Eastman, a global expert in specialty materials, and Kolmar Korea, an original development manufacturer in the cosmetics industry, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to accelerate the development of sustainable, high-performance solutions for the global beauty and personal care market.
Expanding Access to Biodegradable Innovation
The partnership will initially focus on Eastman’s Esmeri technology, including Esmeri CC1N10 (INCI: Cellulose Acetate Butyrate), an advanced cellulose ester micropowder sourced from 63% sustainable sourced wood pulp, designed for color cosmetics. This novel material is biodegradable under OECD 301B guidelines and meets the EU’s strict biodegradation regulations (EU2023/2055) for synthetic polymer microparticles.
“Esmeri is a key solution to challenges that brands face today in meeting regulatory requirements and rising consumer demands for innovative products that continue to deliver exceptional performance,” said Travis Smith, executive vice president at Eastman.
“Kolmar’s end-to-end manufacturing capabilities and global reach will be integral in scaling access to Esmeri and other personal care innovations. Together, we are bringing sustainable, high-quality solutions to the industry.”
Collaboration Beyond Esmeri
The partnership with Kolmar may also span across Eastman’s broad portfolio of personal care ingredients, which serve applications across cosmetics, fragrance and skin, sun and hair care. These solutions are designed to boost product performance while meeting evolving consumer and regulatory expectations.
“Through our products and brands, we continue to offer differentiated beauty solutions that integrate cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices, which is what makes Esmeri a great fit for our portfolio,” said Han Sang-Keun, vice president and chief technology officer, Kolmar Holdings.
“We are excited to collaborate with Eastman to combine their unique technology with our global consumer insights and deep expertise in K-beauty to accelerate sustainable growth for both companies.”
