1. What motivated you to found Lignovations Start-up?

We decided to launch Lignovations to harness the valuable resource that is lignin and unlock its great properties for cosmetics and other applications. Lignin is often burned because, despite its remarkable properties, it cannot be used for higher value applications. Our scientific research in recent years has therefore focused on this powerful resource.

In nature, lignin provides strong UV and antioxidant protection to plants, and we quickly discovered that it could act similarly on the skin, with additional stabilising properties. Based on this insight, we developed a patented technology that allows us to create extremely small particles of lignin, Colloidal Lignin Particles, to maximise the performance and workability of lignin in high value applications.

For the cosmetics market, we launched LignoGuard®, which fills an important gap in the sun care industry. It is a safe, natural, sustainable and powerful SPF booster.

2. How are you changing the industry with your product?

LignoGuard® is an environmentally friendly ingredient that has been shown to improve the SPF performance of sun care products. It also helps formulators to create more appealing sunscreens with mineral UV filters by eliminating the white cast. This can be a step towards greener and more sustainable practices in the cosmetics industry, influencing both manufacturers and consumers.

The benefits of LignoGuard include:

• SPF Boosting: LignoGuard® significantly boosts SPF when combined with organic or mineral UV filters in sunscreens. In-vitro and in-vivo SPF tests have proven its efficacy in improving photoprotection across the UVAA and UVB spectrum.
• Antioxidant properties: LignoGuard® has strong antioxidant activity due to the colloidal form of its particles. It shows higher performance than vitamin C and vitamin E according to the ROS method in human keratinocytes.
• Emulsion stabilising: The colloidal lignin particles in LignoGuard® align themselves at the interface of the oil and water phases resulting in a strong physical stabilisation of the emulsion. This can significantly improve emulsion stability by improving the coherence of the droplet network. In combination with certain emulsifiers, the use level of synthetic emulsifiers can be reduced if desired.

3. What advice would you give to start-ups?

When it comes to start-ups, it's crucial to prioritise the needs of your customers. That's why it's important to start working with them early on. By doing so, you can gain valuable insight into their needs and preferences, based on years of experience in the industry. It's also important to partner with the right companies that can provide you with the resources and support you need to succeed. Finally, providing a first-class, personalised service to your customers can help you build a loyal customer base from the outset and set your business apart from the competition.

You will find Lignovations at CosmeticBusiness 2024 in Hall 4 Stand F01.7.