Gattefossé pushes further its approach of upcycling
Pursuing the ambitious objectives of its CSR policy, Gattefossé reinforces the study of wasted materials to produce high-quality bioactives.
Two bioactives are born these last two years from the underutilized leaves of sea buckthorn: Eyeglorius™ and Noxifense™.
Exploring the potential of wasted raw materials
In the company’s CSR roadmap, Gatt’Up&Act, the responsible management of waste is a strategic stake.
“Besides implementing a waste management system, we are also working with the notion of upcycling. Wastes’ recovery is fully integrated right from the earliest stages of development. This approach has even been reinforced within the last years with several projects underway based on upcycling, as a source of future sustainable, responsible and effective products”, explains Laurent Schubnel, Group CSR Leader at Gattefossé.
This is how the company decided to make the most of the underutilized leaves of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
Hippophae rhamnoides, a highly nutritive and versatile plant
This shrub features a remarkable phytochemical richness with an abundance of phenolic acids, lipophilic compounds, vitamins, and organic acids, providing the plant with impressive biological potential.
Gattefossé’s research team took an interest in the unused sea buckthorn’s leaves. Work to secure the supply of the plant has taken the company in Quebec, Canada, in a family-owned orchard dedicated to its organic cultivation and the transformation of berries into food items.
Every September, the fruit-bearing branches are manually cut, allowing for tree pruning. The leaves are separated from the fruits which will be transformed into juices, sorbets, or jams.
Gattefossé recovers the leaves, upcycling this valuable material.
One plant, two bioactives
Gattefossé deployed its deep savoir-faire in plant chemistry, using different extraction technologies, to harness the full potential of this raw material.
Following the success of Eyeglorius™ - a liposoluble anti-fatigue active obtained via supercritical CO2 extraction and launched in 2024 - Gattefossé will soon introduce Noxifense™. This new active introduces new possibilities for the application of sea-buckthorn leaves.
Noxifense™ ensures a holistic approach to skin sensitivity care, by strengthening the skin’s defense mechanisms against environmental stress. It draws on the emergent theory of "oxi-inflammation," the harmful interplay between oxidative stress and inflammation. Its soothing effects are achieved through a finely tuned process targeting specific families of flavonoids, which are of high interest for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Preserving our environment
On a daily basis and at all levels of the company, we want to focus on reducing our impact generated directly or indirectly by our activities on the climate, natural resources and biodiversity. “In this area, every little bit counts!”
Sustainable sourcing
At different stages in its history, Gattefossé has placed considerable emphasis on the study of botany. Its investment is proof of the company’s intense interest in plants as high-quality, complex raw materials requiring in-depth scientific study so they can be put to good use in industry.
