WACKER and Amyris expand collaboration on bio-based ingredients for personal care
Last update on May 7, 2026
WACKER and Amyris, a U.S.-based biomanufacturing company, are expanding their collaboration. As announced at the in-cosmetics trade show in Paris, France, the two companies will be stepping up their collaboration in the development of bio-based functional ingredients for the personal care sector. The goal is to systematically evaluate the potential of such ingredients and building blocks for innovative personal care applications and new development approaches.
Evaluation of novel functional molecular compounds
WACKER and Amyris have already been collaborating in the field of biotechnology for several years. Amyris has more than 20 years of expertise in the development and manufacturing of biological chemistry. WACKER has decades of experience in the formulation of silicone-based ingredients and in the fermentation of cyclodextrin and cysteine products for the personal care and life science industries.
The collaboration reflects current trends in the personal care and consumer goods sectors. According to current studies, the market for bio-based cosmetics is projected to grow faster than for conventional, chemically produced counterparts.
WACKER has responded to this trend by introducing a new product line. Under the brand name BELNEXT®, the company presented products based exclusively on renewable raw materials at in-cosmetics in Paris. "This allows us to offer manufacturers and formulators of personal-care products a wide range of ingredients, from proven silicone-based solutions to plant-derived products that offer similar properties but are completely bio-based," says Ian Moore, head of WACKER's Consumer & Healthcare unit.
The California-based Amyris uses precision-engineered microorganisms to transform renewable feedstocks into high-performing molecules, enabling access to chemistries that would otherwise be too rare to source from nature. Amyris's ingredients, produced using advanced precision fermentation, have been adopted across flavors and fragrances, beauty and personal care, and specialty chemicals for industrial applications.
The focus of the collaboration is on bio-based molecules whose functional potential is unlocked through targeted processing and formulation capabilities at WACKER. "At the moment, we are investigating how we can use certain Amyris ingredients to specifically expand and supplement our personal-care portfolio," says Ian Moore.
WACKER is also examining the extent to which selected bio-based raw materials produced using Amyris's technology can be integrated into existing production structures. "The development of market-ready solutions and the formulation and application compatibility of such solutions at the customer's site are largely shaped by WACKER's expertise in development, formulation, and production," Moore adds.
For Amyris, WACKER's market expertise and global sales and technical service network are a relevant asset. "WACKER is a global leader in the development of functional ingredients for the cosmetics and personal care industries. WACKER also brings deep insights into product performance expectations from global customers through its technical application and testing centers," says Lisa Roessler, chief commercial officer at Amyris.
The cooperation is intended to accelerate the development of bio-based ingredients for personal care applications. WACKER contributes expertise in formulation and application; Amyris contributes know-how in biotechnology and biomanufacturing. "Combining these strengths creates synergies and a strong foundation for developing innovative, high-performance, and resource-efficient solutions," says Roessler. "By bringing together WACKER's deep formulation and application expertise with Amyris's leadership in producing biological chemistry, we have a uniquely complementary partnership to translate renewable innovation into high-performing cosmetic ingredients at scale."
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