TAGS: Sustainability / Natural Cosmetics
An Interview with Wolfgang Goertz, Vice President of Cosmetic Solutions at Evonik
Evonik’s extensive expertise in personal care and sustainability has given rise to ECOHANCE®. This groundbreaking initiative integrates environmental considerations throughout its value chain. Thus, delivering eco-optimized cosmetics.
This initiative goes beyond conventional "green" methods. It adopts a comprehensive lifecycle perspective through the sourcing of alternative feedstocks. The ECOHANCE® program offers a range of solutions. Some of them are:
- Implementing segregated supply chains
- Ensuring social compliance and carbon optimization
- Facilitating a faster ramp-up of new technologies
- Optimizing application impacts
At the program's core lies the profound commitment by Evonik to social and ethical responsibility. It addresses the well-being of local communities and meets consumer demands for sustainability.
We recently interviewed Wolfgang Goertz, Vice President of Cosmetic Solutions at Evonik. He will walk you through the details of the innovative ECOHANCE® trio. He also explains how ECOHANCE® bridges the gap between performance and sustainability.
#1. What inspired Evonik to come up with ECOHANCE® Program?
Evonik has been developing and marketing eco-friendly and sustainable products for decades. With ECOHANCE®, Evonik wanted to go one step further and take social and ethical aspects into account in the selection of raw materials and processes.
Evonik also wanted to go beyond natural-based and bio-degradable products, by using feedstocks which are derived from side-streams and are not in competition to food.
ECOHANCE® is the company's new platform for the most advanced sustainable offerings they bring to the personal care market.
The Pillars of ECOHANCE®
#2. How does ECOHANCE® contribute to achieving superior environmental and consumer performance?
ECOHANCE® contributes to achieving superior environmental and consumer performance in several ways:
- Sustainable sourcing: ECOHANCE® sources raw materials from natural origin and traceable sources, preferably from side streams or from upcycling processes.
- Reduced carbon footprint in manufacturing: ECOHANCE® uses low-energy manufacturing processes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example, enzymatic esterification.
- 100% bio: ECOHANCE® products are bio-based, bio-degradable, and thus support a circular economy.
- Quality and safety: ECOHANCE® products comply with the highest cosmetic quality expectations, ensuring the safety of consumers and the environment.
- High performance: ECOHANCE® products are designed to provide superior performance, ensuring that consumers receive the best possible experience while minimizing environmental impact.
In 2023, Evonik launched the first three products of the new ECOHANCE® platform:
ECOHANCE® Care PS3
This emulsifier is based on building blocks from non-edible side streams of olive oil, with traceable supply chains from the Mediterranean region.
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ECOHANCE® Remo XP
This multifunctional rheology modifier has skin conditioning properties based on post-industrial side-streams from wood. Evonik uses energy-efficient enzymatic esterification to make this product.
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ECOHANCE® Soft Boabab
This cosmetic oil is 100% derived from FairWild certified Baobab Oil from Ghana, to support the Great Green Wall initiative - in collaboration with UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification).
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Overall, ECOHANCE®'s commitment to sustainability and quality contributes to achieving superior environmental and consumer performance, making it a truly responsible choice for businesses and consumers alike.
#3. How does ECOHANCE® tackle issues related to the exploitation of natural reserves?
ECOHANCE® is a product platform that helps our suppliers and partners address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices. One of the ways in which ECOHANCE® tackles issues related to the exploitation of natural reserves is by promoting sustainable resource management practices.
ECOHANCE® works with supply chain partners to develop strategies and practices that minimize their impact on natural resources and promote sustainable feedstocks and processes. This includes identifying opportunities to:
- reduce waste,
- increase efficiency, and
- promote the use of renewable, reusable, and upcycled resources
In addition, ECOHANCE® helps partners address issues related to the exploitation of natural reserves by promoting sustainable land use practices. This includes land management plans that promote biodiversity and protect ecosystems, as well as promoting the use of sustainable forestry and agriculture practices.
