Biotech firm Macro Oceans launches Huge Kelp Flex, debuts at NYSCC Suppliers’ Day 2025

Made out of seaweed cellulose, the brand new ingredient is positioned to assist manufacturers remove microplastics and artificial impurities with out compromising product efficiency.

From Hydration to Flex

Huge Kelp Flex follows the 2024 launch of Huge Kelp Hydration, a polysaccharide-rich bioactive proven to spice up pores and skin hydration. “We noticed this chance after launching Huge Kelp Hydration in early 2024,” Matthew Perkins, CEO of Macro Oceans, instructed CosmeticsDesign.

“We’re working with >100 manufacturers and contract producers nationwide, and we hear again and again how they’d prefer to take away artificial supplies from formulation however that there aren’t any good high-performance, all pure options.”

Huge Kelp Flex is derived from upcycled seaweed cellulose produced within the firm’s zero-waste biorefinery. “As Huge Kelp Hydration was rising, we had been searching for purposes for the upcycled cellulose… and we turned that cellulose into Huge Kelp Flex,” mentioned Perkins. “The response from preliminary prospects has been electrical.”

R&D advances in seaweed cellulose

In response to Perkins, a key differentiator is the distinctive construction of seaweed cellulose. “In a tree… these fibers are brief and stocky… In distinction, cellulose fibers in seaweed are for much longer and extra versatile,“ he defined. ”This enables the seaweed to flex rhythmically… resisting robust tides, currents, and waves.”

The formulation staff discovered that these properties translated to superior performance. “These lengthy, skinny seaweed fibers can take in 600x their weight in water creating a novel, easy visco-gel construction that’s thixotropic and shear thinning with out dropping particle suspension within the bottle or on the nozzle throughout utility,” he mentioned. “Meaning… it delivers efficiency on par with the very best synthetics like carbomers and acrylates.”

Colin Hepburn, Chief Expertise Officer, added in a press assertion: “Seaweed cellulose fibers are naturally purer, longer, thinner and extra versatile than different plant-based fibers corresponding to wooden.”

In response to Hepburn, “this provides them superabsorbent properties and the flexibility to create distinctive visco-gel constructions.”

Addressing key formulation challenges

Huge Kelp Flex is designed to deal with persistent formulation challenges in mineral sunscreens and skincare. “Making the proper pure mineral sunscreen is difficult,” Perkins mentioned. “Formulators are compelled to decide on: use an artificial ingredient… to get the mineral particles to evenly disperse or use a pure ingredient… that causes nozzle clogging or white casting.”

Macro Oceans designed Huge Kelp Flex to resolve this tradeoff. “This breakthrough ingredient is able to suspending excessive density particles like SPF grade zinc or titanium even at very low viscosities,” Perkins famous. “You can too use it to create a variety of velvety easy textures mixed with a wonderful quick-break pores and skin really feel with out the tackiness generally related to xanthan gum and different pure rheology modifiers.”

Scaling up and supporting trade transition

Macro Oceans emphasizes each efficiency and scalability. “The beauty of kelp is that it’s a zero-input crop, that means it grows within the ocean while not having land, recent water, fertilizers or pesticides,” mentioned Perkins. “And there’s numerous ocean so you’ll be able to develop numerous it… we’ve seen unimaginable demand from prospects and we’re going to be shopping for numerous kelp over the approaching years.”

Huge Kelp Flex additionally helps manufacturers searching for to maneuver away from artificial polymers and microplastics. “Huge Kelp Flex provides you synthetic-level efficiency… But it surely additionally provides you a 100% pure product, derived from seaweed, made in a zero-waste biorefinery,” he acknowledged.

Outlook on future innovation

Wanting forward, Macro Oceans plans to proceed investing in seaweed-based supplies for private care purposes. “There are such a lot of issues we are able to resolve with kelp-based substances,” Perkins concluded. “Whereas I can’t reveal any particulars in the intervening time, suffice to say our subsequent merchandise are additionally going to mix unimaginable pure efficiency with unimaginable sustainability.”