Using synthetic biology to make consumer products more sustainable has proven to be a winning formula for Amyris, a BIO member company that announced expansion in October.
Amyris uses synthetic biology (synbio) to genetically modify yeast and ferment it with sugarcane to generate sustainable squalane, a replica of the squalene that is produced naturally by humans (and sharks) and is a skin moisturizer. This means there is no need to obtain squalene from sharks’ livers, including livers of endangered species
Amyris announced in October that it is expanding its beauty empire, launching two new brands:
- Stripes, a (peri)menopausal skincare and wellness brand founded in partnership with actress, entrepreneur, and activist Naomi Watts.
- EcoFabulous, a clean, sustainable skincare and makeup brand designed for Gen-Z consumers.
And they’re going global, with three existing celeb-backed brands—Biossance (beloved by Reese Witherspoon), JVN Hair, and Rose Inc.—now available on Sephora’s U.K. website.
Amyris stimulates innovation
Amyris is a market-leading synthetic biotechnology firm that uses fermentation and its unique Lab-to-Market technology platform to convert the Clean Health & Beauty and Flavors & Fragrances markets to sustainable components.
By utilizing cutting-edge robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, the Lab-to-Market platform makes it possible to quickly introduce new innovations to the market on a large scale, and more than 20,000 products worldwide contain components from Amyris, the company says.
A beautiful partnership
Amyris also announced in October that it is working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to support sustainable fishing practices and reduce the impact that fishing gear has on sharks, while identifying potential molecules in the company’s pipeline that could reduce our impact on the oceans and biodiversity.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with WWF to continue and deepen our commitment to protecting biodiversity,” said Beth Bannerman, Chief Engagement and Sustainability Officer at Amyris. “Every day at Amyris we think about how we can improve the health of people and planet, push boundaries and drive change, and this partnership is a natural fit.”
