October 16, 2006
German Version
Cognis at the 2006 SEPAWA: holistic product concepts for the wellness market
At the 53rd SEPAWA congress, held this year in Würzburg, Germany, Cognis Care Chemicals presented a range of tailored products and solutions that allow manufacturers to meet their customers’ exact demands. These included an exceptionally mild, easy to formulate surfactant blend, special polymers that effectively clean all surfaces and offer long-lasting results, and a new method of measuring the drying performance of automatic dish detergents. The specialty chemical supplier’s presence at the event also prominently showcased its concept of well-being – described by Cognis as its “Feelosophy”.
All of Cognis’ products are developed around the needs of consumers, and today that means offering a totally holistic product experience that appeals to all of their senses, and enhances their sense of well-being. For wellness products they want repairing, stimulating and anti-aging effects, while in the home care sector, it is essential that products are easy to use.
High quality solutions to enhance wellbeing
Consumers in today’s market are increasingly opting for products which are kind to both the environment and the user. In response, Cognis has developed Plantapon® SF, an exceptionally mild, easy to use surfactant blend that is free of alkyl sulfates, betaine, ethylene oxide and preservatives, yet offers outstanding performance. It is particularly well-suited to the formulation of 'green', gentle body and hair cleansing products, such as mild shower gels, baby cleansing products and facial washes as well as professional shampoos. Plantapon SF is a liquid, which is easy to handle and cold processable.
Products that offer greater washing and cleaning power while also being easy to use are in the focus of the home care segment. Over the last few years, demand has also risen for so-called secondary cleaning effects like streak-free shine and faster water run-off, leaving items easier to clean again. Cognis introduced Polyquart® PRO, a tailored special polymer that delivers these effects for a wide range of different applications and for all surfaces. What’s more, its cleaning effects last far longer than conventional surfactants.
Constant brushing, washing and blow-drying leaves hair damaged, as do environmental influences such as UV light. At the SEPAWA, Cognis Care Chemicals therefore presented a new care concept developed specifically for damaged, stressed hair. The combination of Cetiol® LDO and Gluadin® WLM regenerates and cares for the hair, so that dull, faded or brittle hair regains its elasticity and shine, and is easy to brush and style. The concept is also easy to formulate, a major cost benefit for hair care product manufacturers.
Multifunctional formulations and extraordinary sensorial properties are some of the current trends in skin care. The right combination of special emulsifiers allows particularly effective skin care concepts that feel pleasant on the skin. At this year’s SEPAWA congress, Cognis presented Eumulgin® SG, a new strong anionic emulsifier based on Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, which is able to fulfill these exact requirements. Effective even at very low concentrations, it offers outstanding compatibility with organic and inorganic electrolytes like actives and water-soluble UV-filters. The product is suitable for face and body care concepts containing high levels of actives as well as for sun care concepts with water-soluble UV filters. Another Cognis product shown at the SEPAWA was Emulgade® Sucro, an emulsifier which can be used to formulate emulsions with a velvety or powdery feel during application, and a light, smooth, non-sticky afterfeel. As a result, it is particularly well suited for face creams, body lotions and sun creams, where consumers expect them to feel pleasant and velvety on the skin. The emulsifying polymer Cosmedia® SP enables formulators to achieve very stable emulsions that are easy to spread and feel light and silky on the skin. Cosmedia SP is extremely efficient even at low concentrations and compatible with a range of different oil phases, including vegetable and silicone oils, and with polar solvents, for example alcohol. It is ideal for the use in low-viscosity and light care concepts such as sprays and lotions as well as for richer and higher-viscosity cream formulations.
Consumers in the home care market demand solutions that save time and are easy to handle, while delivering the best possible results. For automatic dish detergents, this means ensuring dishes aren’t just clean, but are also dry after the cycle. Cognis has developed a new method for measuring how effectively dish detergents dry dishes, thus allowing to compare different products. By using this analysis, Cognis can then work with its customers to produce tailored solutions that deliver improved performance.
Botanical extracts, meanwhile, are becoming ever-more popular in the cosmetics industry, due to their functional benefits and the new possibilities they offer for marketing cosmetic products. Thanks to its proven testing procedures, which are constantly being refined and improved, Cognis Care Chemicals is able to scientifically prove the quality and effects of its botanical active agents. Consumer protection requirements also state that manufacturers must be able to prove the presence of plant extracts in their products – Cognis has developed a range of different methods to do this, which support cosmetic manufacturers in marketing their final products.
About Cognis
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability. The company employs about 8,000 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Another main focus is on products for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles, as well as agriculture and mining. The company holds a 50-percent stake in the joint venture Cognis Oleochemicals, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of oleochemicals.
Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2005, Cognis recorded sales of 3.18 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and exceptional items) of 356 million euros.
Contact
Raquel Ark, Corporate Communications Manager
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-2173-4995-464
E-mail: raquel.ark@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com