benefits can it provide over time?
MK: ECC will probably be cost-competitive to most calcium carbonates used at the moment. Past that, the discount in Scope 3 emissions that formulators expertise could also be monetized on their facet for these utilizing ECC of their formulations
CDU: What function do you see sustainable minerals like endurocal enjoying in shaping the way forward for the cosmetics and private care trade?
MK: As suppliers to the C&PC trade, we have now an obligation to cut back our emissions. All mineral corporations are working diligently to just do that.
Nevertheless, all of the sources at the moment begin with a mined supply, which is a pure storage level for CO2 within the case of calcium carbonate. By mining that “saved CO2 supply” the CO2 is definitely liberated to the ambiance, within the case of PCC manufacturing, or the carbon footprint of direct mining, sizing, and delivering that calcium carbonate continues to be considerably excessive.
The extra inputs within the course of that come from sustainable sources can decrease these carbon footprints. For endurocal, it’s a true sustainable mineral because it already comes from a course of that’s carbon adverse, a declare no different mineral producer could make at the moment.
We see applied sciences like endurocal changing into extensively utilized by cosmetics corporations as customers proceed to demand extra sustainable and ethically sourced merchandise. There are additionally research on the market that pinpoint client curiosity within the science behind their merchandise, and people aware customers will admire the progressive course of used to create their favourite merchandise.
CDU: Past cosmetics, are there classes or methods from different industries adopting endurocal that may very well be priceless for private care producers?
MK: As already talked about, ECC is a direct Scope 3 discount technique. All formulations that may substitute their present calcium carbonate with ECC will straight profit from a Scope 3 discount that’s accountable.
Moreover, if a formulation will be additional optimized by taking the total benefit of ECC formulators might be able to substitute different excessive carbon footprint supplies like TiO2.
CDU: What are the most important challenges or obstacles to entry you anticipate for cosmetics corporations seeking to combine endurocal into their formulations?
MK: One large pattern within the beauty trade is using pure and biologically sourced supplies. ECC does come from an artificial supply. Nevertheless, once you take a look at the entire image, the precise chemistry is straightforward salt chemistry, which happens naturally on daily basis.
We’re simply directing that course of in a managed method.
CDU: What’s subsequent for CarbonFree and endurocal? Are there any upcoming developments or enhancements on the horizon for this expertise?
MK: We’re working each domestically and internationally with level supply emitters as nicely has massive trade leaders that see the worth of utilizing endurocal at the moment.
We anticipate some bulletins in early 2025 alongside these strains.