Solvay, a global leader in naturally-derived beauty polymers, expands its range of biodegradable guar-based solutions, introduced in December 2021, with two additional thickening and conditioning polymers for beauty care. The two new ingredients, Jaguar^® NAT SGI and Jaguar^® Excel, will enable beauty brands to address stringent global regulations and growing consumer expectations for more responsible and sustainable beauty products.

“Until recently, the availability of biodegradable functional polymers in the market has been limited,” explains Jean-Guy Le-Helloco, Home & Personal Care Vice-President at Solvay. “Our biodegradable Jaguar^® ingredients offer formulators a range of sustainable game changers to create a wider choice of responsible hair and skin care products.”

Next to developing the new biodegradable Jaguar^® ingredients, Solvay experts created the Beauty Biodeg Score chart based on the OECD¹ guidelines ranging from A to D. The two new ingredients Jaguar^® NAT SGI, a readily biodegradable thickening polymer (score A), and Jaguar^® Excel, an inherently ultimately biodegradable conditioning polymer (score B), meet the toughest criteria for biodegradability². They complement Jaguar^® HP-8 COS SGI for thickening and Jaguar^®C500 STD for conditioning, both rated score B. Typical applications include shampoos, hair treatments, hair conditioners, styling gels, body washes and powder-to-liquid cleansers. It will be presented at Solvay’s booth during the in-cosmetics global exhibition in Paris from April 5 to 7.

“By assigning a biodegradability score to our products, we help external stakeholders appreciate the swift progress Solvay is making in the development of biodegradable and sustainable products with full and transparent traceability,” says Galder Cristobal, Home and Personal Care Research & Innovation Director at Solvay. “We have entered a new phase of innovation with new polymer technologies and are investing in advanced biodegradation testing for next-generation beauty ingredients. Our new biodegradable Jaguar^® ingredients are just the beginning.”

The guar beans used to produce the Jaguar^® polymers are a natural and renewable resource, partially sourced through Solvay’s Sustainable Guar Initiative (SGI) program in Rajasthan, India. The SGI program is designed to implement best farming practices, conserve groundwater, improve local quality of life and empower women farmers while securing high-quality guar supplies.

Solvay’s commitment to sustainable beauty is at the essence of “Beauty for the Planet”, an initiative aimed at delivering sustainable beauty ingredients that work for consumers and the environment through innovation and partnerships with customers.

Jaguar^® is a trademark of Solvay.

¹ Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

² Following the OECD 301 F and OECD 302 B guidelines.