Turning plant residues into beauty ingredients
by Hannah Marsch, Marketing Manager Active Ingredients
What if the botanicals used in beauty did not always begin with newly cultivated plants, but with a fresh look at plant materials that already exist? In cosmetics, sustainability is now part of how ingredients are sourced, processed and designed into formulations. For brand owners, formulators and ingredient partners, this means rethinking plant-based value chains through the lens of circular beauty.
In this post, we specifically focus on upcycled botanicals: cosmetic extracts made from plant residues such as leaves, young fruits or pomace from food and agricultural production. These are plant-derived co-raw materials that can be transformed into high-value cosmetic ingredients. Done well, botanical upcycling can help reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, strengthen traceability and unlock compelling stories for today’s conscious beauty consumers.
Botanica and Evonik: Botanical expertise within a wider personal care portfolio
Founded in Switzerland, Botanica specializes in botanical extracts produced through gentle, low-impact extraction processes, including cold extraction and the use of organic solvents. As an Evonik company, Botanica complements Evonik’s science-based personal care portfolio with deep knowledge of plants, traditional botanical use and responsible sourcing. Production takes place at a carbon-neutral site powered by 100% sustainable electricity, with closed waste loops integrated into operations.
Its sourcing philosophy is rooted in close cooperation with local farmers and partners, helping ensure transparency along the value chain. Instead of competing with food production, Botanica deliberately works with co-products and agricultural residues, creating additional value from materials that would otherwise remain underutilized.
Natural ingredients can vary from harvest to harvest, but quality and reproducibility remain essential. Standardized processing and defined specifications help ensure stable cosmetic performance. Botanica extracts are also produced without animal testing and are designed to meet modern regulatory and sustainability expectations.
Plant co-raw materials: Giving botanical residues a valuable second life
In agriculture, only certain parts of plants are often used for food. Leaves, flowers, immature fruits or pomace may be removed to improve yield or processing efficiency. Botanica redefines these materials as co-raw materials, recognizing that they can still be rich in valuable phytochemicals.
Here we give some examples to show how plant residues can become tangible botanical cosmetic solutions.
Why quality remains central to upcycled botanicals
One common question about upcycled botanical ingredients is quality. We address this through controlled drying, carefully selected extraction media and standardized quality parameters. The result: plant-residue-based extracts with reliable shelf life and formulation compatibility, comparable to conventional botanical ingredients.
Upcycled botanicals are increasingly becoming a strategic pillar of sustainable formulation. By transforming plant residues from food and agricultural value chains into high-performing extracts, circular innovation shows that progress does not always require more resources. Sometimes, it starts by rethinking the value of the botanical material that is already there.
For the cosmetics industry, upcycled botanical extracts offer a pathway to responsible growth, transparency and long-term resilience - while helping brands create beauty products with both soul and science.
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