Example: ECOHANCE® Soft Baobab works with partners and local communities in Ghana to combat desertification and promote sustainable land use practices by using non-edible parts of the Baobab fruits. Evonik protects existing baobab trees and new trees are planted as part of this project. The company creates sustainable income for locals and they improve life quality for women in Ghana and Burkina Faso.
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#4. Please explain a bit about ‘eco-optimized cosmetics’ and how they are different from other ‘green’ variants.
Eco-optimized cosmetics are products that are designed to have the least possible impact on the environment while still delivering effective results. They are different from other "green" variants because they take a more holistic approach to sustainability, considering the entire lifecycle of the product, from the sourcing of ingredients to the manufacturing processes used and finally to what happens in the application and after that.
Eco-optimized cosmetics are formulated with natural and bio-based ingredients that are sustainably sourced and produced. The production process is also optimized to reduce waste and energy consumption.
In contrast, other "green" cosmetics may focus more on avoiding certain chemicals or using recyclable packaging, but may not take into account the entire lifecycle of the product. They may also still have a significant impact on the environment through their sourcing or production methods.
Overall, eco-optimized cosmetics are a more comprehensive approach to sustainable beauty, aiming to minimize environmental impact while still delivering high-quality and high-performing products.
#5. Could you share the benefits users can find with ECOHANCE®?
Our customers benefit from the
ECOHANCE® ingredients in the following ways:
- It allows them to formulate cosmetic and beauty products meeting their expectations on sustainability and performance at the same time.
- It helps them to achieve their sustainability agenda and to meet their carbon footprint targets.
- It can enhance their reputation and appeal to environmentally conscious customers and stakeholders.
- It can contribute to social and ecological responsibility without compromising quality or performance.
#6. What challenges does Evonik address through the ECOHANCE® program?
Evonik addresses several challenges through the ECOHANCE® program, including:
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Sustainability — The program aims to reduce the environmental impact of industrial processes and products. ECOHANCE® does not require further land use change but targets optimized existing land occupation. The program preserves valuable nature reserves and protects biodiversity globally.
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Resource efficiency — The program focuses on optimizing resource use and reducing waste generation. Evonik looks at utilizing alternative 1
st generation feedstocks as well as exploring 2
nd generation resources.
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Regulatory compliance — The program helps customers to comply with environmental regulations and standards.
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Cost reduction — The program helps customers to reduce costs associated with energy and raw material consumption.
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Innovation — The program encourages industry partners to the development of new technologies and processes that are more sustainable and efficient.
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Consumer demand — The program responds to increasing customer demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly products and processes.
ECOHANCE® Program by Evonik
#7. What are your thoughts on having traceable supply chains?
Traceable supply chains can be very beneficial for several reasons.
- First, they increase transparency and accountability in the supply chain, which can help prevent unethical practices such as child labor, forced labor, and environmental harm.
- Second, they can help companies identify and address issues in their supply chain, such as inefficiencies, quality control problems, and supply chain disruptions.
- Third, they can help companies to meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate compliance with industry standards.
However, implementing traceable supply chains can also be challenging and costly, especially for smaller companies. It requires significant investment in technology, data management, and supplier engagement. Additionally, there may be resistance from suppliers who are reluctant to share information about their operations.
Overall, while there are challenges associated with implementing traceable supply chains, the potential benefits are significant, and it is a worthwhile goal for companies like Evonik committed to sustainability and ethical business practices.
VIEW THE ECOHANCE® RANGE BY EVONIK
Discover
ECOHANCE® grades that provide superior performance while minimizing environmental impact. Click on the desired product of your choice to learn more!
About Wolfgang Goertz
Wolfgang Goertz is currently Vice President of Cosmetic Solutions at Evonik. He is responsible for driving the company’s growth in the cosmetics sector and developing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide.
Prior to joining Evonik, Goertz held several leadership positions at Degussa Goldschmidt Corp. and Degussa AG (which later became Evonik), where he held roles as Marketing Manager and R&D Manager, respectively.
He also served as the Global Marketing Director and Global Business Director Specialties at Evonik, where he was instrumental in expanding the company's product portfolio and strengthening its market position. Goertz holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from RWTH Aachen University.
DISCLAIMER: All images and videos used in this article are copyright of Evonik.